If you are considering transitioning into event tech you may be facing the same questions all career-changers face: how do I convince someone that I can actually do this?
(Maybe you also need to convince yourself?!?)
Here’s the thing about event tech that no one really talks about – almost all of us fell into it by accident. There is no “event tech school” (although we’re changing that with Smart Event Academy), so we came into the industry with some compatible skills and figured the rest out as we went.
So if you’re not an established event tech pro — or even an event pro at all — that’s OK. If you’ve taken a look around this site, and thought that event tech could be for you, then you are “event tech compatible”. We all have to start someplace.
Here are four things you can do to prepare yourself for this career shift.
1. Identify and reframe your transferable skills
You likely already have a lot of skills that transfer over to event technology. Start by making yourself three different lists:
- People skills
- Organizational skills
- Technical skills
Skills gained through volunteer work are transferable skills!
Now, review what you do at work and in your personal life that can transfer. For example:
- Do you coach your kid’s soccer team?
- Are you a consultant who is used to having to quickly get up to speed?
- Do you regularly work with and have to manage groups of people who have different objectives?
- Do you work in high-pressure situations where clear communication is paramount?
- Do you maintain your volunteer group’s website?
- Do you spend a lot of time in Excel working with large spreadsheets?
All of these things count and are super-valuable. Add them to the appropriate list!
2. Update your resume and LinkedIn
Now that you have your list of transferable skills in hand, it’s time to update your resume and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to add in your volunteer activities — it all counts!
Pro tip: If you are updating LinkedIn and you aren’t ready to broadcast those updates to the world (or at least your boss), then you can turn off Share Profile Updates.
If you are ready to share your new career ambitions with the world, be sure to update your LinkedIn profile headline to let others know you!
3. Build your network
By building your event tech network, you will significantly simplify your job-hunting experience. So many of these positions never make it to job boards – instead they are filled by word of mouth or posted on individual profiles.
Event pros do most of their connecting and networking on LinkedIn, so if you aren’t there you are missing out.
Not sure how to start? Then take these steps:
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Look through my LinkedIn connections and followers to find event pros you are interested in getting to know, and then follow and connect as it feels right to you
- Search for “event tech” on LinkedIn and use those results to find more interesting people to follow
- Start commenting and asking questions on interesting posts (remember, other people will be able to see this activity, so not advised if you are making this career shift covertly)
- Join deexpa — the Digital Event Experience Professionals Association. It’s the only professional industry association specifically geared towards event tech pros
4. Continue to learn and grow
Technology evolves, tools change, expectations continue to rise. As you find your place in the world of event tech, continue to seek out learning opportunities.
Get started with:
- Here at Smart Event Academy we have variety of free and paid courses for event tech professionals.
- Other amazing event and event tech pros are constantly offering free and paid trainings to expand your skills. You’re already following them on LinkedIn right?
- Event tech tool suppliers offer their own courses and certifications. As you explore via this site, deexpa, and LinkedIn you’ll find what interests you.
Pick that ones that work for you. Leave the rest.
And most importantly, enjoy the ride.
