The event planning field offers many job opportunities, and those who are serious about career in this field should understand how to approach possible employers.
I like the way how Meeting Professionals International, a leading professional association in this business, breaks down employers into five different categories. It's important to know these categories because it will help potential event planners to have a serious interview with potential employers. While some organizations will obviously overlap categories, this is a good guide to help you to begin speaking the event planning language.
1. Corporate Event Jobs
Corporations or businesses hire event planners to plan and/or oversee the strategic financial management and/or logistics of that corporation's events.
Job opportunities exist with employers in all industries, but jobs tend to be more specialized and plenntiful in the pharmaceutical, consulting, medical, and technology industries, as well as the consumer packaged goods firms through event marketing agencies.
2. Association/Non-Profit Event Jobs
Associations and non-profit organizations also hire event planners to oversee financial management and/or logistics. Event planner opportunities can be found in associations, association management firms, charitable organizations, chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureas, and religious organizations, among others.
3. Government Jobs
Government agencies and public institutions at all levels employ event planners. Event planner opportunities can be found at the city, county, state, and federal agency levels. Jobs are also available at state colleges and universities.
4. Supplier Jobs
Supplier are those organizations that sell products and services to the event planners and the organizations they represent. These organizations offer numerous job opportunities for anyone who is interested in working in the event planning field.Job opportunities exist with hotels, restaurants, caterers, destination management comapnies, museums/cultural institutions, theaters, sports venues/stadiums, audio/visual firms, florists, production companies, and convention and visitors bureaus, among others.
5. Event Planning Firm Jobs
Events management firms are third party organizations that are hired to help corporations, associations, non-profits, government agencies, and others with planning and executing amazing events for multiple clients.
Highly experienced professionals often consider establishing their own firms at some point in their careers. Nevertheless, many larger organizations, such as BCD Meetings and Maritz Travel, and numerous boutique firms exist everywhere and also offer a significant number of job opportunities at all levels.
