Events and occasions are an integral part of human life. We simply cannot bypass them as they touch almost all aspects of our social existence. Birthday celebrations, social gatherings, engagements, and weddings are events we celebrate at a personal level.

During academic years there are school events such as annual day functions, inter and intra school contests, sports day celebrations, followed by college and university level festivals. In the sphere of work, there are annual general meetings, exhibitions, marketing campaigns, conferences, product launches, and brand development activities. Other events such as fashion shows, cultural programs, talent hunt shows, promotional campaigns, religious gatherings and so on also play an important role in our life.

And what’s more, all of us have been a part of these events from time to time. We either organise these events or take part in the show. Either way, we want these occasions to go on as per our expectations and in doing so we often seek professional help. However, we do not pay much heed to the people who assiduously put in their effort and creative talent to make these events memorable and successful. They are the event managers.

Event management is a multifaceted activity. Major constituents of this profile include creativity, meticulous planning, relationship management, advertising and marketing, and much more, all rolled into one seamlessly choreographed process.

Event management is fast catching up as a hot career option owing to the increasing trend in the retail and marketing sector. It involves:

• Organizing an event with a focused goal for a target audience
• Visualizing concepts
• Planning
• Budgeting
• Executing events
• Working on fashion shows, concerts, seminars, exhibitions, weddings, themed parties, product launches, etc.

As you gain experience, you can start a PR consultancy firm to develop press relations. You can arrange youth camps for children or a trekking tour for youth or executives. An interesting area in Event Management is organizing parties and disco nights. 

Career Roles & Responsibilities

An organisation that is into the event management business offers numerous positions to job seekers. The following are some of the departments in a typical event managing company:

• Public Relations – managing a vast gamut of people ranging from clients, artists, stage performers, government officials, public, and so on
• Promotion and Marketing – for promoting the image of the organisation and also for marketing the event to the public at large
• Brand Development – a talent pool that is responsible for managing client requirements pertaining to brand restructuring
• Designing – team of creative people who visualize and then prepare design layouts for the stage, costumes, accessories, and so on
• Administration – the department that is responsible for back office and general administrative tasks
• Production – a team comprising of media professionals who manage the production and editing of audio-video related media
• Printing – department that takes care of printing all sorts of marketing collaterals and promotional items

Career Education Path Summary

There is no minimum qualification required to become an event manager. Anyone with strong organisational skills, creativity, and excellent PR skills can enter the industry. However, if you decide to undertake a qualification to prove your talent and knowledge on your CV; there are various professional courses available.

Graduate careers advisors Prospects say: “You don’t need a degree to become an events manager and you can work your way up from an assistant position, gaining experience as you progress. It may be useful to take the Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning, although not essential.”

• National Institute of Event Management, Mumbai. 
• Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi (http://www.ignou.ac.in/) 
• Indian Institute of Event Management, Mumbai. 
• University of Mumbai, Mumbai.

Entrance Exam

There is no need to pass any qualifying examination to build up a career in Event Management. However, most of the firms insist on graduation as the basic qualification. As sound knowledge in English is preferred for these kinds of jobs, graduation in English is desirable

Institutions that offer event management as a vocational study program are few and far between. Most of these institutes offer certificate and diploma courses. On the other hand, event management companies prefer candidates who have earned their qualification in allied fields such as a degree or a diploma in Public Relations, Tourism, Hospitality Management, Sales or Marketing.

Apart from educational qualifications, content developers must possess certain inbuilt qualities with them. The aspirants must have strong skills to analyze and research the topic to which the content is to be developed. They must be conscious of the requirements of the target customer and the intention in developing such an event.

There are some courses related to Event Management are-

• Certificate Course in Event Management (CEM) 
• Diploma in Event Management (DEM) 
• Graduate in Management/Event Management 
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Event Management (PGDEM)

Entry-level event management qualifications:

– Level 2 Award in Event Planning

– Level 2 Certificate in Live Events and Promotion

Higher-level event management qualifications:

– Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Event Management

– Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Event Management

– Level 3 Diploma in Live Events and Promotion

– Level 4 Award in Conferences and Events Operations

Qualifications can help you with event management theory, but they’re by no means essential. Even with an event qualification, you’ll still need to find work experience in the industry to make you an attractive and well-rounded candidate. Being able to show potential employers that you have hands-on practical experience will stand you in good stead.

Tips to help you start your career in events

• Be up-to-date with market trends

The events industry is always progressing, stay on top of market trends and emerging technology by reading blogs, articles, and books by industry experts. Make a note of the resources you use and be sure to mention them in your interview – it’ll show willingness.

• Know what events companies are right for you

Although some events companies will work with a variety of events, many will specialise in one type. This can be charity, music, corporate or conferences, etc. Do your research into each of the sectors – more on this later – and make sure that you target the right company for you.

• Network

Social media makes networking easier than ever before. Sign up to Twitter and LinkedIn and start following and connecting with industry influencers, event companies, and relevant people. Listen to what they say and interact with them where you can. Once you’ve built that online relationship, be brave and contact them directly asking for advice or potential job vacancies. Learn how to use social media to the network by reading our guide.

• Be creative at the interview

In such a creative industry make an impression by thinking outside of the box. If you haven’t been asked to prepare something for the interview, take the initiative and come up with some ideas that would help raise the profile of their company. Going above and beyond will prove your enthusiasm for the industry.

• Do work experience

In the competitive events industry work experience is a must. An event management apprenticeship, internship, or university placement will give you a good introduction to the industry as well as look great on your CV.

Prospects say: “Relevant experience, either paid or voluntary, and knowledge of the industry is essential to break into this competitive field. Some degree courses have an optional year in the industry and this can be a great way of developing relevant experience and making industry contacts.”