By Denise Harris

Events span a wide range of different areas and the job opportunities within them can vary. If you are, however, just leaving school and thinking about a course to take to learn about the industry or just about to leave college or university and looking for a job, then some of the information below may help you.

Get the right skills
The industry revolves around people, so good communication skills – both written and verbal – are vital. Speaking another language will also help, as many events happen outside of the UK .

Most of the jobs for those joining the industry require good computer skills, so being proficient in word processing and spreadsheets is a must. If you are keen on the design side of the industry, then you will need experience in graphics applications.

Other skills you should consider learning include planning, negotiation, teamwork, leadership and time management. The technical side involves expertise in areas such as lighting, stage design, sound, video, which all require certain skills. There are courses and colleges which specialise in these areas.

Check out possible courses
Many employers look for experience over qualifications, but this is changing and as the events industry grows, there are more and more courses offered at colleges and universities. Eventually, it is likely
that a qualification in events will be a prerequisite, so it’s worth
checking these out.

Find out if the course offers on-the-job training, as this will enhance your academic studies and help to build up your work experience to add to your CV. This could either be clocking up a certain amount of hours during your course or taking a placement in a company.

Find out if the courses are taught by industry practitioners as well as academics, as you will benefit from their first-hand experience. The degree courses in events are usually three years and some can be part time, which will suit someone who wants to work as well as study, but these will take you longer to qualify.

Do your research
If you really are keen to pursue a career in the industry, then carry out some research! There are many relevant publications, and most of offer discounted rates for students. These will outline new trends, feature venues and reviews on events that have taken place.

There are also exhibitions you can attend, where you’ll get the chance to meet industry experts, venue representatives and other suppliers. Being proactive by putting yourself out there could very well lead to you making some great contacts and maybe work experience. Most employers look for young people who are keen to listen and learn, and willing to go the extra mile, so being seen at industry functions can help.

Get a foothold
Find a job can be difficult at first, as the industry is small and competitive, although there is a large freelance market that supports the larger events, and many companies use freelancers on a regular basis.

If you are just starting out, however, a permanent job will be a better route to follow, as it will give you an all-round view of how a company works and how an event is put together.

There are recruitment agencies that specialise in jobs in the events industry. In addition to specialist companies and agencies, there are councils and charities that run events that look for both volunteers as well as permanent staff members. Searching in your local area for possible job opportunities is a good place to start.

Working in events is fun and fast paced, often involving long hours and it can be very demanding, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, the rewards are great.

Good luck!

About Denise Harris
Before joining the events industry, Denise worked in the travel industry in Italy, Switzerland and the USA .

Denise worked for several production companies specialising in logistics until she went freelance in 1992. Since then she has worked in both conference production and incentive travel. She has been responsible for the logistics on a number of large overseas projects and, more recently, she has run the logistics on a number of large government events.

In addition, Denise is a qualified industry trainer and lectures part time for Thames Valley University on their degree course in Event Management, and has presented several sessions at Meetings Professionals International European conferences.

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