Si The job of event project manager You are attracted to, you know that you will probably pass through the “assistant project manager” box. Motivated, you started browsing the job descriptions put forward by search engines. But all looked the same, all remained abstract and did not tell you much about the reality of the profession.

Things will be different in this article thanks to Emma, Coline and Marie, all three assistant event project managers at UNEXPECTED. We interviewed them to find out why they chose this path, how they got there, and what colors they imagine their future to be. Attention: their passion is contagious!

What studies should you consider to become an assistant project manager?

After a literary baccalaureate, Emma did a brief stint in law before undertaking a BTS in Oenology Tourism. Today she has just finished her Professional license: communication, project manager and to sign his permanent contract with UNEXPECTED!

Coline did not know where to go after her science baccalaureate. To keep as many doors open, she opted for a DUT in Marketing Technology. Her final internship then led her to enter a school specializing in real estate, but she lacked the creative side. She took the time to do some introspection, which led her to join the ranks of a Event school, the ESTHUA.

After leaving her international high school, Marie chose to go to Business school so as not to focus on one path. The first two years were an opportunity to attend numerous seminars. This is where events more than the rest caught his attention.

We share these three paths with you to show you thatThere is not only one path. Whether you decide to do a BTS Communication, a Professional license in communication professions or other training, don't forget:

1. Of multiplying experiences to be concrete;

“I have been working for 5 years in a soccer stadium in Troyes as a manager and I am also a summer camp presenter. I think that my desire was born from all these experiences.”

Emma

2. Of Ask yourself about your desires, your qualities and skills as well as those that you could develop.

“I asked myself what I like on a daily basis: interior design, organizing surprises or holidays, numbers too. My internship at UNEXPECTED was a revelation. It was all there! Creativity, the commercial side, challenges, the fact that the days are not the same...”

Coline

What are the qualities of an assistant project manager?

Creativity

In any case, this is a necessary quality at UNEXPECTED, since the agency tends to stand out precisely by the originality of its ideas. To do this, our teams exchange ideas on a daily basis during brainstormings or informal conversations.

“Individual creativity has its limits, because we each have our own experiences and interests. You have to partner with the people around you so that crazy ideas explode.”

Coline

“I also build my creativity by not working. You have to know how to take a step back from your work because if you keep your nose in it you can't think, to be creative.”

Emma

Team spirit

The assistant works hand in hand with his project manager. Together, they discuss ideas and the project. The assistant's opinion is always welcome, but the project manager is the one who decides. In addition to being a way to nourish your creativity, teamwork is a valuable support on a daily basis as well as during events.

Organization

Preparing and presenting a recommendation, considering logistics, placing and receiving orders, finding and receiving orders, finding the right service providers and negotiating prices with them, setting up the scenography, dismantling, sending photos of the event, collecting feedback: here is a non-exhaustive list of the missions of the assistant project manager. There is no need to detail why it is necessary to have an excellent sense of organization!

“The to-do list is your best friend! ” Hill

Ability to project

The imagination of the assistant event project manager is comparable to that of the buyer who enters a house with work and says “I'm buying! ”. When discovering a place, he or she must be able to realize the space available and know how he will be able to model it to make something great out of it.

“We need to have added value, we're not just there to book places.”

Emma

For her part, Marie has a tip to get as close as possible to customer desires:

“When we receive a brief, the client often shares with us places or themes that were already used for a company event. I rely a lot on what they've already done to figure out what type of person that person is.”

Marie

What is difficult about the daily life of an assistant event project manager?

Unanimously, the Management between professional and personal life has been cited as one of the most complicated things in this profession.

“If a place you're waiting for an answer calls you when you're done with your day's work, well you answer! ”

Coline

“Our professional life is dripping into our personal life. I love what I do, it's my life. My emails are activated even on weekends, so as soon as I have good news it affects my mood. But you have to know how to take time for yourself to be effective at work.”

Emma

It is indeed a demanding job and therefore sometimes tiring. Not having a routine involves not have fixed hours. Quieter times precede rush periods.

“During big months like June and December, you accumulate productions and fatigue is quite significant. We must not lose track.”

Marie

Emma tells us that what she thinks is the most difficult in her job is also what she likes the most: The human. ” You have to deal with everyone, she explains to us. Whether we get along or don't get along. ” Before adding:” There's nothing better than seeing people happy through events we've created for them. That is the real reward! ”

What is the difference between assistant event project manager and project manager?

The main difference is that The project manager is the one who holds the project's reins. It is therefore he who is in direct contact with the customer and who will advise him and help him in his decision-making. He is also the one who presents the recommendation, manages the commercial aspect and builds customer loyalty. The project manager is therefore the first person in charge. the smooth running of the event as well as the relationship with the customer.

For the rest, the missions are similar and the assistant participates in each phase of the project:

• Research of concepts and ideas
• Contact of locations and service providers
• Creating recommendations
• Preparing for production
• Logistics assistance
• Field production assistant
• Post-production and finalization of projects

“The project manager oversees the project, he makes the decisions. But in the agency we have great freedom to act, we are quite autonomous. It's a chance.”

Coline

What can you consider after an experience as a project manager?

Again, there is no general rule!

However, our three assistant project managers have something in common: they are not ready to leave the world of events.

Marie wants to continue to diversify her experiences to find out which branch he is most attracted to. Why not go on the customer side in business, she tells us, or else on the service provider side, a place for example.

Coline will soon be flying away for a gap year as an au pair in the United States before returning to her M2. But she hopes not to say goodbye to the agency...

Emma can see herself combining her job with her desire to discover the country., taking advantage of the quieter periods to telework here and there. And who knows, maybe one day she will have her own event club in the south of France!

Bonus: the favorites of our assistants!

To finalize these interviews, we gave Marie, Emma and Coline free rein to share with us a crush they had for an event, a place... or other!

Emma and Marie

“This project for MANGAS was very close to my heart, because it was the first event I did in the agency with my project manager. It was the first time I had responsibilities, where I drew up an implementation plan, ordered the elements of the scenography, and welcomed the various temporary workers who came to help us. I really had a role to play.”

Marie

Emma

“In our lives we all have people who inspire us and allow us to give the best of ourselves. We don't want to disappoint this person! That person for me is Tom, our Event Director. I think he is my mentor from this professional experience. It is a pleasure to learn alongside him.”

Emma

Coline and her project manager

I want to talk about my first week at the agency, because that's when I realized how much I could do. The first event I did was a Coachella party for Top Agents. There were lots of stands (fortune-telling, bubble tea, ephemeral jewelry...), it showed me how creative you could be. In the same week we had a product launch for Oppo. It was a great project with important guests. The two events had nothing to do with each other, which is exactly what I like.”

Coline

Do you have a question for our assistant project managers? Leave it in the comments!