Communications specialist

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a communications specialist at the Mikkeli Lutheran Parish. My tasks include versatile external and internal communication tasks. I am the editor-in-chief of the Polku parish magazine, responsible for the financial plan and action plan for communications, as well as media relations. In addition, my job description includes story-writing gigs, writing press releases, updating social media and more extensive communications development projects.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

The incentive for selecting this field came from my Finnish teacher at upper secondary school who encouraged me to apply for speech communication studies. After I graduated, I got work from the Communications of the Varkaus parish. I have found the contents of parish's communications interesting, so this feeling has carried me until today.

Describe your typical working day or week.

A typical working week includes two to three stories that I work on either by phone or by visiting in person. If the interview takes place in person, it often involves photography or video recording. I usually write one to two press releases and news items during the week and update social media. 

Working time is also spent on communication with suppliers, internal communications tasks and various communication projects. Internal communications involve a lot of interaction with different actors in the parish such as talking on the phone and asking for additional information for news, for example. Examples of communication projects are designing advertising campaigns or an appendix to a local newspaper. In addition, there can be one to three meetings during the week such as a meeting with the vicar or a meeting with the field supervisors.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

As a rule, I do office work, but I regularly go to our seven regional parishes for stories. With the exception of a few meetings and events that take place in evenings and on weekends a few times a month, my job is daytime work.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

The parish communication work is typically done in small teams or alone. It requires strong, versatile communication competence and an independent and development-oriented approach to the work. Interaction skills are essential.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best thing is that I can communicate meaningful content and influence people's lives. The independent decision-making and versatility required by the profession suit me. I appreciate the humane working culture of the parish. I can develop and educate myself and share worries and concerns with my colleagues in difficult times, even during my working day. 

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Better resources would create more effective communication. Sometimes, it feels like we are in the cross-fire of expectations and hopes when elected officials, parishes and partners send feedback.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a commucations specialist?

A communication professional is necessary in any work community, and this education makes you competent in many kinds of tasks. I recommend that you consider what interests you most in the field of communications and seek a work community where your personality and competence are valued. Parish communications work is suitable for a person who values versatile tasks and independent working methods.

How do you see the future of your profession?

I see the future from two different perspectives. On the one hand, communication is at the heart of Christianity, and today you cannot reach people only when they go to church. This task requires communications professionals. On the other hand, resources will not increase if the amount of church taxes continues to decrease. There is a need for new actors, but we need to stay realistic.