Your Questions About Event Planning
November 6, 2011 by The Expert
Filed under Event Planning Q & A
Daniel asks…
Where can I find a job in Boston 4 event coordinating.(Hospitals) Getting a foot in the door seems impossible.
I am seeking a full time position in or around Boston for Event Planning/Marketing/Development and Fundraising. I have yet to find the job I am seeking and I am an incredibly hard worker with a great resume. If you have suggestions on where to search I am all ears! Thanks in advance for any responses.
The Expert answers:
Did you try bostonworks.com?
Charles asks…
How is the job market in Atlanta?
I currently work for a large university and will possibly be relocating as my fiance has just received a job offer from a company in Atlanta. Most of my experience is in special events / marketing / communications. I would love to find a job with a local college or university in Atlanta or would be open to working really anywhere. 
I’m willing to take an administrative job that incorporates my skills (event planning, marketing, etc.) if necessary.
How is the job market in Atlanta? Do you think I’ll struggle to find a job?
Thank you!
The Expert answers:
Will you struggle finding a job here???? Possibly. There are some sectors that do well in the current economy (like engineering). Other fields are floundering. I don’t think the public relations/marketing sectors are as strong as they were.
However …. It seems like you’d move here no matter what, because of your fiance. So — once you arrive, do what you can to market yourself in any related field. (If the Atlanta Business Chronicle still publishes their ‘Book of Lists’ you may find it helpful in locating viable employers.)
I’m a big advocate of networking and personal connections. Once you give notice at your school, see if your boss or other colleagues have connections for you in Atlanta. (There are certainly plenty of schools here!)
Chris asks…
What schools offer good communications/marketing programs?
I’m a high school junior looking into schools in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, or Kentucky. I would like to have a career working with professional sports teams in areas of marketing, communications, event planning, and possibly advertising. I would like to major in communications or marketing, but I’m not sure which schools offer the best programs.
The Expert answers:
You didn’t mention New Jersey, However…..
Rutgers University, in New Brunswick NJ has ALL of the majors you had mentioned.
It has every single program possible because of it’s hugeness–and it has SO MANY opportunities for students!
The athletic department is closely tied with our marketing, advertising and communications departments.
Rutgers is one of the top schools for business (marketing/advertising) and one of the leading schools for communication!
I just want to stress the flexibility and opportunities this school offers,
it’s important to recognize you may really have ALL the options to you here, without ever having to transfer!
Donald asks…
what is the best way to get involved in fashion (PR, marketing) without having a fashion-related degree?
i’m going to graduate with a degree in art history and english, but i want to do PR, marketing or event planning for designers. i currently have no contacts in the fashion world. what to do?
The Expert answers:
I have a degree in the field you want to go into. My advice would be to try to get an internship with a local PR firm. You’ll have to work from the ground up, but at least you’ll get your foot in the door. Start calling up PR businesses to see if they’re willing to work with you. In this business, you have to be a go-getter because it is very competitive. In the meantime, start talking to different people (a.k.a. Friends of friends, strangers, etc.) and network like crazy. You never know who will have a connection to the career you’re looking for. Good luck and don’t give up.
Sandra asks…
Seeking jobs in Major League Soccer in advertizing and marketing?
Would enjoy working with the team to promote mls and interface with other firms connected with the teams. Entry level ok. Have some marketing and event planning experience.
The Expert answers:
Contact a team’s front office. The teams are responsible for hiring their own marketing and advertizing staff.
Go to MLSNET.com.
Each team’s website is available through MLSNET.
Each team’s website will have contact information.
William asks…
What would you say is good take home pay for a marketing executive / head of marketing in west midlands?
I have worked for the same IT company for 8 years. I have has two salary raises of £50 per month and £100 per month. I am the marketing department in that I have to do everything, events, marketing plans, pr, funding, networking, go up and down the country and so on. I take home £1300 a month after deductions.
My appraisal is coming up but if the sales team salaries are not risen, then the chance of them getting sales from following my campaigns are low. I would move if I could…but they are likely to say if I don’t like it, go..I would just like to be paid something close to what the job actually is. not what management think it is….so – any advice?
The Expert answers:
I would think that it sounds like you’re on a very low salary for someone with that much experience, but then I’m in London and I know that salaries are lower outside of London, I just don’t know by how much.
Do you have a friend who does a similar job to you (in a different company) that you can ask what they’re on? I know that some people don’t like to discuss salaries even with friends but this is the best way to find out.
I would also advise that you have a look on Monster. They have a salary calculator which you can use to estimate what you should be on, although I’ve never found this particularly accurate. What you can do, though, is look at jobs which are being advertised and get a feel for the salary ranges that are listed with them.
But if you want my advice, if you’re thinking of leaving, then do it now. I’m a recruiter in the IT industry and if someone sent me a CV where they’d been in the same job for eight years, unless that person was a fantastic match for the position, I wouldn’t even interview them. Yes, there’s a lot to be said for being loyal to your employer, but after a certain period of time there’s no way that you can be learning anything new in a job, and staying there shows a lack of motivation and desire to progress in your career.
Nancy asks…
How do I convince my Boss to buy me a Blackberry?
I work for a marketing and event planning company that throws events at nightclubs in Hollywood and Las Vegas. I really want to get Blackberry but I don’t necessarily want my boss to pay for my phone bill every month, just the actual phone. His case is that my current phone gets email but I really want a blackberry!!!
Any advice, people?
The Expert answers:
Here is an awesome post on http://www.bbgeeks.com
8 reasons to get your employee a BlackBerry:
http://www.bbgeeks.com/blackberry-issues/8-reasons-to-get-your-employees-a-blackberry-88633/
Show that to your boss and see if he doesn’t change his tune =)
Lisa asks…
How to negotiate a raise with a new job? (see details – weird situation)?
I work at a golf course as bar supervisor. Starting this January, I was given a position as “service coordinator”, which is great, because I’m moving to the banquet/ catering department. I’ll be supervising staff, doing paperwork, and helping the catering/ tournament manager with her marketing and sales as well. The pay is OKAY, but I don’t have experience, and I’ve JUST started going to school for a year for event planning/ marketing. It is a great opportunity.
THEN i find out that a golf course i worked at for 6 years prior as a waitress is planning on offering me the Banquet Manager position!
I don’t want to work at the old place, as this new one has more opportunities. However, this situation is obviously a great one for leverage/ showing my new job how valuable I already am (i don’t even have experience & people are offering me jobs).
i am going to meet with them re: this new opportunity… how do I go back to my new job and basically ask for more money?
to make it a BIT more difficult, my CURRENT boss also was my boss at the old place! (he moved companies and recruited me from a little in-between job i had). Therefore, he knows the staff/ politics of the old place. As well, he is already aware that they are planning on offering me this position.
do i have any leverage at all?
The Expert answers:
I was ready to tell you that trying to up the offer based on a counter offer, could backfire. I have been known to yank my offer at that point.
However, your additional details have changed my mind.
Go to the guy that recruited you and come clean about the better job & offer. Tell him that you are torn because that is a great opportunity BUT you really would LOVE to work with him again AND you know it is a better company. Ask if he can help to do anything about the starting pay.
If you get any flak at all, I would then ask if you can get reviews, and potential raises as you gain skills, every 90 days or so.
Good luck, though I have to say you have 2 good choices, so you should be fine no matter what!
Mandy asks…
Getting into Marketing?
My undergraduate degree is in Politics & Religion. I really want to get into marketing, PR and event planning. I do have some limited experience in this area. Any suggestions on how I can go about changing careers? I am planning on going back to school either for a MBA in marketing, Masters in Communications or Masters in PR. Thanks.
The Expert answers:
MBA in Marketing, for certain. In the meantime, get a grunt job with a promotions/festivals/event planning company. Watch and learn, young grasshopper.
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