The Definitive Guide: How To Become An Events Manager
Index
What is an Events Manager?
Have you ever planned a cracker of a party and thought “I should do this as a living”? Are you innovative, full of ideas, extremely organised and enthusiastic? You could actually earn a living from using these natural skills to turn clients visions into a reality.
An events manager is responsible for planning and executing all types of events. This could include corporate events such as meetings, trade shows and product launches or you could be planning more personal events such as birthdays, weddings, christenings etc.
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Job Description
As an events manager you will be ensuring the smooth running of every aspect of the planning of an event, taking all of the stresses away from the client. Remember, the client is paying you to take the reins, exceed expectations and put on an unforgettable event that the client can be proud of.
Although at times you may feel as though you are pulling your hair out, with approaching deadlines, suppliers letting you down and demanding clients, it is a very rewarding job as you will see all of your hard work pay off at the end of each event.
It’s a very hands on role and you will have to be able to envision what the client is asking for. Some clients may trust you entirely and give you the flexibility to be as creative as you like – as long as you stay within the budget.
Customer service is extremely important, as word of mouth is great for marketing your services in this industry. You will want your clients to tell all of their friends what a great experience they had with you and the company you are working for.
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Hours of Work
You’ll be expected to work around 40 hours per week. Most of these hours will be typical office hours however of course during the running up to an event, you will be expected to work longer hours, evenings and weekends, and you will be required to attend the events, which may involve travelling.
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Main Responsibilities
So, what will your main responsibilities be as an Events Manager?
Duties typically include:- Managing, developing and producing events
- Meeting with clients to discuss their wants and needs
- Brainstorming for ideas and researching
- Keeping to budgets
- Booking venues and hiring equipment
- Forming and keeping relationships with suppliers such as caterers
- Marketing
- Keeping to health and safety regulations
- Ensuring the smooth running of the event on the day
- Travelling to venues
Key Youth Worker qualifications
Do you have the qualifications to get the job?
There are no set entry requirements for this career and event manager’s often come from a range of backgrounds. A degree isn’t essential, but there are specific degrees in events management that you could do that will prepare you for this role. The degree will normally include hands on projects and work placements, which will set you up perfectly for the working world. Other related degrees you could do are hospitality, communications or PR.
If you don’t think university is for you, you could look into completing a certificate or a diploma in events management – which will also look great on your CV. Some qualifications you could look into are:
It is possible to go into this career without these qualifications. For example you could get a job in a hotel as a coordinator before working your way up.
Vital Youth Worker skills
Want to know if you’ve got what it takes? These are the skills you’ll need for the role
- Organisational skills
- Ability to multitask
- Leadership
- Good communication skills
- Excellent customer service
- Attention to detail
- Ability to keep calm under pressure
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Creativity
- Negotiation skills
- Ability to work well in a team
- Good at budgeting
What is an Events Manager’s salary?
Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty…
YA starting salary can range from £15,000 to £18,000. After you’ve gained experience you could earn around £35,000. A highly experienced event manager can earn between £50,000 and £80,000. This will depend on the size of the events you are managing and the clientele you are working with. The more well known you are in the industry, the bigger the events you will be trusted with. You can also earn bonuses and commission on top of your salary. If that’s not motivation to work hard then I don’t know what is!
How to become an Events Manager
Now that you know what an Event Manager does, how do you become one?
Experience is vital in this industry. If you have gained work experience whilst studying then this will look great when applying for jobs. You could even volunteer or work at events to get a feel for the industry.
An apprenticeship could be a great way to learn everything from scratch within the industry, whilst gaining a qualification. This will help you to get your foot in the door, and you can work your way up and keep on developing your career from there.
How to develop your Youth Worker career
You could decide to move to a larger company or a company with larger budgets. This will mean that you are working on bigger projects and you might have even more responsibility.
Once you have more experience under your belt you could even think about setting up your own events company.
Career Opportunities
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You can find some of the best Event Manager roles with brands such as Hotel du Vin, Marriott Hotels, Harbour Hotels and many more.
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