As with most (if not all) careers, event planning has many different entry routes. But it helps to have the essential skills required to be a successful event planner, which include organisation, communication, and imagination.
Read on for a rundown on how to become an event planner to give you a headstart in the industry!
What is event planning?
Planning a corporate event is a full-time job. Event planners’ roles vary from researching potential venues to liaising with event photographers, arranging guest speakers, and working on event marketing and advertising.
Event planners are a necessary and valued member of any corporate event team.
How to get into event planning
Event planning jobs are in high demand, so it is no surprise that many people are looking to build a career in the industry. If you are trying to break into the industry yourself then follow these steps to begin an event planning career.
1. Research the industry
Before you get started in the event industry it is important to build on your event industry knowledge. You will really stand out in the recruitment process if you demonstrate you have educated yourself on the job and invested in your career.
If you want to take your education one step further, then consider enrolling on an event course or degree offered by many colleges and universities. These are hosted by professionals who can really give you that edge over other applicants for event planning jobs.
2. Work on your transferable skills
Take a look at the jobs that you have had before and break down the skills that you have used. It is quite likely that skills you have used in your previous jobs will be transferable to a new career in event planning.
If you have worked in retail, for instance, then the customer service skills you developed in that position can demonstrate excellent communication skills that you will use to converse with your clients in your event planning job.
3. Don’t limit yourself in your search
It is important when you come around to hunting for jobs in the event industry that you do not limit yourself in your search.
It might be the case that you choose to take on a more niche job within the event industry business as a means of getting your foot in the door. Many businesses and organisations regularly look to hire professionals to plan their events and it might just be that a healthcare organisation, for instance, is recruiting entry-level positions in event planning that you can take to build your portfolio.
4. Network extensively in the industry
Networking is a crucial step to securing event industry jobs. The cliché phrase ‘it is not what you know but who you know’ applies to event planning almost more than in any other business!
In order to get your name out there in the event industry, try attending networking events and initiating meaningful conversations with industry professionals.
Alternatively, you can network online. Perhaps the best platform on which to do this is LinkedIn, where you can connect with event industry professionals who are actively looking to network.
5. Think creatively and logically
Going back to skills, to be a successful event planner you should be able to balance creative thinking with logical thinking. You need to be able to think logically about venue suitability and event budgets but also creatively – about how to decorate the venue for instance.
If you are an event planner – or even just thinking about becoming one – then get in touch with Splento and say hello.
Always here to help, Splento has professional event photographers available wherever and whenever you need one – globally. If needed, we can even be there with just a couple of hours’ notice!
And if you think that’s fast – wait until you see all your photos being edited, finalised and delivered back to you within 24 hours (and even the same day, if needed).
Contact Splento today for more details. You can book online in just 2 minutes.
