Those who have always envisioned working for some celebrity or organizing a flashing event for some corporate bigshot, can now easily make their dreams come true. Nowadays there are many roads to take if you wish to pursue a career in event planning and become utterly successful in it. There is so much to do in this sprucing field, but it takes a lot o courage to find your path, and then be patient and diligent with building up your career. But let’s take baby steps first, shall we? Before you start working for some renowned company and start planning splendid events, you need to get the gist of a few strategies that would get you going. Here are some of the most eloquent, creative, and professional tips that would help you prepare for this high-demand but lucrative career. Read on.
Obtain a relevant certificate
Pursuing a career in event management requires special skills and knowledge in the first place. Having some form of formal knowledge will only give you the boost needed to advance in your career and make you a more eligible candidate. There are a plethora of universities and colleges that offer specialized courses in event management and event planning. As there are a few vocational degrees that you can obtain, you need to carefully choose what exactly would you like to work. Study options are many, from PR and mass communications fields to HR management, marketing, business administration management, etc.
Acquire a strong ground of industry knowledge
Besides formal education, you ought to build a stable foundation in the event industry and get the gist of how the hospitality industry functions. In order to differentiate yourself from others and get a solid job in the event planning industry, you must have some soft skills. Having tangible skills such as being a good communicator, having sleek time management skills, being able to work under pressure, multitasking, and paying attention to detail will certainly set you aside from other candidates. If you were to search for a professional event management company to find a job at, you will see that, aside from formal education, it’s vital to have an outgoing and energetic personality. People hire event management professionals that possess quality interpersonal skills.
Most people tend to think of the events industry as divided into two main camps, corporate events, and special events—each of which is divided into further sub-sectors.
Understand the event industry
Due to the fact that having a formal degree would be advisable if you want to pursue a career in event planning, it’s also crucial to note that it’s not essential. Certain qualifications and certificates will help you get noticed, but to be spotted among numerous other candidates, you need to know the business from the inside out. This means that you could get a significant edge in contrast to other candidates if you understand the event industry and how it functions, rather than merely having a degree in marketing.
To understand the event industry you need to be focused, good with budgeting, a brilliant communicator, willing to adapt and embrace changes, always ready to attend conferences, team bonding activities, and participate in other special events such as exhibitions, fairs, festivals, and many more. Candidates who understand the whole concept of event planners will get a significant edge over other candidates and likely work towards having a steady and lucrative career.
Networking is key
To grasp the abundance of job opportunities in event planning, you need to “be out there”. The event industry, like many other industries, has almost absolutely switched online. To get approached by varied event planning companies you need to network – and a lot of it! Networking is the key to getting noticed in the events industry and for that matter, it’s of utmost importance to make extensive connections.
Try to put yourself in the limelight, attend various networking events hosted by various hospitality or HR organizations, check out different websites and even join a conversation or two with people who already work in the field. By meeting people who do the job of your dreams and engaging in riveting conversation, they might put a word for you in the future.
Gain valuable experience
Having some experience is beneficial for any career, but if you wish for your career in event planning to blossom, you need to be bold and courageous. This often signalizes volunteering. You’ve heard it – volunteering is a great way to gain valuable experience and meet people in the industry who can later open up doors for numerous other jobs.
Once you have a versatile portfolio, even if that means that you have only been volunteering, you still would be able to present at what type of events you have assisted in holding or organizing. No matter what type of experience you gain, as long as you have given your contribution to associate roles in event planning industries, you are on the right track to having a successful career in event planning.
Get comfortable with the sector
Those who want to prepare for a career in event planning in a whole other dimension should engage their creativity and invigorating personality. Very often industries tend to employ people without any special education or formal background but rather seek a whizz at logistics, creativity, and effective marketing and planning skills.
If you are a laid-back person who has the ability to come up with original ideas but also speaks and behaves in an eloquent manner, then you might suit the design and marketing sector. There are different sectors in event planning that mainly seek people who exude uniqueness and will to progress. When a person is enthusiastic, willing to embrace changes, and try out various concepts, then you would easily be able to build success in event planning.
Think about what kind of event planner you want to be, explore numerous sectors, volunteer to gather some transferable skills, and figure out whether you want to be an expert at one thing or an all-rounded with experience in many spheres. All of these things combined will prepare you for a career in event planning.
