How do I become a successful event planner?

To become a successful event planner, you should have a strong baseline knowledge of the logistics of event planning and some hands-on experience organizing events. Prospective event planners can gain knowledge through formal education, online programs, and hands-on experience.

How do I start my career in event planning?

You can start your career in event planning by getting the right combination of baseline knowledge, hands-on experience, and networking. Expertise can be gained through formal education, online programs, and work experience.

Is event planning a good career?

Event planning is a good career. Depending on your specialty, some event planners can earn upwards of $90,000 a year. Event planning is an exciting career in high demand, with lots of opportunities to advance your career in event management.

What qualifications do you need to be an event planner?

There are no formal qualifications needed to be an event planner. While it helps to have a college education in a field related to event planning, many skills needed to work as an event planner are gained from hands-on experience.

What is an event specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Joel Reece Ph.D.,

Mark Zanter

An event specialist plans and executes events for individuals or organizations. They are responsible for coordinating all aspects of an event, from selecting a venue to arranging catering and entertainment. The role requires excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Event specialists work closely with clients to ensure that their vision is brought to life, while also managing budgets and negotiating with vendors.

What general advice would you give to an event specialist?

Joel Reece Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Review job postings of career jobs you want to see what types of skills and experience they are looking for in applicants, then go find opportunities to gain those skills and experience.

Look for opportunities to get involved. It is ok to be a volunteer or have an entry level job.
Think of your job as a place you can get paid to learn. Work with the attitude to add value to the company.

ScoreEvent SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,294

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate 18%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 5.90%

Black or African American 11.37%

Hispanic or Latino 16.40%

Unknown 4.70%

White 61.38%

Gender

female 69.14%

male 30.86%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.0

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an event specialist?

Pros

Opportunity to plan and execute creative events
Networking opportunities with clients and industry professionals
Chance to work on high-profile events
Possibility for travel to different locations
Possibility for increased earnings through commissions or bonuses

Cons

High-pressure situations that require quick problem-solving skills
Potential for last-minute changes or cancelations
Need to stay up-to-date with industry trends and technology advancements
Dealing with difficult clients or vendors
Limited benefits and job security compared to traditional office jobs.

Key steps to become an event specialist

Explore event specialist education requirements

Most common event specialist degrees

Bachelor's

44.6 %

Associate

20.7 %

High School Diploma

20.1 %

Start to develop specific event specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Brand Awareness	50.74%
Product Preparation	13.95%
Product Demonstrations	5.25%
Food Preparation	4.03%
Food Safety	4.03%

Complete relevant event specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New event specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an event specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real event specialist resumes.

Gain additional event specialist certifications

Event specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific event specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for event specialists include Certified Food Manager (CFM) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

More About Certifications

Research event specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage three key concierge brands with a high level of guest service and VIP attention.
Manage RSVP lists, checked-in attendees at events, and insure guest satisfaction at all times.
Build client pipeline by using SEO, Linkedin, Mattermarks, Angel.CO.
Establish streamline budget management process, enabling overall department to effectively tracking spending trend and ROI.

Prepare your event specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your event specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an event specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable event specialist resume templates

Build a professional event specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your event specialist resume.