Entry-Level Event Planning Jobs

I have a friend that recently moved near Los Angeles and is looking for an Entry Level Position in Event Planning. If anyone has any tips on finding a good job they would be much appreciated.

Check with the city. Most major cities have special events.

I am looking to switch careers and am interested in event planning. What type of schooling (or degree) do you need to get into the field?

Look into hotels. They almost all have meeting rooms. That transfers over nicely to convention centers. We (event planners) all know is a good learning experience!

Look into hotels. They almost all have meeting rooms. That transfers over nicely to convention centers. We (event planners) all know is a good learning experience! Try looking into who 'manages' local convention centers such as: MECA or SMG. They manage tons of large scale venues in many countries.

I'm interested in changing careers. I was in finance/customer service and would love to enter event planning. Any ideas on where to start? Will I need additional education/training to start?

To be real honest, you need to ask yourself why you are changing careers. If it is because you think event planning 'looks fun' and you get to 'party' or 'plan peoples events', then I would not suggest it. You came from a very 9-5 desk type of job. If I am wrong, I appoligize. Finance is very different. A typical event planner works 80 or so hours a weeks and usually works every weekend. You are running AV, hauling tables, dealing with billing, and possilby disgrutal patrons. You need to be aware of how much your life will change, and it is not always a job for folks who want to have a huge family and lots of children.
Secondly, I would start sending every event planning firm & convention center you resume and a letter stating that you would like to help, for free of course, with any events. Most firms will give you some type of compensation, but you are needing experience. Check out the non-profit firms, ie: Red cross, habitat for humanity. They are always needing work. Experience, experience, experience will land you your first job. What type of event coordination would you like to do: corporte, non-profit, conventions, arena shows, wedding and special event, etc?
Usually, you will need some type of 4 year degree as a foundation. If you have 3 year plus of experience is coordination, then you will not need a degree. There are classes at community college you can take to get a foundation. Once again I stress experience over a 'formal' education.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

I have a degree. I went to a 9 to 5 because a friend worked there and I needed a job. Working in finance is not what I want to do. Having planned a friend's wedding I'm well aware that it takes long hours and dealing with sometimes angry patrons. In billing, I deal with angry customers, sales and legal. I'm well aware that this is not going to be easy, but it is something that attracts me.

I will look into volunteering to get experience. I'd love to do non-profit or special events/wedding. Part of this is lead me to helping foster kids and eventually open a camp for them. All of that experience will aid me in getting to that point.

Thanks for the information.

Elisa in Kent, Ohio said: I am looking to switch careers and am interested in event planning. What type of schooling (or degree) do you need to get into the field?

The major is under the school of Business but it has a focus on hospitality and tourism..Event planning falls under that group

I’m in the Northern Virginia/ Washington DC area. In the past year and a half, I have decided to change my career and move into the Events Planning industry. I have always had the passion for planning all types of events and expressing my creative ideas and organizational skills. With the experience of planning several weddings, family reunions, etc. I decided to enhance my knowledge of the industry educationally by enrolling and completing the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program with UVA in May of 2008, and plan to continue taking more courses.

It has been harder than I thought to get my foot in the door. Can anyone share some tactics that they may have used to get a job in the filed? I’m all ears

Hi everyone! I felt it was time to chime in again. Many people are writing in asking "how do I get started? How do I break into events? What are my best options if I don't have any experience?"

I know and understand your pain of wanting to find a career that you can get excited about, and do a job that you love.

That's why I created my website, careers-in-event-planning.com. This is not a shameless plug at self-promotion - I have nothing to sell - but it is an informational website that tells you all about the types of event planning and corporate meetings and incentives, and how to break into the industry with no experience. The answer to your questions is simply too long to post here, so my best advice is to read through the website, page by page.

I also publish a newsletter, and my next issue (due out in a week, so sign up soon) will delve into whether schooling or certification is worth your time and money. You will also get a free report, 25 Job Sites for Event Planning - which just gives you a shortcut to some of the top sites that list job openings. It's not rocket science, but it will save you some valuable time.

To sign up, go to www.careers-in-event-planning.com/ezine.html. or go to Careers-in-Event-Planning .com and click on the "Ezine" tab.

Never give up - you are on the right path by doing the research and finding websites and forums such as this one. Hang in there, it's well worth it!

Sirena Evans
www.careers-in-event-planning.com.

Just me again...this thread has been a bit quiet since I wrote in a month ago. But I had to remind you to sign up for my free newsletter NOW, because the next issue (due out September 10, next week!) will discuss "Entry Level Jobs and Getting Started in Event Planning." I'm not selling anything, it's just an informational site - but it seemed too appropriate for this thread so I thought I would let you all know about it.

Go here to sign up for the newsletter: www.careers-in-event-planning.com/ezine.html or go to www.careers-in-event-planning.com site to read more (and sign up by clicking on the"Ezine" tab).

Happiness and Success,
Sirena Evans
www.careers-in-event-planning.com

it's not that easy...

I have a BA, worked in a hotel for several months, currently work in a jewelry company and have organized and set up 2 international trade shows, one trunk show and one charity event all within 6 months.

I've been sending resume to hotels for sales coordinator or catering coordinator positions, etc...still i don't even get calls for interview...

i don't know what i lack of...

Good luck to you all,
Gloria

Hi Gloria! I do feel your frustration - and you are correct, it's not easy to start your career in this field. As you can tell from this thread, it seems EVERYONE wants to be an event planner, so there is strict competition.

However, it sounds as if you definitely have your foot in the door and are on the right path. You are gaining experience and trying to get your resume out there. I have four suggestions for you and anyone else in this (or a similar) position:

1) Have patience. You are, after all, starting an entirely new career. Anyone who suddenly decides to be a doctor knows that they have at last 8 years of schooling ahead of them, and then who knows how long in the field before they can work up to having their own practice. Anyone who wants to be a pilot knows they have years of schooling and certifications, then at least 5 or more years flying small airplanes before they go commercial. A lot of people get frustrated that they can't land an event planning job overnight; but those who are in for the long haul and plan out their path accordingly will be rewarded.

It also is a very poor economy right now; I am finding that events and meetings of all kinds are being cut back as companies lay low to see what will happen. This does NOT mean you should give up on this career; it just means that everyone, in all industries, are laying low. I have a friend who specializes in IT and has been job searching for 9 months. So nobody is immune right now. This is a perfect time to lay low, keep gaining experience by volunteering (read my page at www.careers-in-event-planning.com/career-planning.html to learn more) and making contacts. If you play your cards right, something will happen, I promise you!

...ok, it's me again. There is a limit on the length of the posts, which is the exact reason I started my site - there is far too much information to include in single posts. I'll include a quick synopsis of my points below - but I strongly encourage all of you to subscribe to my newsletter at www.careers-in-event-planning.com/ezine.html. It is free and I will not send you spam or sell your information.

I WILL send you tons of tips and hints such as the ones we are covering here. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

Ok, for the rest of my points (all covered in greater detail in my newsletters):

2) Do your homework. The position or department you should be applying for in a hotel is called Convention Services Manager (CSM), not sales. Also, if you have the right experience, drop words such as "BEO" or "F&B." If you don't know what these are, then you don't have enough experience.

3) Aim lower. If you've never worked in Banquets, why should someone hire you as the coordinator? Also, that position is called a Banquets Manager, and applying as a Coordinator tells them you don't know the business. Everyone wants to start out as an Event Planner, even if you've never worked events before. I dedicate an entire issue of my newsletter to this specific topic and how to get around this problem.

4) NETWORK!!!! I cover this in greater detail at www.careers-in-event-planning.com/career-planning.html.

Anyway, I hope this helps open up some possibilities on what some of you could be doing wrong. Again, I know your pain - but I also know that if you plan your path and have patience, it will pay off! Good luck and never give up!

Sirena Evans
www.careers-in-event-planning.com

thanks a lot for all the tips and advice, just came back from a trip, didn't go to the forum for a while... I guess I will have to be patient at this difficult time

I was aiming for hotel sales jobs, but the feedback I got is "we are not hiring at this moment, or we have a very slim sales dept"

Meanwhile life goes on...does anyone know any good hotels in Miami Beach? My company will exhibit in the Miami Beach Antique show in Jan 09, I am excited about this project, since I will be the lead in organizing everything, it's such a great opportunity...

any tips are appreciated,
Gloria

Hey Everyone,

It's so hard to find something, anything, related to event planning. They are even selective for free, nonpaid internships.
I have a Psych BA from a very good school, decided to change to event planning after working for an entertainment company and am looking for ways for get my foot in the door. Like I said, not easy.
I'm going to the Meeting and Event Planning certificate program starting Jan 09. Hopefully with a certificate, it'll get me something. But meanwhile, I need a job to learn about this field.
I know economy is bad, but you don't normally feel it in the entertainment industry, they are always hiring and needing people for something.
Does anyone in the LA area have any internships or assistant positions related to event planning?
I have some experience: I coordinated the special premier screening of the movie I worked on. I also helped a musical company with setups for the twice a year NAMM show.
These experiences count for something right?

HELP!!!

.... bad news, My boss decided not to do the Miami show, doesn't want to spend $$ at this time...

such a valuable opportunity...

"Change We Need"!!!!

You know, it's decisions like this that make it worse for us job hunters.

By the way, still looking for a job here in Los Angeles.

One of the webistes for hotel jobs is www.hcareers.com. I did Corporate Catering Sales for a hotel while back and it was really boring and dry. If someone wants to get into event planning for the creative aspect of it, hotel industry might not be suitable. All they do is execute what the event planner already created (set up, menu execution etc), so even if you're a social catering manager doing weddings and etc, it's still not very creative. It's more of a sales position where you prospect for clients etc.

I am really glad I came upon this post! This is great to hear of what fellow career changers are stumbling upon. It helps me to realize in this economy we all need to be very thoughtful and purposeful about the steps we take to get into this industry.
I have over 13 years of experience in hospitality and recently a bit of culinary experience. Yet my "day job" is in a large nonprofit and my Masters is in social work. My main problem is that I hate sitting behind a desk all day and I find that I desperately miss the action and excitement in hospitality.
Nonprofit event planning can be very rewarding but it also involves a lot of fundraising/sponsorship/ and auction item solicitation. So even though the coordinating aspect may be what some of you want to do just take note that the success of a nonprofit's event depends heavily on those aforementioned items. Using the event to raise significant money and improve donor relations is of utmost importance--essentially far more important than getting perfectly matched floral arrangements (which we often can't afford anyway!). We DO though love creativity and innovation!

Hi Lorena,
I want to make the switch into event planning. Would your NPO have any need for an intern or assistant for upcoming events?

Elisa in Kent, Ohio said: I am looking to switch careers and am interested in event planning. What type of schooling (or degree) do you need to get into the field?

Public relations- its what i went to school for and i wanted to be an event planer. so did everyone else at my school.

Sara in Chicago, Illinois said: Hi Lorena,
I want to make the switch into event planning. Would your NPO have any need for an intern or assistant for upcoming events?

Hello, please email me at LRutens@heartlandalliance.org and we can talk about this in more detail. We are always looking for assistance at our nonprofit. I look forward to talking to you.

Help!

I am a Cooperate Event Planner in DC who has recently been laid off. I have ten years experience in the business, but can't seem to find any corps. that are hiring. I am looking all over the country for a good match and would love any help you could offer.

Thanks!

I am so glad I found this forum. I have been so worried that I was the only one struggling in this economy to find work. You all give me hope that it will eventually turn around. Good luck to everyone!

Sese in Fairfax, Virginia said: I’m in the Northern Virginia/ Washington DC area. In the past year and a half, I have decided to change my career and move into the Events Planning industry. I have always had the passion for planning all types of events and expressing my creative ideas and organizational skills. With the experience of planning several weddings, family reunions, etc. I decided to enhance my knowledge of the industry educationally by enrolling and completing the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program with UVA in May of 2008, and plan to continue taking more courses.

It has been harder than I thought to get my foot in the door. Can anyone share some tactics that they may have used to get a job in the filed? I’m all ears

I wanted to see how it is going? I saw you posted this about 13 months ago, so I was hoping you had made some progress. Also, I was wondering if you have any tips for me. I recently relocated to the Northern VA area and finished my degree in Recording Industry Management. I would love to get into event planning/coordinating. Maybe as someone who has been through this before you could help me out! Thanks!

I recently planned my own wedding and loved every aspect of it. I'm thinking of going to Penn Foster for their wedding planning program. I would love to get on with a wedding planner in Orlando but I have had no luck. I would love to hear any advise out there for getting started.