Fresh off the Beaten Path: Party Planning (Special Events Coordination)

Published on 2008-04-10

Have a knack for throwing parties? Wish you could make a living off your talent for staging bashes but can't seem to find many results when you enter the words "fun" or "hootenanny" in your average job search engine? That's because what you're really looking for is a job in party planning, otherwise known as special events coordination.

Special Events Coordination: What Exactly Is It?

A special events coordinator (also called an event planner, party planner, event coordinator or special events manager) is someone responsible for designing, planning, coordinating and implementing every facet of a special event from start to finish.

Personality Profile: Is Special Events Coordination Right for Me?

Special events coordinators possess the kind of innovative, dynamic personalities conducive to many types of creative jobs, and their outgoing demeanors and strong interpersonal skills may also attract them to public relations jobs and even perhaps, jobs in hospitality. Special events coordinators are passionate about organizing events, and with exceptional multi-tasking skills, strong project management abilities and sharp business acumen, they know how to design and execute event ideas successfully, memorably and within budget. Lively, energetic, flexible and thrives well under pressure are additional words that describe the typical special events coordinator.

Education, Training and Experience: How Do I Become a Special Events Coordinator?

While there is no set path to event coordination, the majority of special events coordinators have college degrees and their programs of study usually involve the following areas: English, communications, business administration, public relations and marketing. In fact, with respect to the latter and former, many event coordinators may also consider public relations and marketing careers as these professions involve similar planning and promotion-related activities and often include event coordinating activities as well.

Some special event coordinators also have graduate degrees in the aforementioned undergraduate areas, but after obtaining a college degree, experience acquired through volunteer work, internships and assistantships is imperative. An ongoing commitment to education and training is the key to success in special event coordination; after three years of special events work, individuals may also choose to apply for special events professional certification from the International Special Events Society.

Areas of Application: Where Would I Work?

Most businesses and corporations have a need for special events planners. However, whether or not positions exist expressly for this purpose will vary depending on demand and/or the size of the company. Large companies with a busy event calendar will often have special events coordinators on staff while smaller companies may integrate event planning responsibilities into the job descriptions of their PR /marketing jobs. Of course, firms expressly offering event planning services provide a wealth of opportunities for special events coordinators.

Since the need for special event planning spans the country, opportunities present themselves in all cities. That said, larger companies are typically based in larger cities and therefore, candidates seeking jobs in Los Angeles, Chicago or New York, for example, are likely to find an abundance of special event planning opportunities in those cities.

The Future

As long as there are events, there will always be opportunities in special event planning. For party planning and many other exciting job opportunities in your area, explore Jobs on Fresho.com.