Are you thinking about a career in event management? Here are the basics.

Authored by: Krunali Shroff

#Eventmanagement is one of my favorite topics. Last summer, I took a course at #GWU and received a #professionalcertificate in event management. I highly recommend this program if you want to advance your skills in event management. Just remember it is a certificate and NOT a certification.

I have solid marketing and event experience in the professional services industry, primarily #legalmarketing, and #commercialrealestate. I have planned and executed more than 80+ events in the US and internationally including, virtual events, seminars, sponsorships, and speaking engagements to promote my clients at #thoughtleaders in their industry.

If you are thinking about a career in events, it is essential to have solid attention to detail, organization, and project management skills. This is especially important if you are planning several events at a time.

Below are some of the pros and cons of a career in the event industry:

Pros:

1. Management experience: It's a great way to gain experience in event management and people management early in your career.

If you are planning a significant event, chances are you will need assistance checking in guests, managing the door, or directing the flow of traffic as guests arrive. This is an opportunity for team building and showcasing your leadership skills to upper management. I highly recommend sending a thank you email after the event to all the employees who assisted you and their managers. Be sure to highlight the employee's helpfulness. Good work deserves to be noticed.

2. Networking opportunity: planning events in various locations is a chance to build relationships and network with venue marketing and event managers, take part in on-site tastings, and of course, field trips to the possible event site. These relationships can be helpful in the long run when you are on a time crunch and need to book a venue. It will be to know as many people at the venue and the layout of the space, rental fees, and catering requirements.

Please remember that you are representing your company, so it is important to remain professional.

3. Be part of your organization's goal: Before you start planning an event, it's essential to gather all of the stakeholders and talk about the purpose (s) of the event. If done correctly, the outcome of the event can affect your organization's ability to generate new business, which in turn affects the bottom line.

OK, so now some of the cons: A career in corporate events can lead to long hours and exhaustion. More companies are trying to do more with less, so it can be challenging to manage an event operating on a budget. You will often have to work on weekends as well or travel on weekends to prepare for an event early in the week.