Career Corner Life as an... Events manager
If you're super organised, great at planning, have a constant stream of creative ideas and, most importantly, you LOVE a celebration or party, then a career as an events manager could be perfect for you.
As can be seen in the clip above from The Millionaire Party Planner, planning a grand event is not all fun and games, and immaculate attention to detail is always required.
Here, we break down everything you need to know, from qualifications required, to working hours, so that you can become the next best events manager! *Insert party popper emoji here*
What's needed?
You might be surprised to know that it is not necessarily required for you to have a relevant qualification in events planning - practical experience can often be just as important, if not more. even just experience in organising small events and parties is a good start. Experience doing voluntary work at events or festivals would be useful, too. At the bottom of this page you'll find a list of useful links to help you get started.
Skills
As mentioned, being organised, a great planner, and having lots of creative, original ideas will get you ahead in this industry, but as well as that you'll need:
- Outstanding multitasking skills
- Good negotiating skills
- To be a great people person
- To have knowledge of managing budgets
- To be able to work under high pressure and within deadlines
Day-to-day
A lot of hard work goes into making an event look effortless, and your days will involve a number of activities, including:
- Communicating with clients to determine what they want
- Researching venues, locations, and supplies
- Negotiating with suppliers
- Ensuring everything runs smoothly
- Managing a team
Money
A starter salary would be somewhere between £16,000 - £21,000. Once you've gained some experience, you'd be looking at around £25,000 - £40,000. Further on down the line, you could earn between £50,000 - £80,000. However, these figures are just a guide and could differ from job-to-job. You could also make money through commissions and bonuses.
Working hours
Working hours will likely differ from week to week, but you will usually work normal office hours and then be required to attend events that could be taking place on evenings and weekends. You may also be required to stay overnight, depending on where the event takes place.
What next?
You could go on to manage bigger and better projects, and there is also the option of setting up and running your own events company.
