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10
Steps to a Job as an Event Planner
Click Here to Discover How to Become an Event Planner by Jill Snodgrass
Imagine having an exciting high-paying job that lets
you use your creativity to organize fun and
important events. Welcome to the world of event planning!
An
event planner is, quite simply, someone who organizes an
event. While we generally think of an event as something grand
and spectacular, any occasion where people gather – weddings,
festivals, grand openings, meetings, reunions – need someone
to ensure their social success. This is where you come in!
And the good news for aspiring planners is that the job
requires no formal training or education; event planners
generally rely on natural talent, creativity and determination
to succeed.
As long
as you have the desire, you can become an event
planner. No special education or experience is necessary to
break into this career and succeed. If event planning sounds
like the career of your dreams, here are ten steps to follow
based on the
Guide to Become an Event Planner:
1.
Learn about the profession: “Event planner” is a
broad term that encompasses everything from corporate meeting
planners to wedding specialists to catering and hospitality
coordinators. Spend some time initially reading books,
searching online and talking to working event planners to see
what areas interest you the most, and to become familiar with
what is expected of you on the job.
2.
Take stock of your talents: Successful event planners
combine excellent interpersonal skills with organizational
ability to find out exactly what their clients want, and get
the job done. Other key talents include resourcefulness
(accomplishing what you set out to do in the face of
challenges) and a creative flair or an artistic nature that
sets your skills apart from the competition.
3.
Educate yourself: While no degree is necessary to become
an event planner, areas of study (which you may already have)
that impress potential employers and clients in this field are
public relations, marketing, advertising, human resources,
business, and retailing, as well as hotel and restaurant
management, hospitality and tourism. If you want to strengthen
your skills and supplement your natural abilities, degree
programs are available specifically in event management, as
well as industry educational seminars and at-home study
courses.
4.
Develop your materials: Before you begin job-hunting, you
will want to organize your self-marketing materials so that
they present you at your best. If your resume is lacking in
actual experience, try volunteering to work with an event
planner or organize a smaller, local event on your own. Make
sure you ask those involved to write letters of recommendation
for you to show your future employers or clients. Take
pictures of all your work, and use them in your portfolio to
demonstrate what you have done, and can do, for your clients'
or potential employers’ events.
5.
Find out who’s hiring: In addition to job advertisements
(found on related job boards and classified ads), you should
also directly contact organizations you wish to work for.
Larger businesses, associations and not-for-profits,
universities and municipalities all have a need for event
planners, as do hotels, tourism bureaus, casinos, cruise
lines, theme parks, and event planning firms themselves. Be
creative in your job search – the simple question, "Who plans
your meetings and events?" can open doors in the unlikeliest
of places.
6.
Interview success: Prepare for the interview by
thoroughly researching the company. This will help you be
prepared for their questions and to also know what questions
to ask yourself. Have your portfolio and other materials with
you and be prepared to discuss them at length. Remember that
your choice of dress can give you an opportunity to show that
you are both professional and creative, so put some thought
into your appearance. During the interview, use confidence and
enthusiasm to sell yourself and your talent. Above all, relax
and be yourself!
7.
Setting up your own business: When you think you're
ready, self-employment could be the next exciting step in an
event-planning career. In fact, many people break into the
event-planning field with this goal in mind. You will want to
look into the financial and legal aspects of the venture, and
study the market and your competition so you are ready for the
challenges that await you. Decide on an image you want to
project to your clients and market yourself accordingly, using
a variety of media.
8.
Finding clients: Your main source of business will likely
fall into one of two categories: corporate or social. Your
local chamber of commerce can be a great resource to find the
contacts in the corporate world and word-of-mouth is generally
your best bet for social clients. Promoting yourself for free
(through seminars, newspaper columns, etc.) is a cheap and
effective way to let people know who you are and what you do,
and their referrals may lead to even more work for you.
9.
Networking: You can have the best ideas and be the most
creative, perfect person for the job, but without the right
contacts, you might as well stick to throwing birthday parties
for your family! Plan to attend trade shows, join clubs and
organizations and socialize as much as possible to meet
potential clients and business contacts. Get comfortable
talking about what you do to everyone you meet, and always
hand out your business cards.
10.
Boosting Your Creativity: The more events you do for one
client or company, the more challenging it gets to generate
fresh ideas. When you need a boost, turn to TV and movies,
retail stores (for materials), consumer magazines, the
Internet, or even a walk in nature to reawaken your senses and
inspire you to new creative heights. Your suppliers can also
be a source of innovative ideas (that use their products, of
course!) Maintaining your creative edge is essential to
staying on top of your game in this business, so seek
inspiration constantly.
Click Here to Discover How to Become an Event Planner by Jill Snodgrass
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