How to Start a Career in Event Management: A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide
A career in event management sounds straight out of a dream, right, with all the travelling and festivals/functions involved!? Maybe it is the creative freedom that draws you in, the chance to bring ideas to life, or maybe it is the travel aspect that excites you. Regardless of your primary motive, the event industry is booming both within niche segments and the broader market. Indeed, the growing career opportunities have expanded the scope for diversity, especially for individuals with a creative vision.
So, What is Event Management?
Event management is the planning and execution of an event, including both small-scale and large-scale occasions. Usually, the lifecycle of an event involves, firstly, paying attention to each detail of the event, from the initial discussion and planning phase, all the way to the final stage of execution and wrapping up.
These events can range from personal celebrations like birthday parties and weddings to bigger functions like music festivals, award shows, corporate seminars, college fests, exhibitions, and even political rallies. Though each type of event requires a different kind of planning, depending on the audience, theme, budget, and purpose.
Types of Events
- Corporate events like business meetings, product launches, or conferences
- Social events like weddings, anniversaries, or private parties
- Cultural and college events like fashion shows, fest nights, or exhibitions
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Myths v/s Reality of Event Management
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Many of us assume that event management is just about booking a venue or choosing a theme.
But in reality, it includes a lot of intricate, detailed work like budgeting and marketing.
● Event management is just planning for parties!
Event management caters to a diverse array of events, including weddings, conferences, fashion shows, corporate events, and college fests, with each of them presenting its challenges.
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● No education or training is needed in this career!
While passion fuels your determination, knowing how to plan budgets, manage teams, handle logistics, and work with vendors requires proper learning and skills.
● Event Management is an easy and glamorous job!
Indeed, it has its fun side, but the work behind the scenes is hectic, detailed, and sometimes unpredictable.
Skills for Succeeding in Event Management
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| Key Skills | Applicability in the Profession | How to Build It |
| Communication | Talking clearly with clients, teams & vendors | Join clubs, group projects, or take up anchoring/hosting |
| Organization | Keeping track of all event details & plans | Use planners, make to-do lists, and manage a college fest |
| Problem-solving | Handling last-minute changes or issues | Volunteer at events and learn by doing |
| Adaptability | Adjusting quickly when plans change | Try managing small events with moving parts |
Hard Skills in Event Management
| Key Skills | Applicability in the Profession | How to Build It |
| Budgeting | Planning and managing money for events | Learn basic finance or take free online budgeting courses |
| Marketing | Promoting the event through various platforms | Try promoting a college event on social media |
| Logistics | Managing timelines, setups, and operations | Work backstage or assist with event coordination |
| Vendor Management | Working with caterers, decorators, DJs, etc. | Seek an internship or a shadow role with event companies |
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Educational Pathways For Starting a Career in Event Management
After the 12th, many students feel confused and unsure about what steps to take for a career in event management, which is less about theoretical knowledge and more about real-world experience.
To bridge this major skill gap in the broader Indian job market, there are proper degree and diploma programs in event management that can help you build a strong foundation. These programs teach you how events are planned, marketed, and managed from start to finish.
You can choose between a bachelor’s degree and short-term diploma courses based on your career goals. Besides, certification courses are also gaining popularity, as they add value and credibility to your professional profile.
Gain Practical Skills To Succeed in Event Management
Before proceeding to start a full-blown career in the event industry, ensure that you start early by gaining relevant exposure and skills, which will ultimately help you climb the ladder of success.
- Pursue Internships
- Seek to Volunteer
- Network & Network More
Tips to Build Your Portfolio
Once you have started getting real-world experience through internships, volunteering, or small event gigs, the next thing to focus on is how to show your work.
Here is how you can get started:
● Build a simple portfolio
Keep track of all the events you have worked on, no matter how small. Take photos (with permission), write down what role you played, and what you learned, highlighting your learnings and experiences.
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● Use social media smartly
Platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn can help you a lot. Share behind-the-scenes pictures or short stories about the events you’ve been part of.
● Create your brand
Express your personality and show what kind of events you love working on, be it weddings, college fests, concerts, or corporate events.
Navigating the Job Market
Once you have built a foundation with the right skills and hands-on experience, the next big step is figuring out how to land your first role in the industry.
Step 1:
Start by exploring trusted platforms like –
- Internshala & Naukri.com
- Community Groups on Social Media Platforms
Step 2: Build your resume and start preparing for interviews
- List out your practical work experiences (Even school/college events, volunteer gigs, or internships count).
- Highlight your role clearly, the contributions you made, and the impact created by the same, for example, you can specify the footfall of the event.
- In interviews, speak about what drives you and how you deal with challenges. Confidence matters more than perfect answers.
Step 3:
In this step, you can choose between freelancing and a full-time role depending on your convenience.
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- Freelancing is flexible and lets you explore different types of events early on, which is especially beneficial for building your portfolio.
- Working in a full-time role will provide you more structure as you work under consistent mentoring, and also receive a steady income.
Conclusion
Event management is more than putting together functions. It is about creating experiences for people, working with them, and embodying the core essence of adaptability as you learn how to stay calm even when things do not go as planned.
Parallely, core foundation matters as it lays the groundwork for your future potential and capabilities. So, if you are looking for the right institute, at AAFT, we can help you build the skills and confidence. With a diverse array of programs, be it a B.A. in Event Management or diploma programs, the curriculum is especially curated and designed to help you gain industry-specific skills and experiences that can ultimately help build a portfolio that positions you apart from the crowd.
So, explore our programs at AAFT, where you can get the right stage for expressing your creativity.
AAFT has been providing the world with limitless creativity and expression since 1993! Through a dynamic and industry-driven curriculum, AAFT provides engaging and captivating articles to persuasive blogs and empowers its readers to explore diverse avenues of creative media education-related content.
