Career Clinic

The expert panel
Our expert panel coprises representatives from the Hotel and Catering Training Company (HCTC), MaydayExec, Bartlett Mitchell, Learnpurple, Conran and Portfolio International.

The question
I am a BA hotel and hospitality management graduate working as a chef. I am considering a career in events management, but what do employers look for in a candidate?

Every event needs to be properly planned, be it a sales meeting of 20 executives or a huge event such as the Clothes Show. Your BA in hotel and hospitality management will stand you in good stead.

Depending on the size of the event, there are many roles to be fulfilled. You may be responsible for delegate administration - inviting participants and monitoring their registration, booking accommodation and compiling reports. In event and venue logistics, you could be responsible for securing venues, working out time plans and budgets or organising staffing teams or conference materials.

Skills needed would be:
- Strong organisation
- Excellent communication skills
-  Strong customer focus
- The ability to work under pressure
- Technical knowledge and good business understanding

The Scottish Exhibition Centre (www.secc.co.uk) would be a good venue to approach, or try the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers at www.abpco.co.uk for more information.

Wendy Bartlett, director, Bartlett Mitchell

Each week our expert panel will answer your career questions. If you'd like to submit a question, send it to chris.druce@rbi.co.uk.