The Importance Of Networking

Sometimes it’s unfortunate, sometimes it’s great - either way in the events industry (particularly the sporting events industry) networking is one of the biggest sources of recruitment. You've heard before but people will hire their friends and former colleagues or they will hire people recommended by their friends and former colleagues.

It’s not always fair and it’s not always the right decision but it’s something which is unavoidable in the industry. Getting a job in events is about luck, good timing and ultimately who you know. (of course a great cv and experience are a must too!)

I recently attended a talk by the founder of Sports Recruitment International who stated that almost all of the sports event jobs in the current market will use some degree of networking during the recruitment process. It’s a big industry but a small world where everyone knows each other and I have to admit that the last 2 contracts I have worked on have came around because I was recommended by people I have worked with before.

Networking should come naturally and not be forced. Work hard, talk to people, keep up with people after the event, but never force yourself on them, it isn’t an attractive quality. I have found that things often come up when you least expect them.

It’s not impossible to get into the industry without networking, many big companies do use traditional methods of recruitment – my first job at the Commonwealth Games I secured simply by applying on the company website. So don’t fret if you’re looking for a job in the industry, all you need to do is get your foot in the door and go from there.

Ultimately once you have a job in the industry your reputation is what is going to keep you there. You never know who will be working at the next organisation you apply to, so treat everyone with respect. My biggest pet hate in the events industry is people who only talk to someone they believe can get them their next job, someone they would never be friends with outside of work but go above and beyond to try and impress them, ignoring others they don’t think can benefit them in the future. This to me is not networking, this is (for lack of a better term) ass kissing and it can be spotted a mile away! Networking is doing the best job you can and being respectful of everyone you work with, talk to your colleagues about their future plans, meet up with them for drinks after work, go for coffee before a meeting – these are the things people remember and these are the small but significant factors which may help you get your next job.

Event Uniforms - The best and worst!

One of the best things about working in events is getting your uniform. Your uniform means you are part of the team, you are ready to do your job and most important of all you are the face of the event.

Once in uniform spectators don’t know if you a volunteer or the venue manager so it’s always important that you conduct yourself in the best manner possible.

Uniforms can range from a simple t-shirt with the event name to a full on kit including bag, shoes and multiple items of clothing, you probably all remember the red and purple games makers uniforms from London 2012!

Your uniform has to be practical, durable and wearable in all weather conditions. For summer events you may need a hat and similarly for winter events a warm jacket. Most importantly you have to be identifiable, both to spectators and to your other colleagues. Another benefit of having a uniform is not having to think about what to wear every day, especially handy during busy event times!

 I have had a good few uniforms whilst working on events, some good, some not so good and I always love to see what the big international events come up with. In fact I picked my latest uniform up today (see my twitter withjulez for a sneak peak!) 

Below are some of my favourites from recent years, for very different reasons!!

The now famous London 2012 uniform

Sochi went erm.. retro for the Winter Olympics!

There was a very..bright(!) ensemble at the Asian Games in 2006...

   

One of my favourite uniforms was in Vancouver 2010

The Beijing uniform in 2008, very similar to the European Games in Baku this year.

What are your thoughts on event uniforms, love them, hate them!? Let me know!

Dealing with the Post-Event Blues!

One of the major down sides of working in events is the dreaded post event blues. You’ve worked tirelessly for months on end, made friends for life and have experienced almost every emotion possible and then just like that it’s all over. Everything you have worked so hard for is suddenly irrelevant and people have moved on.

It’s a horrible feeling and one that unfortunately comes with most big events! You actually miss waking up in the middle of the night worrying about barriers, miss the sound of your radio being constantly in your ear and you miss seeing your friends and colleagues every day. It’s especially difficult if you’ve had a longer contract and spent the last few years of your life dedicated to making it happen, only for it to end and you have no idea what to do with yourself or your new found time.

Now if you’re extremely lucky you may have a few days of rest then have another job lined up but for a lot of event professionals, one job can finish and you have no idea what you are going to do next. It’s a horrible feeling and one which unfortunately never gets any easier!

London 2012 closing ceremony

I wish I had some magic advice to help beat the post event blues but for me it happens every time I finish a contract, even on particularly difficult events. The only recommendation I have is to try and plan ahead - make sure you can support yourself financially and try where you can to start looking for a new job before your current contract has finished, even if it just means sending an expression of interest to future events. Keep an eye out for job postings and talk to your colleagues about their future plans, it might inspire you. 

Every time you finish a great event you find yourself wondering if you’ll ever have a job as fun again, or a team as supportive again but you just have to pick yourself up and start looking for new challenges. What I would say is to make the most of your time, look for new opportunities, perhaps ones you have never even thought of before. Get up early and use your time wisely, don’t sulk all day watching daytime TV and feeling sorry for yourself! Try a new sport or hobby, catch up with friends or go travelling, keep yourself busy and productive instead of staying inside all day.

Some people on the other hand may be delighted their event is over and never want to see any of their work colleagues again, however most of the time you secretly miss the crazy event life…which is why so many people stay in the industry and do it again and again! Event life as we all know is addictive and a little case of the post event blues isn’t enough to make us give it all up.

If anyone out there has any advice to beat the post-event blues be sure to let us know, I could definitely use a few tips!

Glasgow 2014 closing fireworks 

Event Life - Taking care of yourself

Now anyone who has ever worked on an event will know that the lead up to the event is the busiest, most stressful and most physically demanding part of the job.

There will be long hours, sleepless nights and non stop running around to get the event ready.

Whilst working hard and putting every effort into getting the event ready is very important you also have to remember to take care of yourself. Tiredness causes quick tempers, mistakes and sometimes health problems such as anxiety and stress. I have often seen people's personalities completely change during event time and it's simply due to the pressure of getting the event ready on time. 

With this in mind here are a few things that should help make you the best you can be during event time.

Sleep - where possible try to get a good nights sleep. You will be no use to anyone on 2 hours sleep and it's important to rest your brain and your body - even if there is a quieter period during the day that you can have a quick nap it will do wonders for you if you have to work through the night!

Eat properly - whilst it's tempting to eat junk food, or simply miss meals because you don't have enough time to eat (which you can often do without even realising) this is not healthy when working on events. You need energy to keep going all day and to get this you need to be eating healthy food throughout the day! Carrying a snack bar in your pocket or even a piece of fruit is a good way to make sure you can have something to eat during busy times and it's important to get a good meal inside you to keep your brain working.


Drink properly - it's important to stay hydrated, especially during outdoor events. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, which although sounds easy enough, is something you often forget to do when in event mode. You'll be amazed at what a lack of water can do to a persons body and brain!




Stay fit - event mode requires hours of running around venues doing checks and meeting people. It will be beneficial to start preparing for this prior to your event by maybe walking to work every day, or going to the gym. It will just give you that extra bit of stamina required when working 17 hours a day covering miles at a time. I like to wear a pedometer during events just to calculate on average how many steps I take - it's usually a lot! 

Time off - now it's not usually possible to take time off during the event so it's important to have at least have some time off before it starts just to give yourself time to relax before the madness begins! I know it's easier said than done and it's very hard to switch off in the lead up to an event, but it's important to have a day or even half a day of total rest just so you don't end up running yourself into the ground during the busiest times. 

Prepare - The most important one. Event time is hectic, some events for example the Olympics can last for weeks, leaving you no time for your personal life outside of the event bubble! To reduce stress I therefore recommend planning early - get all your birthday cards, shopping, clothes, dentist appointments in before the event starts so you don't have to worry about anything else. A venue manager once told me to email my family and friends and let them know not to expect to hear from me until the event is over. Initially I was horrified but turns out she was right - hopefully like me you have understanding friends and relatives who won't be offended when you don't reply to their texts until 3 weeks later! Another tip is make sure you have broken in your shoes and have plenty of extra socks.. for some reason I never have enough socks at event time.


Hopefully this will help you in the lead up to your event because ultimately your health is the most important thing and this should all help make your experience more enjoyable! Let me know in the comments if there is anything else you do to prepare yourself for an event.