So you’ve decided a career in events is for you! But now what?
Whether you’re looking to change your career path, or you’re fresh out of uni, with got some top tips from event experts on how to find your first job in events.
Best of luck to you!
Martin Hofschroer, Lead Content Strategist at Totaljobs.com
“If you’re looking for your first job in events, get exposure through volunteering. Many organisers need volunteers to support their events. This is especially true of large events created by internationally recognised brands. You’ll gain valuable experience and knowledge of the sector. Showing a willingness to support events in an unpaid capacity will look great on your CV when you put yourself forward for a paid opportunity.”
Louise Ford, Junior Account Manager at The Fair
“I would say, be prepared to start at the bottom, put your all in to the smaller jobs and take every opportunity you can get to learn. Volunteering at events will give you valuable experience and you’ll meet people in the industry and this will also help you to decide what type of events you want to work in. Do you research and look for agencies that run the type of events you want to work in and apply for internships, volunteer on their events and more times than not, this investment will pay off.”
Liz Sinclair, Director at ESP Recruitment
“1. Take part in the annual graduate competition called the Eventice, which offers final year event management graduates the chance to “win” a job when they graduate. This competition is like the Apprentice for event management graduates and has been running for 6 years and has placed over 20 graduates in fantastic jobs when they graduate.
“2. Experience is all important when looking for your first role, so it is essential to gain as much relevant experience as you can when at university, during the holidays and even on a voluntary basis once you graduate. Make sure that this events experience is hi-lighted in your CV as close to the top of the CV as possible. Also, whilst at university, make sure you are on the events committee and get involved, it shows a passion for events.
“3. Network and attend as many industry events as you can to gain contacts and then link with them after on LinkedIn. Also start following companies you are interested in working for on twitter, as often jobs are announced online and you can also keep a track of these companies and the industry which could be useful in an interview scenario.”
Nathaniel Hanna Managing Director at Stax Creations
“Your network is so important and will be the crux of building your career, go the shows you want to work on and give up your time to volunteer. Make this as important as your social life and take any opportunities that come your way to gain the experience needed to decide what part of the industry you want to work in. Once you start building your network and gaining hands on experience, people see you are hardworking and love the industry – opportunities will come your way.”
Aaron McIntosh, Senior Lecturer in Events Management at Robert Gordon University
“Employers will be looking for both qualifications and experience, so seek out opportunities for experiential learning, work experience, placements, and internships if you are studying an events course at college or university, and consider events-related volunteering if you’re not currently in education. Get yourself out there and connected!
“Develop and showcase your skills in relation to organisation, customer service, and communication (including verbal, written and, increasingly, digital media), and take on responsibilities relating to project management, people management, clients and suppliers where possible.
“Explore the range of sectors which have events roles, including charities and community organisations, PR companies and the media, and corporate and government institutions, as well as entertainment, hospitality, tourism, sport and cultural venues and organisations. Consider where your main skills and interests lie.”
Lee Biggins, Founder of CV-Library.co.uk
“Your CV needs to shine brighter than anyone else’s. Employers will be interested in any experience and qualifications you have that are relevant to the industry, so make sure these are prominent. And if you don’t currently have work experience, look to secure some; first hand-knowledge can be just as important as a degree and demonstrates your commitment and dedication to the job.” Also, we have a great new career advice section on our site with a whole area dedicated to CVs and cover letters – for anyone that hasn’t written a CV before, this article might be really helpful.”
Olivia Ramsbottom, Senior Lecturer of Business & Management at The University of Derby Buxton
“In terms of equipping students for the job market, our lecturers are professionals with industry experience, which they pass on to students. We also regularly consult with industry (and industry representatives regularly come to speak to students) to ensure that the degree content is in line with what the industry requires.
“The most important thing is to build up experience of working on events alongside the academic content of a degree, and all of our students build up their CVs (and we get them to start their LinkedIn profile in week 1) with mandatory professional development hours alongside their academic study.
“This professional development can range from working on community events (the Buxton Spring Fair) to stewarding at marathons and festivals. We also run a commercial events venue at the incredible ‘Devonshire Dome’ at our Buxton campus. So our students get the chance to work on real-world events ranging from TV celebrity weddings, 900-seater Asian weddings, boxing matches, to dinners for 800+.
“Of course this experience helps students to talk about a range of experiences, and to formulate an idea of how things really work and are made to happen. They also apply this knowledge to run their own events, and are given ‘free rein’ to pitch for, plan, implement and evaluate their own events at the Dome.
“All of this means that our graduates are already in the job market before they leave University, so they are going to hit the ground running.”
Jodie Whittaker, Events Coordinator at The Fair
“Experience is key! No matter how good your knowledge is of events and festivals, nothing compares to hands on experience. I would recommend looking for an internship to learn and gain experience within the events industry. Volunteering is also a good way to get involved with events to learn how they work and grow your network of contacts – this also shows your commitment and interest to the industry by investing your time.”
Do you have any tips to share on how people can get their first job in events? Share them in the comments or tweet us at @EventbriteUK!
