Membership gives my career direction and purpose
I currently work as a communications officer at the Medical Defence Union (MDU) and have been in the role for almost three years. Most people who work in internal communications will know that you can end up doing a bit of everything, and I feel that membership with the IOIC helps give my career direction and purpose.
It's also great to be part of a network of people who are passionate about many of the same topics and challenges as I am.
I didn't know IC was a career until it became mine
I always say that I was doing internal communications for years without ever putting a title on it. In fact, I'm not sure I was even aware of communications as a career path until I started working in marketing.
When a communications role opened up, I remember reading the job description and feeling as though I was reading my life story. I joined and never looked back.
What I enjoy most about communications is the variety the role offers. No two days are the same, which keeps me on my toes. There's something very satisfying about taking a complex task and making it simple for others to understand. From a practical standpoint, I also love writing, which naturally complements a career in communications.
By the way, I have two blogs on Substack, so if you're reading this, let's connect!
A self-assessment that changed everything
I remember completing a self-assessment before becoming a member, which immediately gave me a clearer idea of what a career path in internal communications could look like.
That gave me the clarity I needed to identify the skills I should develop if I wanted to make a bigger impact in my role.
Since then, I've taken part in several webinars and courses that have helped me become more effective at work, and I'm also considering attending one of the major IOIC events before the end of this year or in 2027.
So, in summary, the IOIC has done quite a lot.
One million views and some hard-won converts
When I started my role as a communications officer, one of my main projects was helping to launch a brand-new intranet to replace an outdated SharePoint site.
Although the old site was no longer fit for purpose, many people relied on it to do their jobs, so there was a significant amount of work involved in creating communications and content plans that would build confidence among stakeholders and colleagues.
That was almost three years ago, and I'm proud to say we now have a fantastic intranet platform that has received more than one million views since its launch.
I'm especially proud of winning over some colleagues who were initially reluctant to move to the new platform. There's nothing better than changing someone's opinion by delivering a better experience!
My advice to someone just starting out in the internal communication profession
Sign up to the IOIC obviously!
But beyond that, what helped me early on was surrounding myself with communications resources and people. I attended lots of webinars and networking events, joined various comms groups and listened to relevant podcasts.
I definitely don't have time to engage with all these resources every day, but sometimes it's the random “How to be more strategic as an internal communications professional" email that lands on a Tuesday morning that makes all the difference.
Lastly, I believe there's no such thing as bad communications. Leave your biases at the door and keep an open mind. Think outside the box, ask questions and speak to people.
It's common for others not to fully understand the value of your role, so it's up to you to demonstrate that value.
A fun fact about me
I used to be a DJ and I can play a few instruments. That said, I haven't touched an instrument in years, so these days I could probably only manage a few nursery rhymes!
