Event Planner Interview Questions & Answers

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Priorities usually depend on the event time and size. I usually find out what a client feels is the most important part of his event and I focus on that primarily.

Most employers are looking for people with a passion for the company and what they do. Knowing as much as you can about the company and the job is key to showing how passionate you are about the job opportunity. The best way to do this is to set aside three to four hours to learn as much as you can about the company you may eventually end up working for. Use resources such as their website, Facebook page, press releases, and the job description itself. Learn as much as you can about your prospective employer's products, services, customers and competition. This gives you an advantage when trying to answer many such related questions. Most importantly, the fact that you spent time researching the company, demonstrates your initiative and passion.

Event planning encompasses many different happenings, including corporate meetings, seminars, lunch-and-learns, hospitality suites, trade shows and conferences. Some event planners focus on private parties such as weddings, children's birthdays, family reunions or Sweet 16 parties. Sports marketing requires event planning for races, tennis, golf and volleyball tournaments, leagues and exhibition matches. Ask the interviewer to tell you her specific event focus and to give you some examples of events the company has recently planned that exemplify the type of business the company wants.

I left because I felt I need to utilize my expertise on a bigger platform.

At many event-planning businesses, employees must multitask. You may need to meet with clients to negotiate the contract, help plan the food and beverages, and handle logistics, such as tables, chairs, booths, staff, lighting and music. Ask the interviewer what tasks you will need to perform if you are hired and to rank them in order of importance. This will let you play up certain areas of your experience as you know what the client wants most.

I understand that many events may require travel, and I am willing to spend the time getting to a location because I want to make sure that clients are getting the event they want where they want it.

Of course, event planning isn't all team building with Google or staging multi-million pound festivals, there are times when you need to make something sparkle with limited resources. This is a great way to test your candidates' initiative, assess their creative thinking and see if they show flashes of originality and fresh thinking when it comes to planning stand-out events on a budget. Practical considerations such as providing a cloakroom or positioning plenty of water jugs around the venue demonstrate an understanding of things which will make delegates' lives easier without costing a fortune, while mentioning little details such as ensuring somebody is in place to greet arrivals or putting fresh flowers around the bar help to show that personal approach to event planning too.

I offer exceptional command over Visio, MS Office, SAP and EBMS.

I have found that it is best to handle stressful situations with a calm demeanor. When an unanticipated problem arises, it is useful to quickly take steps to problem solve crafting creative immediate solutions to any issue.

I believe that I possess the time management skills and the ability to ensure detail orientation which is the key to efficiency.

Again, a question with no definitive right or wrong answer but one that gives the candidate the chance to show their personal interest and passion for the industry or to show that they have used their initiative when researching it as a career path. "I read Event, The Main Event and Stand Out magazines, have Google News alerts set up for 'event management' and 'event planning'" is the sort of answer that would suggest they are on the right track, while namedropping key industry bloggers, Linkedin groups and relevant influential Tweeters will give you even more cause for encouragement. Naming industry events, conferences and meet-ups they have been to or regularly attend, annual reports they keep an eye out for or active online communities with which they engage will show an even more proactive approach to staying on top of the industry.

The money question, if you like. Without effective cost analysis and the ability to budget effectively, an event planning business is not going to last long. You want your applicant to demonstrate an appreciation of this, as well as show they can think strategically about how to make sure events are profitable for the agency, cost effective for the client and demonstrably worth the investment for the host business.

This is perhaps the one question that defines your fit for the job in the interviewer's mind. Start by reviewing the job description thoroughly and look for areas that are a good match with your qualifications and experience. Find at least three great reasons that match with your experience and background that qualify you to be the right candidate for the job. Most employers will ask this question at some point in the interview, either directly or in an indirect way. On the rare chance that it doesn't come up in the interview, you can always use these talking points as your 'last thing to say' before the end of the interview.

My strength is that I have created and managed a wide variety of events and worked with diverse groups of volunteers. I always deliver on time and on budget, keeping cost in mind. I took over the Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic from a predecessor and was determined to spend less while still maintaining a positive atmosphere. We got more donated services, cut out unlimited alcoholic beverages and created sponsorship packages.

Frequently customers have extraordinarily high expectations with hard deadlines, and this can be difficult to handle. However, paying close attention to customers' priorities and desires can help ensure their vision is accomplished. In addition, it is important to clearly organize tasks and priorities to make sure that all deadlines are met no matter the task.

One big event that I coordinated got rained on! The met office hadn't predicted inclement weather but I was ready with canopies anyway since I plan ahead of time!

'Perform a Google search' is the answer to so many 'how do you find' questions these days, but in this particular case you're looking for that little bit more. References to respected industry publications such as Event magazine's online directory and annual venue awards would show a willingness to keep up to date with venue developments, while they should be able to name other specific websites, directories and venue finders that they use.

An efficient event planner should also be keeping their own records of venues and their own professional experiences with them, including positives and negatives and any notes that may help inform their decisions for future events. Whether it's CRM software or their own personalised spreadsheet, the important thing is demonstrating an effective and efficient way of keeping track of their venues and showing an understanding of why this sort of record-keeping is important.

Communication starts with the right time and place. Then, after organizing my thoughts and ideas, I speak clearly and articulately. I also use body language, such as my hands and facial expressions, to keep the person engaged and involved in the conversation. Finally, I listen to the person's reply and thank them for listening. I know I have effectively communicated if the person is actively involved, responsive, and shows understanding.

This is another question that allows you to show off your employer research and your understanding of your chosen career path. You'll want to come across as enthusiastic, but not arrogant. Tailor your response to reflect the nature of the organisation, the sector, and your own experiences and skills. Specific details will impress.

I do not have personal experience in developing advertising graphics and publications, however I do have experience in hiring for that program to where it is done professionally and within the time frame given.

When a recruiter asks how you manage your time, don't just give an example of a time when you did this successfully. Your interviewer wants to know your tactics and strategies for getting yourself organised, so whatever approach you use to prioritising and listing your tasks, you should be ready to describe it.

My greatest sense of accomplishment was on the day of our fall fundraising event. i was so thrilled with how the event turned out. we had a huge showing of people and everyone really enjoyed themselves. we also raised more money than i had even anticipated. seeing all of my hard work come together so perfectly was the most incredible feeling

I have the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences, communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand, read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, identify and understand the speech of another person, speak clearly so others can understand you.

Event deadlines and size play a huge factor in prioriting events. For example, while planning a week long retreat that was happening in 8 months I also had to continue planning weekly meetings as well as small events. I broke the major event down into major tasks (one for each month) and broke that down to a "to do" list. Once that was broken down I scheduled my weekly to do lists on top of that. I was able to see efficiently each item I had to do daily to accomplish things in the near future as well as far.

There isn't any particular part that bring excitement when doing an event it all of it . if i had to say a part is the final product seeing the room set up tables, plates, silverware, ect.