How to Begin a Career in Event Management

Events management is a popular career option, partly because there is just so much you can do in the area of events management which can suit what you are passionate about. Whether you want to create someone’s dream wedding, plan out a music festival or construct professional corporate events, the umbrella of event planning covers a variety of events in all areas of interest. 

Working in event management can be an exciting career choice for the right person, and now you can find out how to go about developing your own career path in event management.

If you are curious as to whether event management is right for you, then consider the key skills and qualities that an event manager needs, as well as the main responsibilities within this role. The main responsibilities include:

Event management requires you to be able to hone your skills to ensure that your client is able to enjoy a top-notch event. This includes a range of soft skills, or personal skills, and hard skills, AKA professional skills, so that you are able to organise appropriate events for your clients whilst building excellent professional relationships within the event management sector. 

One of the key soft skills an event manager needs is the ability to communicate effectively with others. This includes clients, employees, and other industry professionals to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to putting the event together. 

Another key soft skill is adaptability. If you are able to adapt to new situations, are skilled in problem-solving, and can face problems head-on, then becoming an events planner could be for you. 

Sometimes the events industry can be pressurised, with things not always working out the way that you had planned. That’s where your ability to adapt and find alternatives or work around any issues comes in, as well as your ability to organise events thoroughly.

This is a key trait for an event manager as you have many people relying on you to tackle problems, including clients, employees, and contractors.

As an events manager, you will be trusted with a budget by your client and are expected to be able to run the event within that budget. Knowing how much different elements of an event will cost, budgeting well, and planning for unexpected costs are key skills in event management. Negotiation also falls under the financial skills umbrella and is necessary to put together the best events you can within your budget. 

You do not need any specific qualifications to become an event manager. However, building the skills and expertise necessary to do the job is essential. You can learn about event management and develop key skills through online Event Management courses, which will teach you the skills to organise events. Completing a qualification also demonstrates to clients your proven skill level in event management. 

Suppose you have previous practical experience in event management, either putting on small events or studying business management which has several transferable skills. In that case, you can also find more specific courses covering key skills needed in event management. 

Financial planning, communication, and networking are all skill areas that you can study through short courses and develop these key skills in your own time. 

If you are able to put on small local events such as a fair, charity auction, or local gig, then this will also add to your event management portfolio and help you advance in your career as an event manager.

Finding local event organisers or event management companies in Ireland and seeking out any job opportunities is a good way to get relevant experience, especially if they have openings for entry-level roles. Several companies also now operate online, running virtual events for businesses and individuals, and therefore finding work or work experience placements is less restricted to your current location. 

Building up your own experience as an event manager by putting on local events either alone or with other event professionals can also help build your portfolio. You can often find opportunities to put on small events for charity to help raise funds. This is a great way to gain experience whilst also doing something positive for charity. You can also study Event Management courses in Ireland alongside your charity fundraising event management in order to tie in theory with practice. 

Once you have experience putting on events, you could then begin to work independently as an event manager or begin your own event management business.

Starting your own business can sound a bit daunting, but with some experience and knowledge behind you, there is no reason why you cannot begin your own event management company. 

Getting qualified in Business Management, or taking on a course in Business can be a great foundation to build further knowledge on.

In order to run a business also having knowledge of aspects such as bookkeeping and project management is key. Studying Bookkeeping, Project Management and Business courses online can help you build the skillset you need to run a business and learn about how to market yourself to potential clients. 

Event management courses can provide you with the business and event management skills you need and can also open the door to other event management jobs, such as event coordinator. If you want to specialise in specific events, such as weddings, looking at courses in Wedding Planning or other targeted areas can be a good idea.