Event Management: Courses & Careers

Event Management: Courses & Careers

The event management industry is incredibly exciting so it’s no surprise that careers in event management are becoming more and more sought after. There are so many rich opportunities to pursue in this field, and as the Jawbone crew, we can vouch for the satisfaction of working in event planning. This blog post is all about the best ways to get into a career in event management.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

WAIT, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN EVENT MANAGEMENT & EVENT PLANNING?

Our wise friend, Wikipedia outlines the difference between event management and event planning. While they overlap on a whole, they just hone in on different aspects. Event management centres more on the project management elements of an event on a whole while on the other hand, event planning is seen to encompass more of the detailed planning and coordination – think budgets, permit acquisitions and dealing with third-party suppliers.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT EVENT MANAGEMENT COURSE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

This comes down to knowing your skills and your passions and pursuing a niche that works in your favour. There are so many different facets of event management – ranging from corporate and cultural to non-profit and social. Do you see yourself kicking off an exciting corporate road show? Or how about a weeklong team-building event or training seminar? Do you want to be instrumental in launching a product to the public? How about a fundraising music concert or a sports sponsored event? Knowing where you see yourself succeeding is a good way to ensure you’re setting yourself up with the right skills and exposing yourself to the right kind of training and experience.

WHAT DO EVENT PLANNING COURSES COVER?

Event planning relates mostly to the planning aspects and the GetSmarter website helped us to identify some of the key elements you can expect to learn about when you get started in an event management degree or course. Here are some examples of what it could include:

  1. Understanding the key role players
  2. How to bid for, and secure an event
  3. The ideal approach to organising an event from a project management perspective
  4. Exploring the intrinsic details of decor and design
  5. Getting to grips with the financial aspects of event planning and budgeting
  6. Managing and procuring sponsorships and risks

Along with GetSmarter, Boston College, College SA and Damelin all offer event management courses. Why not take a look to see if you can find one that works for you?

EVENT PLANNING COURSE, DEGREE OR PART-TIME TRAINING?

This all comes down to whether you want to specialise or do a course that will up-skill you in a certain area that you’ve already been exposed to, or trained in. If you don’t need to pursue a full-on course, why not look into the various event management short-courses that will help you hone a specific and necessary skill, give you a competitive edge in the event management industry. Often you’ll find that many of these courses are part-time, giving you the flexibility to manage your event planning course along with other commitments or a day job.

SOFT SKILLS VS HARD SKILLS

Working in the events industry means you’ll need to work on building your competency across both hard and soft skills. Don’t worry if these don’t all come naturally to you, that’s the reason that event management courses and degrees exist. In our opinion, some of the most valuable qualities and event planning skills are:

  • Having a keen eye for detail and a stickler for the small things
  • Embracing change and thriving under pressure
  • Being good at communicating and managing people (and opinions)
  • Being an even better listener
  • Be proactive, creative and innovative
  • Open to juggling many balls at the same time

ANY QUESTIONS?

Our team would love to chat about their experience in event management. Give us a shout.