Ten skills for event graduates in a post-pandemic world

The post-pandemic event industry: what skills do graduates need to succeed?

The post-pandemic event industry: what skills do graduates need to succeed?

The business events industry has been in a state of flux, but the big restart is well underway. Just a scroll through my LinkedIn feed is filled with people starting new roles, returning from furlough or advertising new events job postings.

Last May, Nicola McGrane, CEO, Conference Partners International & IAPCO member spoke at the Faculty Engagement Program, sharing insights into the skills that students and young professionals need to thrive in the business events industry.

Whether you’ve graduated, are going into your third year of university or you’re making your first move into events, below we share those top 10 skills event professionals need in a post-pandemic world.

1. Become well-versed in the art of bringing people together. Overall, we still do the same job. We bring global communities together to share their knowledge and experiences. Yet, now we must do this in creative and adaptable ways that suit the client’s needs and budget.
2. Grow your technical knowledge of virtual platforms to suit all clients and budgets. Instead of just choosing your destination and venue, you’re now also choosing your conference platform. Understanding the program needs and finding the right technology is key.
3. Deepen your technical knowledge around virtual events to become a trusted advisor. The team at Conference Partners International had to quickly gain these skills to educate their clients on digital adoption and best practice.
4. Flex your creative thinking and problem solving. Program and meeting design are completely different. The attention span of delegates can be short, so a creative mind is needed to ensure a high level of engagement. ‘Snackable’ content is the future.
5. Develop your research and digital marketing skills. Without the need for travel or accommodation, the competition for digital events has increased. To counteract this, you’ll need to research and identify new target audiences for your event, using digital marketing to reach them.
6. Think and plan strategically. The marketing doesn’t stop once your event has finished. You’ll need to consider how to best use the content produced at your event to provide the best user experience.
7. Brush up on your moderation skills. Blending virtual and in-person audiences needs a great moderator. Learn how to build rapport with speakers and audiences, be an active listener, and have good organization skills!
8. Learn to think visually. Planning a seamless virtual event is like TV production. Having an eye for stage design, camera shots, creative meeting format and engaging experiences will be a big benefit.
9. Accurate time management. A minute in the virtual world is like 10 minutes in a live environment. It can be unforgiving! So, you’ll need to have the ability to plan and time sessions well.
10. Communicate effectively. Clear communication is vital for putting speakers and moderators at ease during rehearsal. This will ensure a smooth and enjoyable delivery of education when you do go live.

The IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum is a unique and free opportunity for students to gain expert insight into the meetings industry. It’s designed for you make valuable industry contacts, experience high-quality education and visit one of the biggest meetings markets in the world—the IMEX show floor.