Tips on creating a winning event planning resume

A key part of landing an event planning job is creating a resume that not only catches the eye of the hiring party, but holds it and convinces them that they've just found the best person for the position. However, competition for these jobs is stiff, and it takes more than a simple list of past work history to win attention. Those reviewing the resumes expect entrants to spend the time and take care to craft a resume that provides them with all the research they need in order to make a good decision. This may seem like high expectations for a few sheets of paper, but there are a few basic tips that can help you write a great event planning resume.

Sum it all up

Using an Objective or Profile section at the beginning of the resume is a great way to summarize who you are, your key qualities, skills and what you intend to bring to the job.       This is a great way to grab the employers' attention and entice him to go through your full resume. When an employer or HR department gets bombarded with hundreds of applications, they will not read through every single one. They will scan through the received applications and review only those that stand out in more detail. 

Highlight your experience 

A main purpose of a resume is to provide background work history and experience to potential employers, so this should be the next section. Previous events that you have planned or been involved in in the past, as well as other jobs that relate to event planning can be listed here. 

Details in this section can be a perfect way to make the resume stand out. For events, listing the date, number of attendees, the budget , your key responsibilities and the overall success of the event provides a good idea of what your key competencies are and what you have experience doing. For job positions, listing the skills and duties required in the role can also provide a clearer picture of your background. 

Consider creating an event portfolio

Listing previous experience in your one or two page resume has to be short and to the point. A great way to showcase your work in detail, is to create a portfolio with your past planned events. A picture is worth a thousand words, so be sure to include photos that bring the portfolio to life and are most representative of the event's theme and overall success. Now, there are an array of free tools to create a stunning online portfolio. Check out Behance, Carbonmade and Portfoliobox! Stay tuned for our next post that will give you tips on how to make an event portfolio that will land you the job!

Education and Volunteering

Education history is important on any resume. List your received degrees, as well as any courses taken that relate to event planning, such as budgeting , marketing and public relations. Be sure not to forget relevant extracurricular workshops or courses.Volunteer work in planning events can also be a great way to add dimension to the resume. Organizing a function for a local charity or non-profit can show your ability to work with a limited budget, raise attention for an event and more.

Be Meticulous 

While it may seem obvious, it is also a vital step to double-check a resume for any typos or errors in spelling and grammar. The resume needs to showcase the best in a potential employee, and it's a shame to have experience and skills discredited by embarrassing grammatical mistakes!

Crafting the event planning resume that will stand out in the pile can feel a bit daunting, and is definitely a task that requires time and care. By starting out using these tips to create a framework, and then fleshing out the resume with details, skills and experience, you should be able to feel ready to take on the job hunt!