How to Find a Public Speaking Job

Public speakers earn speaking fees for each presentation they make. To find well-paying public speaking jobs, you first must evaluate your talents and strengths. There is no requirement that you must be a national celebrity to obtain a public-speaking job. If you are a highly skilled carpenter, then you probably can locate speaking jobs that relate to carpentry or home improvement. As an estate planner, you might receive an offer to speak on a cruise ship, usually with no cost to board the ship and enjoy the cruise.

Instructions

1. Determine the subject matter(s) that you feel confident speaking about, such as operating small businesses or training for competitive athletic games. If you have overcome significant obstacles and achieved remarkable success, whether academic or professional, you may want to consider becoming a motivational speaker to share your story with others.

2. Register with the National Speakers Association (nsaspeaker.org) as well as Fred Pryor Seminars (pryor.com) to advertise your services. Membership benefits include attaching Certified Professional Speaker to your accomplishments and connecting with a national community of speaking professionals.

3. Contact local organizations and businesses including public schools and nonprofits. For instance, you can offer to speak at a high school awards ceremony. Continuously network and establish a reputation as a reliable, strong speaker so that you can attract higher-paying jobs.

4. Search job listings on sites such as careerbuilder.com. Listings might describe long-term positions or one-time engagements. You might encounter ads that specifically target public speakers as well as ads that search for public relations or communications professionals.

5. Register with various associations of meeting planners like Meeting Professionals International (mpiweb.org) or the Professional Convention Management Association (pcma.org). Meeting planners often are hired to plan, coordinate and execute events and parties. For instance, a planner might be responsible for a major pharmaceutical convention. The planner might select event speakers, such as a local pharmacist or veterinarian to participate in the convention.

Tips & Warnings

• Public speakers receive a wide range of fees. Celebrity speakers often charge thousands of dollars. If you have just started speaking publicly, then you likely will earn less than $1,000 per engagement.

• You should implement a solid marketing strategy to promote yourself so that you can receive public speaking jobs year round.

References

• National Speakers Association
• Fred Pryor Seminars and Career Track