entrants per year,” says Cooper.
Davidson explains that at Westminster,
the post-graduate class in-take is
capped to around 20-25 students so we
can give each of them a dedicated
service. Although it is hard for graduates
new to the industry to obtain job roles
right now, there are things they can do to
make themselves more desirable.”
These issues include being flexible
enough to go where the work is. “You
should be prepared to move around to
different locations to kick-start a career,”
says Davidson. “For instance, someone
in Southampton who isn’t prepared to
think about going outside Hampshire will
not get as many opportunities as
someone who is willing.
“Networking is this
year’s buzz world.
Students who give up
some of their spare
time and do some
volunteer work”
“I also think ‘networking’ is this year’s
buzz word. Students who give up some
of their spare time and do some
volunteer work catch the eye immensely.
Shows like International Confex and MPI
have allowed students to help out over
the years, and this looks great on the
CV,” explains Davidson.
Another avenue graduates can explore
is the potential of looking abroad for
work. A senior lecturer at Greenwich
University says: “As well as agreeing
that work experience and volunteering
are valuable to one’s CV, graduates
should look overseas for job potential.
“It shows willing and a pro-active
attitude. Plus, a lot of companies abroad
like to have a good mixture of
nationalities on their teams, to aid with
communication channels to as many
countries as possible,” he explains.
So, there are some key pointers for
any graduates who are coming to the
end of their courses. Once the mortar
boards have hit the floor, the hard work
doesn’t stop there. There’s a lot of work
to be done before the champagne
quaffing can start.
CONFERENCE
Career Path:
Zoe Watts
Head of catering and
events, The National
History Museum
Zoe Watts on what’s needed for
a career in events.
What was your first full-time job?
I was an assistant manager on the
graduate training scheme for a
national restaurant chain. It was a
great introduction to hospitality
business management.
Is there a type of person that ‘fits’
into the events and hospitality sector
and meetings industry?
Someone who is prepared to be
flexible in their approach, who is not
looking for a glamorous career and
can commit to some pretty
challenging hours.
When recruiting, what are the top
three personal qualities you look for
in new staff?
I look for someone who can
demonstrate attention to detail, a
team spirit and who isn’t fazed by any
eventuality.
Are events management graduates
coming along in increasing numbers
to apply for posts and do their skills
impress?
Yes, events graduates have a
theoretical knowledge that is second
to none and, in most cases, have had
great work experience in some of the
leading venues and event companies.
Many have said that people just ‘fall
in’ to the events industry. Is this a
bad thing?
No, I did it! If you’ve fallen into it and
stayed here it proves that it’s the right
career move. It’s not a career to feel
half-hearted about.
With the tightening of the market
and recessionary pressure on staff
FEATURE
numbers, is the events sector more
vulnerable than others?
Yes, the events sector is more
vulnerable. However, if you scrutinize
your business there are numerous
efficiencies to consider before
reducing the size of the team, Also,
its a question of balancing long term
strategies with short term gain.
Any cuts or redundancies to report
recently?
Thankfully not.
What trends in career paths and
recruitment in the events industry
do you see in the near future?
Short term, I think we’ll see event
companies creating more strategic
roles to maximize the upturn in the
market post-recession. Business
development and marketing roles will
be created to secure the business
long term.
On another note, it’s vital for
everyone starting out in the events
industry to appreciate the importance
of making contacts. It’s a close-knit
industry, so appreciate the value of
all the contacts that you make and
build on your relationships with
others, with whom your paths may
cross throughout your career.
CONFERENCE NEWS JUNE 2009 13
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