event careers live

Experts offer reassurance to job-seekers at Event Careers Live

27 January 2020 - Submitted by Guest Author
Event Careers Live
recruitment

Exploring the multitude of career opportunities was one of the major talking points at Event Careers Live, which took place at Banking Hall, London, 24 January.  

In a session chaired by Conference News editor Martin Fullard, James Rees, the president of ICCA and executive director of ExCeL, Sarah Wright, director, Wright, Alison Willis, divisional director, Easyfairs, and Chris Skeith, CEO, Association of Event Organisers, each shared experiences and journeys into the events industry. The panel entered via different routes, with neither Rees or Skeith having degrees. Willis, who is trained in drama and English, found herself in the job by chance.

The message was clear: regardless of whether or not an individual has a degree, vocational training or is simply looking to change careers, there is a role for everyone in the events industry, and career progression opportunities are aplenty. With transferable skills across the industry’s sub-sectors, such as between venues, organisers, agencies, and technology, and then the required layers between them, such as operations, catering, marketing and sales, the panel offered reassurance that there is no set way in.

Supporting the content sessions were a raft of events organisations looking for new candidates, including TTA, Clarion Events, Easyfairs, Hyve, DRPG, CWT Meetings & Events, Ashfield Meetings and Events, Smarter Shows, WRG Live, Event Academy, Searcys, GES, and Cvent Europe.

Simon Farnfield, Mash Media’s portfolio director for Event Careers Live, said he was thrilled with the event’s inaugural run. He said: “Event Careers Live has been a success, a very busy day for all our recruiters and content sessions, a really exciting buzz around the show today. It was a good eclectic mix of job seekers here today from students to people with more experience, who came prepared with questions for our recruiters and speakers, with lots of CVs exchanged.”

Rachael Kenny, events lead at Investors in People and a mentee on FastForward15, who spoke alongside BCD Meeting & Events’ Fay Sharpe, said: “I wish this event was around when I was a graduate,” while Sarah Hutchings, recruitment manager at high-end caterer Searcys added: “The event was really good for the first one.”

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