A couple of years ago, a friend and I watched a film in which the protagonist was an event manager. We both almost thought of switching our respective fields of expertise.
That rush, those decorations, leadership, management, chaos, food, communication, performances, stage handling – everything looked like one hell of a madness to jump into. Undoubtedly, the reality is far more challenging than it may seem, but we at Lifology.com believe that event management is one of the most in-demand and fun jobs today.
Are you a people’s person? Do you love heading a team to run a smooth event, and make others’ lives fun and less burdensome? If so, event management might be the career for you. If you have thought of having this big adrenaline shot in your life, here are some top hacks:
Know your preference
As per the analysis of team Lifology.com there are three categories of events. Depending on your skills, taste, and base knowledge, choose wisely from the following:
- Corporate events – Seminars, workshops, team-building events, business meetups, product launches, opening ceremonies, networking events.
- Private events – Weddings, birthday celebrations, theme parties, housewarming parties.
- Charity events – Fundraisers, marathons, social issue campaigns.
Certification and formal courses
Unlike many other professions, venue management gives more importance to experience than education, What matters is the hands-on experience that proves what you are capable of.
But, you can get a certificate or a proper higher education in event management to get a kick-start in the industry. Many top colleges that offer courses in mass communication have programs for event management.
Gain collaborative experience
Once you have chosen the kind of events you like to manage, the next step is to dive into the real world and test your preference. In the beginning, the smart idea is to work with NGOs and small firms and get a good deal of exposure to hone your basic skills. If you can, do internships with good firms to understand how the professional environment is.
Event management is also a lot about witty and quick decision-making, along with strategizing and delegating team roles. Organizing campaigns, small events for NGOs could get you field experience.
Build networking and marketing skills
Apart from leadership, management and financial skills, what can give you an edge as an event manager is a strong knowledge of digital marketing. If you can build but can’t sell, your work is rendered nil. So learn the ropes of digital marketing, especially social media marketing. In this day and age of instant and omnipresent connectivity, some basic knowledge of online marketing will take you a long way.
Build your portfolio
Visuals work better than words. Build a portfolio — hard copy as well as a soft-copy– with brochures, photographs, customer feedback, invitations, etc, of the events you have managed and remain just a click away from the best opportunities.
Get placed or get noticed
If you make it to the top colleges, placement in a good firm might be on the way at the end of the course.
If you don’t want to do a course, connect with experienced people in the field and demonstrate what you can do, using the pointers given above. Getting noticed could mean getting recommended.