Conventions and meetings are an important activity for any organization, a common purpose is achieved and the planner jobs abound in turn. The planners’ goal is to make everything seamless and smooth all the way. They arrange everything from location, microphones, audio, and visual equipment, speakers, guests’ accommodations, venue, printed materials, and even security. The work of planners is ascertaining the needs, message and the purpose of the convention or the meeting the organizer want to convey. The goals of the company are the focus of their work, how they are influenced, motivated and learn. Today, many planners are turning to modern approaches in planning the conventions. The principle is still the same but the methods are modernized. They plan the most effective ways to choose speakers, entertain and present the firms’ goals.
The planners work in teams, and many jobs are delegated to each team member; some members choose the venue, hotels, and convention sites. Others consider the number of attendees, and arrange transportation for the delegates from the air or sea port. The site, carefully selected to increase attendees’ interests to come. These are all taken into consideration; the lodgings, transportation, convention sites, food, ushers, entertainment, photo and video, materials, handouts, programs, and other important details and costs. Then the proposal is forwarded to the organizations leaders’ budget approval.
There are many types of planner jobs including financial planners, convention planners, corporate planners, government meeting planners, convention service managers, conference coordinators, educations service directors, and education seminar coordinators. They are all in charge of name badges, invitations, rules, logistics, transportation, finance, or negotiators for contractors and suppliers for the conventions and meetings, including the food and beverage distributions.
The work of convention planners is exciting, and energizing, but also stressful, demanding and fast. Some planners may manage multiple projects and thus face many deadlines and cover many activities in a day. This includes traveling frequently to the sites and meeting with suppliers and other services vendors and even traveling abroad. The working hours are extensive and meetings unrelenting. These jobs enjoy a high level of independence and long hours of walking and standing carrying materials presented for many organizers. Luxurious hotels and fabulous places to see are just one of the perks in these jobs.
There is no basic requirement of educational background for convention planner jobs. Some may be a career change, or comes from another field of work. Prior experience in human interactions and negotiations can be a crucial advantage. There are courses in convention planning available, you can start there. Still experience is the best attribute in many functions of meeting or convention planning. A bachelor’s degree can be great if you have it but it is not usually required. Some responsibilities in government conventions and other large firms meeting are becoming more complex so a bachelor’s degree is often a requirement. You can start out as a team leader, work your way up or set up your own company, and get your own team. As an organizer or planners, you should possess a good communications skill.
Convention and meeting planner jobs annual median salaries:
• Travel and accommodation - $45,000 up
• Schools – universities, colleges and career colleges - $50,000 up
• Support specialists - $48,000 up
• Government, professional and other organizations - $57,000 up
• Companies for management, consulting and scientific services - $60,000 up
When making your cover letter you have to communicate how you genuinely like the work you’re applying for by showing that you have been enjoying it for a long time by the volunteer work you have done in the past and you have the portfolio to show it.
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