...and the many hospitality jobs, hotel industry jobs, and even international travel jobs available in event planning.
**Note: if you came to this page in hopes of finding event jobs listings, let me save you some time! Get a FREE REPORT, "The Top 25 Job Sites for Event Planning" when you subscribe to the Careers in Event Planning newsletter. This report will save you hours of researching; it gives you the direct links to pages that list openings for event planning jobs!
It is difficult to break into the event planning business if you don't have any experience. This page describes some of the paying jobs in the events industry that often hire people without experience.
OR, maybe you know that you want an exhilarating, dynamic job but don't want the "hassle" of managing every last detail for a huge event. That's great! It takes many, many people with all kinds of skill sets to make events and meetings happen. There are many other job opportunities that would allow you to work in the world of events: hotel jobs, hospitality jobs, catering jobs, event marketing, event transportation, and the list goes on.
If you can't find something on this page that intrigues you, then perhaps you aren't interested in a fun and exciting job after all!
First, to better understand the various suppliers and people who might be a part of an event, meeting, or incentive,
click here
to read about the Event Planning Industry and to see a standard "hierarchy" on how event teams are organized. It is important to understand how the industry is structured before you apply for event jobs.
Event Planning Job Opportunities
As we've discussed, there are other ways to get involved in the event planning business other than becoming an event planner. As a matter of fact, if you have no experience at all in planning events and meetings, the following are great ways to "break into" the events industry.
Read each description to find the event jobs that seems most perfect for you!
On-Site Event Managers Since an event planner can't be everywhere at once, she almost always has on-site managers to assist her with the different responsibilities. On-site event managers aren't involved in the planning process; they merely fly in to the destination (all expenses paid), help the meeting or event planner with the event, and then fly on to the next exciting destination.
***Becoming an On-Site Event Manager is the single most logical and effective way to become an event planner!!!***
Being an on-site manager is, hands down, the best way to learn the "ins and outs" of event planning before jumping in with both feet as a planner.
Click here
to learn how you can start your career in event planning as an on-site event manager!
If you don't want to be directly involved with planning events (it is, admittedly, much more work than most people realize), there are plenty of other event jobs to work in the event planning business.
Hotels and Venues Working for an event planning venue or hotel is a great way to manage events in one place; your place of work! This is a great option if you would rather stay in your home city; or, on the other extreme, if you'd like to work within a company that can take you around the world for months (or years) at a time!
Destination Management Companies
(DMCs) offer many opportunities to work in events. Working for a DMC is probably the second most effective way to break into meetings and events, particularly if you live in a destination city for events and meetings, and you would prefer not to travel so much. DMCs manage the "party" side to event planning; in particular the decor and entertainment for events. DMCs are also the local experts in any given city, and incoming event planners often hire DMCs to manage the local logistics; anything from city tours to bus transfers to activities such as golfing, boat excursions, etc. This is one of the most logical places to begin, and one of the few event jobs that does not require any experience!
Catering
This obviously focuses on the food and beverage portion of events. If the event or meeting is held in a hotel, usually the hotel's banquet department manages the food. Otherwise, at almost any other venue, the food needs to be brought in by an outside source, the catering company.
Transportation This route offers great opportunities for people who like to be active and outdoors. While sometimes the "transportation" part of an event falls under the Destination Management Company, they often work hand-in-hand. Transpo, as we call it in the biz, manages the movement of groups of people (anywhere from 1 to 10,000 or more) from one place to another, utilizing sedans, limos, and motor coaches. This is one of the best event jobs for people who like a lot of action.
Audio Visual
If you're interested in the technical aspects of setting up the event, or being a part of the live shows, then you might be interested in a job with an audio-visual company. AV companies manage the sound (music and microphones for the presenters) and the visual elements (slide presentations and video) for meetings and events.
Production "Production" is an entirely different, yet related, career path, and one of the most exciting event jobs you could pursue. Event production companies and event planners often work together to create incredible events. Production companies manage some of the most visible, and exciting, elements of a meeting, event, or show; the staging, entertainment, videos, lighting, sound, stage effects, and so on. If you have a creative streak combined with technology know-how, production could prove to be your dream career.
and remember.....
Obviously, the event planning industry is enormous, with numerous branches. Each of these side businesses, however, plays an integral part in creating large, exhilarating, amazing events.
I can't emphasize this enough: if you are interested in becoming an event planner but don't have any experience, any one of these event jobs would be a great way to break into the business!
Yes, most of us want to take the "fast track" and just start planning events tomorrow; but it is a complex, challenging job that takes years and years of experience to perfect. Most planners, including myself, after fifteen years of experience still feel as if we'll never know it all.
And, unfortunately, the competition is tough. Even people with years of experience find it competitive; so how will you compete if you don't have any experience at all?
So, start out on the right track, and first try a job in any of these industries mentioned above. I promise you, it doesn't take long; and before you know it, you'll be planning great events, living the career of your dreams!
To learn about how to find a job in one of these fields,
click here
to continue on to "Career Planning."