Skip to content
Resume example

Communications manager resume example

A communications manager decides what an organisation says, to whom and through which channels, then makes sure it happens.

The role covers external communication (press relations, website, social media, events, campaigns) and often internal communication (intranet, newsletters, management messages during reorganisations). You write the annual communication plan and budget, brief agencies and freelancers, validate content, prepare executives for interviews and handle sensitive moments, such as a product recall or a negative press article. In a small structure, you write the press releases and post on LinkedIn yourself; in a large group, you manage a team of chargés de communication. In France, the job exists in companies, local authorities, hospitals, universities and non-profits, and public sector communication follows its own rules, especially in pre-election periods.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Communications Manager | Corporate, Press Relations and Crisis Communication

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Communications manager with [x] years in industry and the non-profit sector. I build communication plans, manage a team and an agency budget, handle media relations and have led communication during a site closure and a cyberattack. I work closely with the executive committee.

Experience

Communications Manager, [Organisation], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Built and led the annual communication plan with a team of [x] people and an external agency
  • Managed press relations for the opening of a new production site, including a visit for regional media
  • Coordinated internal and external communication during a reorganisation, with the HR team and union representatives
  • Redesigned the internal newsletter and intranet with input from employees across sites
  • Prepared executives for media interviews and wrote their key messages

Resume headlines

  • Communications Manager | Corporate, Press Relations and Crisis Communication
  • Head of Communications | Local Authority, Public Campaigns and Digital
  • Internal and External Communications Manager | Industrial Group

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Master's graduate in communication with a work-study year as communications officer at [Organisation], where I managed the LinkedIn page, wrote the internal newsletter and organised press visits for a site opening. Strong writer in French and English.

Experienced

Communications manager with [x] years in industry and the non-profit sector. I build communication plans, manage a team and an agency budget, handle media relations and have led communication during a site closure and a cyberattack. I work closely with the executive committee.

Career change

Former journalist at a regional daily, used to deadlines, interviews and writing for a wide audience. I now want to work on the other side, building an organisation's communication with a clear understanding of how newsrooms work.

Tips

  • Show the range of channels you managed and the audiences you addressed.
  • Include a crisis or sensitive situation you handled, without confidential details.
  • Mention budget and team responsibilities if you had them.
  • Add a link to a portfolio with campaigns, press coverage or publications you produced.
  • Specify your writing languages; written French at a high level is usually expected.

Mistakes to avoid

  • A resume that reads like a social media manager's when you target a strategic role.
  • No examples of results: press coverage, campaign, internal project.
  • Typos, which are unacceptable in a communication role.
  • Leaving out work with management and executives.

Working as a communications manager in France

Communications manager is not a regulated profession in France. Most employers expect a Bac+5 in communication, journalism, political science or business, from a university master's, the CELSA, a Sciences Po institute or a business school. In local authorities, the role is filled by civil servants (often through the « attaché territorial » exam) or contract staff, and communication is restricted in the months before elections. Excellent written French is essential. Search with « responsable communication », « directeur de la communication », « chargé de communication » for junior roles and « responsable communication interne ».

Your job search, on autopilot

Start my communications manager job scan

JobFast searches the major job boards for listings that fit you, scores each one out of 10 and prepares a tailored CV and cover letter. You review, you approve.

Start for free

No credit card · No account to get started

Frequently asked questions

Should I include a portfolio?

Yes. A short online portfolio with a few campaigns, press releases, articles or videos you produced lets recruiters judge your work directly. Choose pieces that show variety and indicate your role in each, especially when an agency was involved.

How do I show crisis communication experience?

Describe the type of situation (incident, bad press, social conflict), your role and the actions taken, without naming people or revealing confidential information. Recruiters value candidates who have kept calm under pressure and coordinated with legal and management teams.

Can I work as a communications manager in France without fluent French?

It is difficult. Most positions require excellent written French, since you will write press releases, internal messages and speeches. International companies may have English-speaking roles, often in corporate or internal communication, but they usually still need French for local audiences.

More resume examples