8.8 Careers in Event Management
Jobs and Roles
Entry-level positions are available in most event sectors. These jobs require little or no experience or education. They often have lower pay and fewer responsibilities. They are a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about event management. These roles are typically identified as event assistant or production assistant titles. They are usually also only available with event teams that are larger and have the volume and flexibility to train new staff.
Mid-level roles are for those individuals with some level of post-secondary education either in business, hospitality, or marketing, or 3-7 years of event planning experience. These roles pay more than entry-level positions and come with more responsibilities. These roles are often titled as event managers, meeting planners, or production managers. They often lead staff and handle the day-to-day logistics of event planning and execution.
Senior-level roles are for those with college degrees in hospitality or business. These individuals usually hold event management licenses and may have graduate degrees such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration). They usually have over 7 years of event management experience. These roles are often called director of events, hospitality director, or executive producer. These are higher salaries, often grossing more than $100,000 a year. They also have a higher level of responsibility. In these roles, client acquisition, brand marketing, and strategic planning are key components.
It is important to note that there are a host of jobs that work in events that are not directly related to the actual planning of an event. Additional jobs are available in event design, décor, and stage styling. There are also jobs specific to event audiovisual production or event technology. Some jobs focus solely on guest management, such as event marketers, sponsorship and partnership managers, and membership specialists.
Career Pathways
Individuals looking to create a career pathway in event management can do so with a combination of experience, education, and certification. There is no mandatory education or certification to work in this industry. Individuals with no experience or education can work their way up the ladder by starting at an entry-level position and gaining skills and a reputation as they work. The increase in on-the-job skills training and a solid reputation for being a team player, hard work, and achieving client KPIs consistently will create opportunities for advancement. A non-educational tract, such as that, will take time, however. Individuals who select that route should anticipate approximately 5 years in each role before moving upwards. Individuals looking for quicker career advancement should consider education and certification. A community college or university degree in hospitality is advisable. Some programs offer degrees specific to event management, but degrees in tourism, culinary, or hotel management will all provide the foundation of knowledge necessary to be successful in events. Once a degree is obtained, it is advisable to continue the education track by obtaining certifications.
Certifications
Certifications in event management are administered by associations. Certifications can be professional licenses or endorsements for specialized topics. The most common professional license for meeting planners is the Certified Meeting Planner designation, or CMP. The CMP is administered by the Events Industry Council. The Events Industry Council was established in 1985. Their purpose is to promote the industry and to create uniform standards for certification. “According to a recent industry report conducted by PCMA, meeting planners who hold the CMP earn (on average) $10,756 more annually than their non-certified counterparts” (Events Industry Council, n.d., para. 4). To obtain a CMP a candidate must have 26 months of full-time experience, or a degree in hospitality, and 24 months of experience plus 25 clock hours of continual education. Once the experience plus education minimum is met, candidates may sit for the examination. The license is valid for five years, and the individual needs continuing education hours to reapply. Additional associations also have license requirements. Most associations also have specialty certificates that are for targeted skill sets or subsectors of the industry. There are certifications specific to wedding planners or event marketers, for example. Individuals who are seeking specific skills may enroll in non-credit certification courses in accessibility, data management, social media marketing, sustainability, or AI, just to name a few. Whether a planner chooses to advance through experience or shortcut through an education route, continuing education and certification will help build their skill set and advance their careers in the industry. The event industry is continuously evolving, and to stay current, all employees must engage in continuing education.
Important Skill-Based Knowledge
A career in event management can be fun and rewarding. But it isn’t for everyone. Individuals who are successful in this field of hospitality need a special set of professional and interpersonal skills. The most successful candidates have a good working knowledge of the entirety of the hospitality industry. Event planners must schedule hotel rooms, venue space, catering, AV, furniture rental, décor, lighting, and much more. This means that they need to know how each of these industries works so that they can use them to the best of their abilities. A planner must know how catering works, for instance, to know if the requests that they are making of a provider are even possible, let alone within budget. The more a planner knows about vendor roles, the smoother the planning and contracting process is for everyone. Event planners should also have very strong budgeting and financial planning skills. Even in larger firms where someone else is handling the finances, it is ultimately the responsibility of the event manager to stay on budget. Event personnel should also have good risk management and contract negotiation skills, as well as understand marketing and sales. The more diverse the set of professional skills an event manager has, the more successful they will be and the faster they will advance their career.
Important Interpersonal Skills
Learned professional skills will only carry an employee so far. They must also have good interpersonal skills and certain personality traits. The best planners are highly organized, multitask well, and can easily handle completing tight deadlines. These people are also excellent communicators. They have advanced oral and written communication skills and can adjust their communication style quickly to any situation. Good employees also work efficiently alone as well as effectively in a group. They understand the art of hospitality and genuinely want to help people and produce top-tier experiences. For candidates who possess these traits and have a desire to learn technical skills, they will find support in one of the many industry-specific associations.
Professional Associations
There are many professional associations within the event planning industry. Professional associations are a good place to increase a professional network, learn new skills, obtain certifications, and have a lobbying voice. Specific associations exist for specific event planning sectors, such as for wedding planners, conference planners, association planners, and government planners, just to name a few. Some of the most common associations focus on broader audiences. Meeting Planners International, MPI, is the largest event management association in the world. They have a certification program as well and offer certificates in AI, marketing, contracting, etc. The Events Industry Council has over 100,000 members and is open to all types of meeting professionals. Another common association is the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE). NACE focuses on food, catering, and catering services in relation to events, but is open to all sectors of the event management industry. For those looking for more international-based experiences, the International Live Events Association (ILEA) is a good place to start. Like MPI or EIC they have a broad event focus and are open to almost everyone. Another good international association is the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). They are one of the oldest associations being founded in 1928. Lastly, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is also open to all event professionals. All these organizations offer professional networking opportunities, workshops, continuing education hours, certifications, and job boards. All these associations require active work in the industry and charge annual dues. Participation in associations is a key component of a successful career in event management.
Attributions
- Figure 8.13: NTU Graduation Week 2013, by Nottingham Trent University, is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
