In the first of our new Next Gen Edit series, micebook’s own Elissa Wilson, who recently joined us as a newcomer to the industry, reflects on her entry to the sector and shares her thoughts on how we can better attract and support next gen talent…
Graduating from drama school in 2023, all I could say for certain was that I no longer wanted to pursue a life of bar shifts and ad hoc auditions. Never could I have predicted that a year later I’d be throwing myself headfirst into the world of MICE.
My first real passion for events began from a Pinterest board of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with the pipe dream of making an event for an award-winning chocolate brand. I’d seen a PR event online and thought, “Yeah I could do that, and I would love doing it.” The real challenge I faced, however, was where on earth did I start?
I attacked the process head-on and applied for nearly a hundred jobs. The feedback was always the same: “We really like your enthusiasm, but you just don’t have enough experience.” This is something that I believe is particularly challenging for the next generation, with roles being advertised as entry level, but a minimum of two years of experience being required.
Finally, after a round of interviews, I met Chet and Jo with a presentation and a smile, and excitedly landed my role with micebook. If there’s a single piece of advice I can give to anyone wishing to enter the industry, it’s to be persistent. Keep applying and stay up to date with industry discussions; the more you know, the better!
When I started my role and began immersing myself in the industry, I was met with a reality that was in equal parts challenging and rewarding. Naturally, the events world isn’t just about the final product; it’s about the countless hours of planning, problem-solving, and coordinating behind the scenes.
Interestingly, this, for me, has been the most exciting part about working for micebook so far. The networking is fun, and it’s always brilliant to meet new people, but the hours spent working and contributing to all different areas of what goes into making an event is by far my favourite part of the job.
As a next gen newcomer to the events industry, I think it’s important to consider how we can make this space more inclusive and appealing to young talent that may be considering a career in events, who often hold differing expectations and skillsets.
The impact of Covid had long-lasting effects on my age bracket in particular. Having to isolate and being unable to interact with others at both the end of school and the start of University prevented so much meaningful social interaction. This, from personal experience, has established a magnitude of anxiety within young people. It poses challenges when so much of the events industry requires walking into a room blind and talking to as many people as possible.
Sometimes there can be an unjust perspective that the next generation of professionals are lazy and unmotivated through a lack of willingness to attend networking events and socialise out of hours, but I think being open to understanding why so many find it so difficult and consequently choose not to attend networking events, is a step in the right direction. Just being open to these types of conversations can go a long way, and in the long run will be beneficial to both parties by creating a shared understanding.
To attract the next generation, we also need to showcase the diversity of roles and opportunities within the industry and play to potential talents’ skills. Almost all of the younger generation have a natural ability with social media platforms, which can offer behind-the-scenes insights into what we do and how we do it. Blogs and LinkedIn posts can be written to champion success stories and industry news.
Working from home is a huge benefit for me financially, and it also enables me to establish an excellent work-life balance. I believe by offering flexibility, next gens will be more productive and will approach those situations where they have to network and immerse themselves in a room full of unfamiliar people with more confidence. However, face to face is important too; you can’t learn about your team dynamic or the industry without immersing yourself in it.
By being authentic and transparent about expectations, we can inspire others to see the events world as a viable, rewarding, and exciting career path that nurtures talent while striving for excellence.