Meeting Planner Careers

Some meeting planners spend their entire careers making a similar level of income. This might be fine for people that value stability above all else, but if you are reading this then there is a fairly good chance that you are looking for a little extra earning power. Here’s how to do it:

Start by realizing that not every company has serious meeting/event planning needs. Be willing to look elsewhere for greater challenges and opportunities. It might be a little scary leaving a company that has done a good job looking after you for so long, but you may have hit a glass ceiling. Recognize this fact and move on.

Ask for extra challenges and assignments whenever possible. Some companies need meeting planners that can be flexible and are willing to pay a premium for that flexibility. Be sure to perform these tasks well and look for opportunities to show your added value whenever possible and practical.

Be willing to trumpet your success to the office, but do it with grace. If a meeting went over very well because of something that you are responsible for, such as choosing the right catering company or the perfect cruise company, then be willing to take partial credit. Modesty is a virtue, but it does not pay the bills.

Meeting planners that are considered to be extremely successful do not get to be where they are simply by accident. They get to be known as effective meeting planners because they know a few secrets that their less-well known counterparts do not. Here are the top three secrets of effective meeting planners.

Names – Never forget a name of anyone. This is true of the most high-powered executive or politician right down to the bellhop at the hotel everyone is staying at. Why? People love their own names and meeting planners who remember names are statistically more likely to be viewed in a positive light than those who do not.

Shake it up – Meeting planners that plan the same kind of meetings should expect the same kind of results. This may not be bad if the results are already stellar, but repetition does get old. A change of venue or a new catering company could be just what it takes to make an event more memorable.

Never forget an appointment – A Smart Phone and/or netbook may be required to keep a schedule, but that is a small price to pay for being effective. Learning to take notes while listening or offering feedback is important.

Smile – Believe it or not, studies show that people who smile more get promotions and assignments more often than those who do not. This is true regardless of skill or aptitude.