Picture this : you’re in a meeting for your internship. When you talk through your ideas, you’re so clear that your supervisor decides to hire you after your placement. Or maybe you follow up on an interview with a simple thank-you email, and it lands you the job.
In university and on the job, the ability to communicate professionally is a strategic skill that can transform the opportunities available to you and open doors you never even dreamed of.
The art of turning your ideas into concrete results
“A good communicator makes a good first impression. That’s not just a one-time thing — it’s an ongoing process,” says Jess Jennings, the instructor who will be leading two applied workshops on professional communication in October and November.
Professional communication means the way you convey your ideas, share information and collaborate in a workplace setting. This can include speaking, writing and body language.
It’s about tailoring your message to a specific audience, and choosing the right words and channels to convince people and make your voice heard without raising your stress levels.
If you’ve ever written a progress report, presented a project to a team or even promoted a product to a client, you’ve already engaged in professional communication. But did you do it right?
What employers say
According to , professional communication was the most in-demand skill for 2024 in all fields combined. Today, up to 86% of employees feel poor communication is the leading cause of workplace failures.
Talking to your co-workers regularly brings your team together, strengthens your sense of engagement and makes you feel truly excited to step into your workplace every morning.
A central skill in your arsenal
Whether you’re communicating online or in person, it all starts with the initial interaction. Your first words can bolster your credibility, inspire confidence and grab your audience’s attention.
For example, when you’re networking and want to break the ice with a recruiter, talking about your experience instead of just saying “I’m looking for a job” can change the dynamics of your conversation — an essential ability in all fields.
A future engineer needs to be able to break down their calculations and solutions for non-specialist clients. A computer science student will need to explain their code or defend their project before a multidisciplinary team.
In science, a brilliant idea won’t be given its due if the right people can’t understand it. And in health care, a clear explanation can reassure a patient and help them understand their treatment.
In other words, mastering the skill of communication means enhancing your credibility and opening up opportunities you might not have even imagined.
Small habits that make a big difference
So, where should you start? According to Jess, we often struggle with communication in emails because we tend to treat them like they’re informal.
A professional email needs to have a clear subject line, include a polite introduction and then get straight to the point. Look around you for examples. By paying attention to how your co-workers, professors and supervisors set out their ideas to you, you can find a template to use as a starting point.
Adjust your tone for your audience. You’d explain a formula differently for a fellow engineer than you would for a client. The trick is to simplify your message without sacrificing precision. Finally, always take notes and practise explaining your ideas before, for instance, a meeting. That way, your message will be clearer, and you won’t forget any key points.
Applied Workshop Series
Aside from professional communication, there are other specific skills — like project management, data literacy and digital skills — that today’s employers consider important assets. With the Career Corner’s Applied Workshop Series, taught by expert instructors, you can acquire those skills to stand out in the job market.