Are you the life and soul of the party? Do you know how to plan, organise, and manage events? If you’ve got what it takes to make it as an event manager, the first step is letting a recruiter know that. Luckily, creating an event manager CV that will wow hiring managers doesn’t have to be hard. It’s simply about showcasing your skills, talents, and education.
If you want to kickstart your career, there’s no time like the present. At Resume.io, we’ve got you covered with dozens of CV examples and expert-backed writing guides to get things moving. Add that to our field-tested templates, and you’ve got a recipe for success. In this writing guide, along with the CV example, we will take a look at the following:
- What event managers do
- How to write an event manager CV — plus a CV sample
- The best layout for your event manager CV
- Tips for each part of your CV (summary, work history, education, and skills)
- CV design tips to make your application stand out.
What does an event manager do?
Event managers plan, organise, and oversee events for business and private clients. These professionals are responsible for every part of the planning process. Typical tasks include money management and adhering to the budget, liaising with third-party vendors and entertainers, booking venues, and promoting the event itself.
Needless to say, the types of events you plan can vary depending on your experience and field. Event managers may organise weddings, fundraisers, conferences, corporate events, networking sessions, product launches, and more. If you want to make a splash in this career, it pays to choose a niche and gain a solid reputation within that sector.
How much do event managers make? Your average salary will increase as you gain experience in this competitive field. Prospects reports the following expectations:
- Entry-level event managers: £18,000 to £20,000 per year
- Experienced event managers: £22,000 to £25,000 per year
- Senior event managers: £33,000 to £40,000 per year
As an event manager, you may choose to work as a contractor for an agency. There are pros and cons to each. For example, as a self-employed event manager, you get to pick and choose projects but you have to find your own clients. If you’re working for a company, you don’t have to do any outreach, but you don’t have control over the projects you get.
How to write an event manager CV
Before you get started writing your event manager CV, you need to know what sections to cover. There’s a solid structure you can use here. Include the following on your CV:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (AKA personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
Our event manager CV sample includes all of the above. When you’re ready to get started and create your application, there are some golden rules that you have to follow:
- Do your research. First up, you need to tailor your CV to the company or agency at hand. We all know a wedding planner CV isn’t the same as a corporate CV. Read the room. Delve into the business’ background before you start.
- Use specific keywords. If you want your application to get past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), you need to pinpoint choice keywords. Take a look at the exact wording used in the job advert and pepper your CV with the same language.
- Highlight your Unique Selling Point (USP). What is your USP? Are you excellent with high-level clients? Do you have a little black book filled with entertainers’ numbers? Whatever sets you apart from the crowd, it’s time to shout about it now.
Check out our project manager CV sample, hospitality CV example, or marketing CV sample for further inspiration when creating your application.
Choosing the best CV format for an event manager
Next up, you need to choose the right CV format. Chances are, the most appropriate one is the reverse chronological approach. That means that you start with your most recent experience or education at the top and work your way back in time. This simple layout means that recruiters can quickly see your latest job role and achievements.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you are changing careers and want to highlight your skills, you may use a functional approach. If you need more information about the different choices, take a quick look at our guide to CV formats.
CV summary example: setting the stage
Your CV summary is a quick introduction to you as a professional. This 3-4 line blurb sits directly below the CV header. Focus on your experience as an event planner, what makes you unique, and the talents you will bring to the table. To save space, cut ‘I,’ ‘I am,’ or ‘I have’ openers and simply get straight into the meat of things. See our CV example:
Driven and experienced Event Manager skilled in planning and supervising small and large scale events with a positive attitude and grace. Adept in working with clients to establish event requirements, timelines, and budgets.
Employment history sample: telling your story
Chances are, your employment history will be the largest part of your CV. Show a potential employer that you have the right level of experience. As we have covered, you should use the reverse chronological approach here starting with your more recent position. Include your role, the company, and your employment dates primarily. Beneath that, you can add in any tasks you completed, exemplary events you managed, or training you gained.
Event Planner, Morrison Event Planning, Glasgow
March 2019 - Present
- Consult with clients to determine their event goals and needs prior to developing plans.
- Utilize excellent listening skills to truly understand a client's vision for their event.
- Strategize to achieve specific goals in a timely and efficient manner.
- Maintain documented requests and notes for each event.
- Negotiate favorable arrangements with vendors and event space managers.
- Develop streamlined communication processes with clients and vendors to ensure ultimate success.
- Work to resolve any issues that arise and ensure that timelines are honored.
- Coordinate set-up and clean-up for each event.
- Supervise a staff of 10 employees in addition to any sub-contracted event workers.
- Develop and implement effective marketing strategies for our services offered.
Event Manager, Pristine Events, Glasgow
June 2015 - February 2019
- Consulted with potential and existing clients to understand their event needs and goals.
- Utilized effective email marketing campaigns to boost clientele and communicate regarding our services.
- Worked to fully understand the budget and requirements for each event and generated event plans accordingly.
- Established and fostered excellent relationships with vendors and facility management persons.
- Orchestrated 200+ events per year with a 99% client satisfaction rate.
- Handled private and corporate events, including large-scale conventions and seminars.
CV skills example: showcase your talents
The right skills section can make or break your events manager CV. For the best results, you should have a mix of hard and soft skills. You need to be a good all-arounder. Hard skills may include budget management, social media marketing, and scheduling. On the other hand, soft skills include intrapersonal skills, communication, and client relations.
- Event Planning
- Customer Service
- EMS Software
- Leadership and Teamwork
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Contract Negotiation
Event manager CV education example
The education section of your event manager CV is straightforward. Use the reverse chronological approach again — begin with your most recent qualifications. When you have covered the basic information, you can bullet-point any modules or projects of interest. For example, if your coursework saw you hosting a mock event for other students, you should include that detail on your CV. Try to catch the recruiter’s eye here!
Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management, Glasgow International College, Glasgow
September 2010 - May 2014
CV layout and design: first impressions
First impressions count! An overly complicated CV is enough to put recruiters off before you’ve even had a chance. Follow our straightforward tips to get the design right:
- Make sure your event manager CV is easy to read with plain text
- Give your CV a creative edge by using a splash of colour on it
- Choose one or two fonts to use throughout your whole CV
- Try to cram too much information onto this one-page document
- Confuse hiring managers with a complicated and garish layout
- Use too many pictures, graphs, or other extras on your CV
Getting the balance right can be challenging. If you don’t have time to spare, here’s a quick cheat. You can use one of our straightforward CV templates to do the heavy lifting.
Key takeaways for an event manager CV
- Event managers should be highly organised and keep to a strict schedule to succeed.
- The reverse chronological approach makes it easy for recruiters to spot your skills.
- Wherever possible, quantify your achievements with statistics or evidence.
- Start creating an interview-winning application by using our adaptable CV sample.
