Insight replaces Market-Talk.co.uk - 
It is no doubt that traditional face-to-face communications has a place in the modern work place, but has the role of its professionals changed beyond recognition? With many employees feeling unsettled and a risk of staff jumping ship an imminent concern for managers, employee engagement is hot on the agenda and the intranet is taking centre stage.
A new focus on delivering bottom line impact is changing the traditional role of the communications manager
As many firms opt for an increased focus on online methods to disseminate messages, intranet managers and intranet editors are in big demand. Experienced online professionals are not just expected to have high level design and coding skills, but recruiters are now looking for strategic thinkers with a strong corporate background. With many intranet sites left unattended due to budget cuts, professionals with the ability to manage an effective roll out and longer term engagement strategy will find themselves on the shortlists for intranet roles.
So, does this shift in focus indicate the end of more traditional internal communications and has the communications mix become one dimensional?
Recent evidence from the job market indicates communications generalists are still in strong demand, but a new focus on delivering bottom line impact is changing the traditional role of the communications manager. The consistent focus on cost cutting means even communications managers are now expected to deliver a healthy ROI. Increasingly focused on the figures, many firms are recruiting interim channel managers to carry out an initial analysis of their communications programme and employee engagement strategy.
This new back-to-basics approach and demand for communication ‘all-rounders’ signals a positive up-turn for the sector as a whole and to meet market demands candidates should consider reflecting evidence of statistical achievements within their CV – more woolly work histories are missing the spot in today’s competitive market. But with the sector still in favour of the employer it’s a surprise that candidates are remaining fussy with the types of roles they expect but a positive indication of growing confidence in the market.
