Event manager job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed event managers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed event managers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Social
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for an event manager
What do event organisers do? Some typical tasks and responsibilities include:
- Liaising with clients, stakeholders, or other members of your team to figure out event requirements and client needs.
- Producing proposals for events including draft runsheets, budgets, suggestions for venues, sponsorship deals, suppliers, and staff.
- Managing and negotiating the contracts associated with an event. For example, contracting catering companies, venues, and people involved in entertainment like live bands or DJs.
- Booking travel and accommodation for attendees where required.
- Making plans to promote the event alongside colleagues involved with public relations, event marketing, social media, and communications.
- Ensuring the event runs smoothly throughout. This will likely require some quick problem-solving, multitasking, troubleshooting, and hospitality management.
- Managing staff at the event like caterers, helpers, entertainers, and speakers.
- Cleaning up after the event to ensure that the venue is in the same condition as it was before the event.
- Evaluating how events went using feedback from clients and attendees. Using this information to improve upon events in the future.
- Ensuring that every event is safe. This will involve making arrangements for first aid, and making sure events are fire safe and COVID safe.
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Enjoyable
Being an event planner means that your working life will involve one great party or inspiring conference after another. It’s particularly enjoyable for people who are outgoing and love meeting new people.
Learning opportunities
Event planners will build an encyclopaedic knowledge of what to do if your tech suddenly isn’t working on the night of a big launch, or who the best catering company in town is. A career in event planning brings you constant opportunities to build up your expertise.
High paying
Event planners often earn high average salaries. This is because an experienced event planner brings such valuable knowledge to any team or project. You also tend to work outside of the regular 9-5, with plenty of evening and weekend work, which can mean higher penalty rates.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for an event manager
The COVID-19 pandemic saw quite a hit to the events industry which will impact the short-term job outlook. Even as restrictions are being removed, there’s a lot more uncertainty around in-person events because of potential staff shortages due to illness. That said, AMEX global business travel predicts that in-person events will likely return to their pre-pandemic level within the next year or two. We should see event management job opportunities increase very soon.
As well, despite limitations in in-person events, event managers will find themselves increasingly involved in planning online and hybrid events. Online and hybrid formats bring great opportunities to make events accessible, increasing your potential audience. Event managers will need to be tech savvy now and into the future as the delivery of events changes.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
Junior
-
Conference coordinator
Most common qualification: Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
-
Event coordinator
Most common qualification: Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
-
Events assistant
Most common qualification: Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
-
Function coordinator
Most common qualification: Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
Mid
-
Event manager
Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Event Management (SIT60216)
-
Event planner
Most common qualification: Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
Senior
-
Conference manager
Most common qualification: Bachelor of Business (Event Management)
-
Event director
Most common qualification: Bachelor of Business (Event Management)
-
Exhibition manager
Most common qualification: Bachelor of Business (Event Management)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
People interested in event management jobs are already likely to be outgoing and organised. Soft skills that you could already have (or can develop naturally from exploring your interests) include:
Detail-oriented
You’re the kind of person who thinks of everything: you’re never short of candles for a birthday cake, and you’re quick to remember to ask your guests if they have any dietary requirements. This quality is valuable in event managers in making sure each event is comfortable for everyone and that extra bit special.
Organised and great time management skills
Booking travel and accommodation, comparing quotes, and sorting out a runsheet requires an organised mind. If you’re always on time to appointments and organise your receipts for tax time, you likely already have this skill.
Good communication skills
Event managers talk to stakeholders, team members, contracted staff, and guests. If you love chatting to people and can word your thoughts clearly, you have a valuable skill when it comes to event management.
Creativity
Making an event memorable involves coming up with and executing good, unique ideas. If you enjoy creative pursuits like writing, art, or music, you may already be honing this skill.
Adaptability
Sometimes on the day of an event, things don’t go right. If you’re someone who always has a plan B, a phone charger, or a quick fix for a tech issue, your adaptability will come in handy as an events manager.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
When looking to become an event manager, your training will help you to develop these necessary technical skills:
Budget management
You’ll need to know how to work within a budget, what to sacrifice in order to make sure your costs don’t blow out, and how to allocate funds to different aspects of an event.
Stakeholder management
Often different people you’re working with will want different things. Funders may want costs to be as low as possible, while your guests may want to attend something lavish. Stakeholder management involves listening to these different priorities and coming up with a workable compromise that suits everyone.
Negotiation skills
A great way of reducing event costs is by building relationships with vendors and suppliers, and finding ways you can get the same services for less money.
Technology literacy
Most events will involve some degree of technology, like sound systems or presentations. You’ll need to be able to troubleshoot any problems that could arise. Increasingly, events are moving online, meaning you’ll need to know the ins and outs of Zoom and other computer programs.
How to become an event manager
-
Study
No specific formal qualification is required to be an event manager. It is common for people in the field to hold formal qualifications, usually in event management or a related area. Your studies will give you opportunities to get hands on work experience through internships or other programs.
-
Get experience
Think of ways you can run an event so you gain a greater understanding of the complexities involved. Volunteer to organise the wedding of a family member or friend, or get involved in running a fundraising event for a local community group or charity.
Explore related qualifications
Event management courses are available throughout Australia. Most require three or four years of study (or part-time equivalent). Delivery can be on-campus or online, or a mix of both. Courses cost different amounts depending on the area of study and whether you are eligible for Commonwealth government support.
Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316)
In this course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of event management. Topics of study may include:
- managing computer reservation systems,
- customer service and customer experience
- facility and amenity provision
- e-commerce
- legal and risk management
- budgeting
- bump in and bump out
- people management
This course typically takes 12 months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
2 providers offer this course
Advanced Diploma of Event Management (SIT60216)
The Advanced Diploma is similar to the Diploma qualification but deepens and broadens your study. This course typically takes 18 months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete. You can complete this qualification after the Diploma course and get credit for subjects already undertaken (so it may only take 6 months to upgrade).
Bachelor of Business (Event Management)
In a bachelor’s degree focusing on event management, you’ll learn all about the theory and practice of event management in great depth. You’ll also learn about:
- business management,
- marketing
- economics
- business law
- accounting
- finance
- sustainability in events management.
This course typically takes 3 years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
Related subjects
If you’re interested in event management, you may also be interested in:
Related articles
How A Married Couple Left Their Corporate Jobs to Create a Thriving Small Business
Read More
51 Best Remote Jobs: How You Can Earn a Living Entirely Online
Read More
Career Quiz Results: The Informer
Read More
What Qualification Should You Take On? (New Guide)
Read More
Career Change Later in Life: 3 Success Stories That Will Inspire You
Read More
Career Quiz: What Job Should I Do? (Backed by Real Data)
Read More
Career Quiz Results: The Generator
Read More
Don’t Want to Retire? Why You Should Start a Business in Your 60s
Read More
Should You be Starting Your Own Small Business During a Pandemic?
Read More
How to Make the Risk of Starting Your Own Business Worth It
Read More![15 Best Working From Home Jobs in 2022: How to Make Money From Home Online [Updated]](https://www.training.com.au/wp-content/uploads/TRAU_work_from_home__Feature.png)
15 Best Working From Home Jobs in 2022: How to Make Money From Home Online [Updated]
Read More![High Demand Careers for Creatives in 2022: 15 Dream Jobs That Actually Pay [Updated]](https://www.training.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Creative-Careers-in-High-Demand_Feature.png)
High Demand Careers for Creatives in 2022: 15 Dream Jobs That Actually Pay [Updated]
Read More
A Career with Range: How a Designer Turned Property Manager Started a Flourishing Short Term Rentals Business
Read More
Upskilling in the Age of COVID-19
Read More
The Ever-Changing World of Social Media Marketing: An Inside Look
Read More
The Booming Industry of Celebrancy - An Inside Look
Read More
Why Small Business Owners Should Think About Upskilling
Read More
'I love my job!' Changing Your Career Path To Your Passion
Read More
Career Shifters: Meet a former ESL teacher who changed careers and never looked back
Read More
Is a Career in Social Media Marketing Right For You?
Read More
What Does a Marketing Professional Do?
Read More
Job cluster: The Coordinator
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Email marketing manager jobs are suited to the career personality of The Coordinator.
Do you have a system for organising the dishwasher? Are you the person in your friendship group who organises all your get-togethers? Are your important documents collated in a well-organised folder? Chances are, you’re a Coordinator. People rely on you for your efficiency, organisational skills, and logical thinking.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get into event management?
Get into event management through a mix of formal study and hands-on experience. You can earn a qualification in events management such as the Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316), Advanced Diploma of Event Management (SIT60216), or Bachelor of Business (Event Management). These will give you the fundamental skills for starting a career. You can also hit the ground running whenever you like by organising some events. Volunteer for a local community group or charity, or offer to run events for your friends and family members.
What is the definition of event management?
Event management is where you plan events and run them. It may sound simple, but this can be complex involving project management, liaising with stakeholders, negotiating contracts, managing staff, organising accommodation and travel, and troubleshooting any unexpected problems that may crop up.