The Complete Job Search Guide for Careers in Event Planning

Jun 25, 2018 | Divyesh Amipara

Event planning is a popular and highly competitive industry that will only grow in years to come. A job in event planning is well suited to both organized professionals who are used to the stability of the corporate life as well as more entrepreneurial-minded people who are the complete opposite. In that lies its greatest strength as event planners can get their own personality across to plan one of a kind events and many event planning companies hire different kinds of people in order to gain unique insights and ideas.  

People involved in event planning tend to hold a bachelor degree. Traditionally they have been in communications and public relations however today’s event planners can come from a more diverse educational background. Further to this many universities and training institutions offer degrees and qualifications in event planning itself, generally from a business perspective. Having said that the best asset an event planner can have is real world experience as only that will give them the knack to be able to plan different kinds of events.

Many event planners can go on to specialize in certain types of events such as weddings or club nights, usually in line with the planner’s personal preferences and skill set. However, the best event planners should have the skills to organize any kind of event. Many join professional associations such as Meetings & Events Australia in order to gain networks. However now more than ever event planners are more self-employed as technology has given rise to novel ways of self-promotion such as gaining a following on social media, where they can share pictures of past events to entice their followers into hiring them.  

The event promotion and management industry in Australia is growing fast and will be a source of new jobs for years to come. IBISWorld has analysed the industry, currently employs over 20,000 people, as growing 1.3% every year. As the demand for event planning isn’t likely to go away any time soon the industry will continue to grow, and with it event planner’s salaries. While the statistics are on the side of aspiring event planners, as with any industry breaking into it isn’t easy.

Job search resources

In order to successfully gain a footing in the events industry you need to have ample knowledge of the opportunities at your disposal. Jobs in event planning are just as diverse as event planners themselves and the jobs can range from non-profit, corporate, professional conferences and weddings, all of which require unique roles and responsibilities.

For those interested in searching for event planning jobs that are out there going online is a great start to browse jobs or simply learn more about the field. You can search by industry, category of event and job title and this will also give you the opportunity to see what professional skills and qualifications the top employers are looking for in even planners.

Types of employers

There are many different types of employers and industries that offer opportunities for event planners. They include

Association Event Planning: in this job you’ll host a wide range of events for the association you’re working for. This may include a school or university, sporting club or community.

Corporate event planning: working for multiple corporate clients, you’ll plan events professional conferences, training days and meetings.

Government event planning: working for local, state or federal government, you’ll be responsible for planning public events such as festivals, exhibitions and markets.

Non-profit event planning: working for non-profit organizations, you’ll plan fundraising events that will entice the public to support and gain awareness of your charity or cause.

Further to this categorization there are many different kinds of job titles that relate to specific roles within the planning of an event, depending on what is required by the company. They include

-          Meeting Planner/Meeting Manager

-          Meeting Coordinator/Meeting Assistant

-          Meeting Director

-          Event Planer/Event Manager

-          Event Coordinator/Event Assistant

-          Event Director

-          Event Operations

-          Marketing Event Manager

-          Marketing Event Specialist

-          Communications Specialist

-          Events Specialist

-          Foundation Program Manager

-          Special Events (General)

-          Conference Events (General)

-          Catering Manager

-          Convention and Visitors Bureau (General)

This extensive list should tell you that event planning isn’t one big catch-all term and when searching for a job in the industry be sure to refer to all these different terms as they all in one way or another relate to the same job.

When searching for a job in event planning be sure to first browse different jobs in order to get to know the industry. Then you can focus on finding a job that matches your own skills and interests as this will go a long way to ensure your success in this increasingly popular field.