PR/Event Management

G86

I've a HND in Media and I'm currently working in ad sales...but I really want to get into PR/EVENT Management. Because of financial problems I've had to take a year out before doing the degree year which is a one year course. The thing I'm wondering is - would it be better for be to do an evening course specialising in PR instead of getting in debt by doing the general degree? I'm also considering a move to London as theres a lot more work there in this area. As well as that I want to fit in a year in OZ!

I can't get work experience without pay as I support myself financially, I'm not sure where I go from here though.

Anyone any ideas?thanks a mil if you do

Jean05

G86 wrote:

I've a HND in Media and I'm currently working in ad sales...but I really want to get into PR/EVENT Management. Because of financial problems I've had to take a year out before doing the degree year which is a one year course. The thing I'm wondering is - would it be better for be to do an evening course specialising in PR instead of getting in debt by doing the general degree? I'm also considering a move to London as theres a lot more work there in this area. As well as that I want to fit in a year in OZ!

I can't get work experience without pay as I support myself financially, I'm not sure where I go from here though.

Anyone any ideas?thanks a mil if you do

There was another post recently looking for advise on courses on event management. I think that practical experience would be more valuable.

I've a friend who, with some friends, organise parties in their spare time. TBH I don't know a lot of what goes on behind the scenes but what seems to have happened was that they'd a broad group of friends so they'd invite everyone to a bar and charge an entry fee. They started about 7 years ago and all have other day-jobs, but since the day-jobs weren't very demanding they could donate more time to their hobby. I think they've set up a company now, just for these event which can be big or small. (They probably had to set one up to make things official?) It's not in Ireland BTW. They don't advertise formally either, just text messages and word-of-mouth...

(Apparently) they don't do it for the money, I'd believe it too because they keep their entry prices low. They just do it for the craic. I've often thought that if they were ever to give up the day-jobs and do event management professionally they'd be great.

So my point is, maybe you can use your own network to work in that industry, start small and just do it yourself. I can't advise about which course you should do but maybe you don't have to move to London to do this?

G86

Well you see I'd mainly like to get into the PR side of things, with event management as an option. And PR jobs in Dublin seem to start off with pretty lousy wages and they are few and far between. I want to move to London anyway I think though, that wouldn't be the main reason,I'm just trying to figure out if I should do the general Media degree or PR related Diploma.

athtrasna

I fell into event management by accident. My education is totally unrelated to PR/media/EM but I still got the job.

Don't waste your time getting extra qualifications, experience is more important. EM is all about having an eye for detail, expecting the unexpected and making sure that if anything goes wrong, you're the only one who notices! You can't learn that on a course.

G86

thanks for all your tips regarding event management, but the main area I'm interested in is Public Relations, event management being merely a part of it.

Can anyone offer any advice on what qualifications I need?

Thanks again for the advice so far, I really appreciate it

Pythia

This place is supposed to be good for PR/Event Management.
http://www.fitzwilliaminstitute.ie/

G86

chhers for that, I actually have checked it out before and its the course I was considering doing, but the question is do I do it or do my degree in General Media?

damnyanks

While having a degree directly related to a specified work field is always an advantage normally it isn't required.

Jean05

I wonder if there are any correspondence courses you could look into?
That way, you'd still be earning and if you didn't finish the course you wouldn't have any gaps on your CV.

You know, Fas does a course in Marketing & Public Relations - a one year course (in Galway).

G86

I'm based in Dublin, I'd gladly pay to do the course with a good college.

Fitzwilliam is meant to be great and its an evening course. I'd definitly finish though, I'd never quit half way through!

I guess I just have to decide myself whether I want the degree for prides sake or if its going to be more beneficial than the diploma in PR.

Pythia

I think doing the general degree first is better as it gives you something to fall back on. Maybe you won't like PR after a few years?
A degree opens a lot of doors, especially certain jobs which just require a degree of any kind to be eligible to apply.
But at the end of the day, do what you feel happiest doing. No point in doing a degree if you don't like it much or lose interest and then fail.

G86

I love the degree course, and its only a year. But the problem is cash...

I think I'll apply for it as a mature student when I'm 23 and back from travellling.

apes_h

I worked in one of Ireland's top event management companies and I completely fell into my job. I had zero experience or qualifications in event management. If you want to get into event management try and free lance for a while to get as much experience as possible, or try and get an internship.

I would stay away from the courses in fitzwilliam or the one in DBS, it's a joke. My boss told me that he and other companies try not to hire people with those qualifications as they have completley unrealistic expectations of event management and never end up being very good. The lecutures in fitzwilliam are also known as a joke in the event management industry.

Jugs82

Hi,

Ive been working in Event management for afew years now and like others, just kind of fell into the job.

I completly agree with the previous poster who said that experience is key, It is! Qualifications are all well and good but generally a good degree in any related discipline is considered (Business/Arts etc..)

Ive sat in on interviews with people who were so unbelievably motivated to get involved in Event Management but my impression was that most thought it was a glamorous, high flying type job - im not saying that it cant be but there is alot of behind the scenes work, tedious jobs etc.. that ensure a good event. The ones from a General business background impressed me far more but this would be from a relatively small sample

Most companies looking for a marketing person would view event management favourably as most companies participate in some shows/exhibitions throughout the year - perhaps getting experience through applying for marketing positions may be an option??

Best of luck!