About Event Coordinator Planning Careers

Do you enjoy coordinating all the details of a gathering or celebration? If so, then consider a career in event planning, which will allow you to reap the benefits of your ability to see a project from start to finish.

Tasks

Event planners coordinate and oversee the arranging of meetings, conferences, seminars, festivals, weddings and other occasions. Examples of a planner's responsibilities include budgeting, logistics coordination and promotion of an event.

Skills

Event planners must be excellent communicators and possess strong interpersonal skills. They must have excellent organizational and time management skills, as well as the ability to meet deadlines under pressure.

Employers

Some event planners work on a freelance basis with new and existing clients. Other work full time for employers such as professional organizations, hotels or firms specializing in planning trade shows and conventions.

Education

An event planner will typically have completed a bachelor's degree in marketing, tourism, communications or hospitality management. Candidates who have completed course work in the latter will have an advantage over others.

Earnings

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the yearly median salary of event planners in 2006 was $42,180.

Advancement

Successful event planners may move on to positions that involve greater responsibility and jurisdiction---for example, program coordinator.