What to expect from a career as an Event Planner or Manager
Event planning may seem like a glamorous career, but it requires a lot of work. Event planners ensure that a number of different factors come together as a whole and require a wide skill set to be successful in their projects. Event management and planning programs at Ontario colleges prepare students with the organizational, leadership, communication and team work skills necessary to work in the event planning industry.
If you’ve got the right combination of energy, sociability and attention to detail for a career as an event planner or manager, here’s what you need to know.
Event Management and Planning Courses
Event management and planning programs teach students to successfully plan all different types of events, from meetings and conferences to formal dinners or parties. Courses can be categorized into three areas:
- Business Skills. Accounting, organization, time management, team work and operations are just a few of the business skills that are part of events programs.
- Industry Skills. Industry skills will cover areas like catering management, food and wine pairing, beverage theory, serving and much more.
- Personal Skills. Emphasis will be placed on career preparation, communication, confidence, leadership and self-promotion, preparing students to present themselves in a professional manner, market their services and find employment in the industry.
Hands-on training, case studies and work placements may also be part of the curriculum.
General Event Management and Planning Program Requirements
Two-year Ontario college event management and planning programs require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, which includes a grade 12 English credit and a senior math credit. Many programs are offered as graduate certificate studies, in which case prior completion of a degree or diploma program is necessary.
Event Management and Planning Jobs and Salaries
A number of different specialties exist for event planners, including:
- Personal events (weddings, birthdays, etc.)
- Festivals and concerts
- Corporate events
- Trade shows and conventions
Graduates can work for themselves as consultants or take on full-time roles in hotels, resorts, government or non-profit organizations and many other sectors, giving them exposure to a wide range of event planning.
Event planner salaries vary depending on the types of events and / or the position held with an established organization. The average starting salary for event management and planning program graduates is around $30,000 a year, but will grow with level of expertise.
Ontario Colleges Offering Event Management and Planning Programs
Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of event management and planning programs at Ontario colleges.
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