Finding Event Management Jobs

Various event management jobs employ approximately 57,000 professionals throughout the US. Employment for event planning is available in different industries such as religious organizations, non-profits, or government agencies. 14% of all event management careers are in the hotel industry. Roughly 6% of professional event planners work as independent contractors, and the remaining ones work for educational institutions or independent event planning agencies. Event planning is also a popular career option throughout the UK.

Event planning affords the opportunity to work in a wide variety of areas. Professional event planners on both sides of the pond typically stage large scale events such as:

* Industry trade shows

* Music festivals

* Conferences

* Product launch events

* Charity fundraising events

Event Management Salaries

The average event planner's salary is around $45,000 per year on average. Some planners with several years of industry experience can earn up to $75,000 with some hard work and dedication. These specific salary figures are comparable for both the US and the UK. Some supervisory event planning jobs can have slightly higher salaries in some cases. Common college or university degrees that can be helpful for event planning include:

* Public relations

* Business communications

* Hotel management

Some event managers enter this career field from other unrelated areas or even without a formal college education. They can usually gain the needed experience on the job and while learning from more experienced planners. Good speaking and writing skills are especially helpful for event planning as well. Event management professionals also need to be able to work in busy, fast-paced environments and interact with many different people. Prior supervisory or management experience can also be a plus. Common entry level positions for these types of event planners include assistants and sale representatives. These jobs often come with basic responsibilities, although they can be valuable experiences for learning about this industry from the ground up. As with many types of career areas, building a good network of contacts can be helpful for future employment.

Applying for an Event Management Job

Event management jobs are often fairly easy to obtain with prior experience and references. A college degree in a related field is usually helpful in many cases. Many event planners gain their first practical experience with school internships. A good event planning resume includes information such as the names of past events and data measuring the numbers of attendees from one year to the next. Increases in attendance are particularly good indicators of a seasoned professional. Aspiring event planners without formal career experience can often create effective resumes by listing their past job positions and describing how this experience is relevant for event planning. Recommendations from past supervisors are also indications of a strong candidate for an event planning job position.