ROARing Resumes for Event Planners

photo by halogensoftware.com

One of the first steps in applying for employment as event planners is to find open positions or to convince someone to create a position for you.  You might find position listings on the internet, through word of mouth, in trade magazines or local publications.

Once you locate potential positions you will, most likely, be asked to supply a resume.  This is your invitation to send your sales pitch to a likely customer.   Remember what you just read, you have the opportunity to send your sales pitch (otherwise known as resumes) to a likely customer.

Resumes for Event Planners Tips

So, here are some tips to help your resume make it to the final round and stand out among other candidates.

• Make your resume easy to read and free of errors in spelling and grammar. Also match your skills to the job requirements and include relevant information. 
• Showcase your outstanding work in the experience section of your resume (make the section Results Oriented). Focus on the results you achieved rather than providing a list of tasks that you were told to perform.   For example:
  • Results oriented: Increased revenue from fund raiser by 90% through creative planning of annual silent auction.
  • Task oriented: Planned a silent auction to raise money at annual meeting.
• Make it easy for the potential employer to see how you are the perfect fit for a position. Include a statement at the top of your resume showing how all of the results oriented experiences are Relevant to their specific needs, as expressed in their job description or conveyed to you by another means.  If your resume also shows that you are enthusiastic about joining their team your chances of being selected for an interview are even higher.

So, let me summarize by reviewing how you will make your resume ROAR (Results Oriented And Relevant).  Your resume will include:

• Directory information such as your name, email address and phone number. Additionally, listing a physical address shows stability.
• Summary statement right under your directory information which shows how all of your results oriented career statements are highly relevant to the potential employer.
• Reverse chronological order list of your relevant employment experiences. Include relevant unpaid experiences as well.
• Your education (degree, major – if relevant, and college or university)
• A skills section if there are certain tools (such as computer software, analytical processes, etc. ) that you use.
• Relevant honors and awards (if applicable)
• References to publications which you have written or which have been written about you (if applicable).

Additional Information:

• Salary Expectations for Event Planner Jobs

• Dress for Success and the Interview

• What Does an Event Coordinator Do?

• How Do I get Event Planning Experience?

Make your sales pitch long enough so that every point you make increases the likelihood that the potential employer will want to meet and hire you.  Generally, that translates to having a resume which is one or less than two full pages.  Evaluate each phrase rather than aiming for a total length.  You have seconds to catch the interviewer’s attention no matter where they start scanning, be sure your resume does this.  Also, be sure you’ve included the keywords for your major tasks in the resume in case your resume is fed to a job database which is scanned for critical key words.

 I would like to thank Industrial Consultant Dr. Margarita Posada Cossuto for helpful comments.