Working in events is exciting and you won’t have to worry about two days being the same. If you have creative flair, then you can organise a thrilling event from the ground up. Events cover a broad spectrum and can be incorporated into almost every industry, ranging from entertainment and food to corporate and charities.
If this sounds like a role that you would thrive in, then you must be asking yourself what event manager skills you need to secure a position in this sector. Firstly, you need to understand the roles and responsibilities of an event manager and the skills required to succeed. Continue reading to learn what an event manager does and how an event management course will help get your foot in the door.
What is Event Management?
Event management consists of the planning, organising, and overseeing of an event that is either for social, business, or promotional purposes. Event manager jobs feature in all manner of industries, but there is a common thread that binds them. Every event manager needs to create an event that adheres to a target audience and meets the requirements of the client.
It is essential that an event is marketed and promoted properly so that it reaches the correct demographic. The purpose is for guests to enjoy the event and feel engaged throughout. There are plenty of moving parts involved in putting together a successful event, and you will need to utilise a range of event management skills to achieve the right result.
All event manager jobs require you to oversee and handle the entire process, from the planning stage through to the event itself. Your event manager skills will also see you conduct evaluations of the event once it's over. The best professionals in this role are able to make the process as seamless as possible.
What are the Qualities of Event Managers?
There are many event management skills that you need to adopt to work successfully in this position. By studying an event management course, you can get a strong idea of the attributes and qualities you need to thrive in this sector.
You may already possess several event management skills, and by identifying the additional ones you need, you can work on developing them. They include:
- Strong organisational skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Effective communication skills
- Ability to negotiate well
- Positive time management
- Problem-solving
- Self-motivation
- Flexible and proactive approach
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of an Event Manager?
Event manager jobs are very varied, but there are general roles and responsibilities that you will need to adopt when working in this sector. You will draw upon your event management skills to carry out the following:
- Work closely with clients to ensure that their vision is being realised
- Create detailed proposals including timelines, venues, suppliers, staffing, budgets, and more
- Research venues, contractors, suppliers and negotiate prices
- Manage suppliers and the various logistics involved
- Liaise with sales and marketing teams to promote the event
- Manage a team and provide detailed briefings so that each member knows their job
- Handle client requests and solve problems on the day of the event
- Ensure that all legal obligations are followed
You should keep in mind that event manager jobs do not usually work conventional office hours close to the event. Usually, event manager jobs include weekend and evening work, but in the build up to the event itself, you may have a more structured 9am-5pm schedule.
As well as the roles and responsibilities mentioned, you should also keep in mind that you should expect the following when working as event manager:
- Travelling – Plenty of your work will be office based, but you may need to take your event management skills on the road. This is because you will likely need to visit clients, suppliers, venue owners, and potential sponsors. In addition, you may be required to work abroad or in various locations across the UK
- Freelance opportunities – Depending on your level of experience, you may be able to take on self-employed and freelance work. This is especially the case if you build up a solid network of contacts during your career
How to Get into Event Management?
It is not a prerequisite for you to have a degree to pursue event manager jobs, but it doesn’t hurt! In fact, having an academic qualification is certainly a plus when applying for positions. By enrolling on an event management course, you will be able to gain a solid understanding of the profession and develop event manager skills.
Stonebridge Associated Colleges provides an array of regulated qualifications as one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers. With our help, you can obtain a Level 3 Certificate in Events Management. Upon completion of this course, you will have an array of event management skills that will put you in a strong position to achieve an event manager job.
Our online event management course will cover plenty of topics that will help you carve out a position in the industry. For example, you will delve into the following:
- Planning
- Human relations
- Catering and food services
- Marketing
- Fundraising
As mentioned, having qualifications is not necessary to work as an event manager, but you will stand out from a pool of candidates if you have a regulated qualification from an event management course. Many assume that you need to attend in-person classroom learning when going back into education, but that is not the reality.
By studying with Stonebridge Associated Colleges, you can achieve the qualifications you want online. This means that you can develop event manager skills in your own time and at your own pace. So, if you currently work full-time or you have young children to look after, you can schedule your study time around these commitments.
Our course is designed to get you ready for event manager jobs, and it is especially beneficial for professionals who want to migrate over to event management from another sector. For example, individuals with experience in the following sectors can bring a lot to the table when it comes to event manager jobs:
- Marketing
- Hospitality
- PR
- Arts Administration
Keep in mind that you can still get into the events management sector without qualifications. Experience is key, so if you are able to gain work experience, either paid or voluntary, it will give you great first-hand knowledge. Not only that, but you can start building up contacts.
What Jobs are in Event Management?
To understand the various event manager jobs you can go into, you need to be aware of the various sectors you can work in. For example, you may want to use your event management skills to work within the private sector or the public sector. Alternatively, you might be interested in working for non-profit organisations.
The employment pool is vast and wide for event manager jobs, and you may find yourself working in the following sectors:
- Hotels
- Commercial organisations
- Local authorities
- Charities
- PR agencies
- Universities
- Festivals
- Public attractions
Some professionals choose to stay in one sector, while others tend to dip in and out, particularly if they work as self-employed or freelance. If you are targeting event manager jobs, you may also want to consider the following positions:
- Event Planner
- Exhibition Organiser
- Wedding Planner
- Stage Decorator
- Logistics Manager
What are the Benefits of Event Management?
It is fair to say that event manager jobs suit a certain type of person and it is a role that is not for everyone, but there are many reasons why people choose to pursue this line of work. We have outlined a handful of the many benefits below:
- Variety – Unlike many other professions, you will not have to do the same thing every single day. One week you could be planning a festival and the following week you could be organising a product launch
- New experiences – As mentioned, event manager jobs can take you out of the UK, which brings with it many new experiences. Given that you will be organising events for clients, you may end up sampling new foods and activities that you haven’t experienced before
- Networking opportunities – There is no doubt that you will be meeting plenty of new people when you organise an event, giving you a great platform to get your name around and network!
Kick-Start Your Career!
If you want to get started in the events management industry and you are considering enrolling on an event management course to get you started, give our Course Executives a call on 0121 392 8288. Alternatively, contact us online and we will help you get your career off the ground!
