by Chris Hillman

You’ve witnessed the most historic transformation of how we access and receive information. You are excited about how digital media has changed the way we see the world. You know that telling a good story is critical to engaging family, friends, teachers and future employers. See, you’re in communications already. Read on to discover more about unique career opportunities in communication.

1. You will be qualified for jobs you didn’t know existed.

Developing communication skills can put you on a fast track to a career in media, news, design, television, and more. But you may be surprised at some career paths that can result from a degree in communication. Music supervisor, story producer, curator-in-chief…there are so many unique job opportunities in the eclectic world of communication that you’re sure to find your fit.

2. You’ll actually make money.

Journalism and communication both landed on the list of the 50 majors that offer the highest earnings. Gone are the days when communication grads had to toil with ink-stained fingertips in newspaper bullpens for little pay. Today, opportunities abound for the communication grad, and they are wider reaching and better paying than ever. For example, the 2015 median pay for writers was more than $60,000, editors and public relations specialists more than $56, 000 and for technical writers it was more than $70,000. Many communication grads also pursue careers in law and politics.

3. Your creativity and new ideas will be valued.

A broad field like communication offers an enormous range of career opportunities. Though the choices are broad, they are all built on the bedrock of creativity. Creative professionals enjoy some of the highest job satisfaction rates. Creative professionals find their work interesting, make a lot of their own decisions, and find plenty of opportunities to take initiative. A career in communication is a career of fulfillment.

4. You can tell your story.

You choose how to tell your story. Are you a writer? A filmmaker? A broadcaster? An influencer? In the 21^st-century landscape, you can be all of these and more. Storytelling through digital media is the lifeblood of the modern communication industry, and you don’t have to count on a huge network for a reliable paycheck anymore. There are now countless media organizations in every corner of the globe, and they’re all hiring sharp, conscientious and savvy media producers like you.

5. You’ll be prepared to work with emerging technologies.

Technology is at the heart of every modern business and the communication industry always is an early adopter. Journalists and marketers are among the first users of new media technology, which makes communication a perfect degree choice for the tech-hungry.

6. You’ll have a competitive advantage entering the 21^st Century job market.

The education you receive as a communication student bolsters the human skills that help you compete in the work force today and four years from now. Communication is central to all sectors of government and the economy. Teamwork, oral and written communication and analytical skills are some of the top attributes employers look for when hiring – all of which are developed in communication education and training.  Even if you end up on an unrelated or unexpected career path, a degree in communication provides you with desirable skills for the entire job market.

7. You can work from anywhere.

Freelance and entrepreneur can be scary words, but for the right people, the potential rewards of being your own boss and dictating your own schedule outweigh the risks. A communication degree is especially useful for those who love to travel. Whether you’re on assignment or just chasing a scoop, freelance work in communication can allow you to work anywhere there’s an Internet connection. Documentarians, designers, reporters and wanderlusters alike can all find something to love about the romantic lifestyle of a citizen of the world.

8. You’ll experience life at 24 frames per second.

Old-school reporters must be jealous of the journalists of the digital era. Everyone has a mobile newsroom in their pockets! Technology has moved advanced videography tools within reach of vast numbers of people, but those with the skills and training to tell stories through video have a unique advantage in the job market. Video is the media of the present and the future; preparing for a career in video production or digital media means you’ll never have a boring day on the job.

9. You’ll enjoy unique opportunities you’ll find nowhere else.

Some industries are predictable. You go to the office, work at your desk, and go home. With a communication degree, you’ll be entering a work force that challenges and rewards you in equal amounts. As a marketer, you may be introducing the next cultural revolution or resurrecting a politician’s reputation. As a journalist, you may be filming volcanoes or announcing news in unexpected places. The world of communication is a world of possibility.

10. At UF, you will be a top prospect for future employers.

Join a Gator Nation family of more than 360,000 alumni, residing in every state and more than 100 foreign countries. UF alumni include two Nobel Prize winners, eight NASA astronauts, 10 U.S. Senators, 42 U.S. Representatives, and eight U.S. ambassadors.