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Think of your event manager resume as the main act of your job application show. A lackluster performance won’t cut it! We’re here to help you create a resume worthy of a standing ovation.
Get ready to take center stage and leave hiring managers clamoring for an encore!
This guide will show you:
- An event manager resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
- How to write an event manager resume that will land you more interviews.
- Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an event manager resume.
- How to describe your experience on a resume for an event manager or director of events to get any job you want.
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Here are a few other resume guides related to event management:
- Event Planner Resume Sample & Guide
- Event Coordinator Resume Sample & Guide
- Catering Resume Example
- Hospitality Resume Sample & Guide
- Project Manager Resume Sample & Guide
- Marketing Coordinator Resume Sample
- Best Resume Examples for All Professions
Above was our idea of the best event manager resume sample.
Event Manager Resume Sample
Randall Harrington
Certified Event Manager
randall.harrington@gmail.com
(718) 987-1234
linkedin.com/in/randallharrington
Summary of Qualifications
Detail-oriented corporate event manager with 4 years of experience in coordinating company conferences, travel, and meetings. CSEP and CMP certified. Reduced needed budget for corporate events by 15%. Seeking to further develop skills and experience by maturing with Morgan & Jones Capital as the new corporate event manager.
Work Experience
Corporate Event ManagerMay 2016–March 2019JSM Global, New York, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
- Planned all manner of corporate events, including trade shows, international meetings, corporate retreats, company outings, conferences, and more.
- Managed all areas of events, from pre-planning, through the event day, and post-event activities.
- Supervised team of event planners and assistants, while hiring support staff, caterers, and other contract workers as necessary.
- Determined appropriate levels of staffing and budget to stay within given monetary parameters.
- Organized logistics of event preparation, including location scouting, stage design, venue decor, and program implementation.
Key Achievements
- Awarded the 2018 ”Top Event Manager in 2018, Northeast US” from Event Pros.
- Reduced needed budget for corporate events by 15% from new venue partnership and vendor replacement.
Event CoordinatorJanuary 2015–May 2016Perfect Happenings, New York, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
- Coordinated logistics, finances, venue, preparation, planning, and closeout of events.
- Liaised with and supervised event staff, vendors, food caterers, servers, and other hired hands.
- Applied budget frugally to ensure no cost overruns and timely payment of support staff.
- Participated in venue scouting, set design, location decor and arrangement, seating, and other event management duties.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Event Management
City University of New York, New York, NY
Graduation: 2016
Relevant Coursework: Corporate and Industry Events, Management of Meetings, Fundraising & Sponsorship, Public Relations, Promotions & Contracts, Tourism & Hospitality Management, International Events & Conventions, Global Hospitality & Cultural Awareness.
Key Skills
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Venue Selection, Setup, and Design
- Staff Management
- Guest Reservations & Arrangement
- Event Logistics & Finances
- Leadership Skills
Certifications
- Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP), International Live Events Association
- Certificate in Meeting & Event Management, NYSH
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Events Industry Council
Awards
- Top Event Manager in 2018, Northeast US from Event Pros
Memberships
- The Wedding International Professionals Association (WIPA)
- Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
- Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors—International (ACCED-I)
- The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)
Languages
- Arabic: Limited Working Proficiency
Time for yours—here’s how to write a resume for event management jobs:
1. Choose the Best Format for Your Event Manager Resume
Before you get called for event manager jobs, be sure your resume doesn’t get cut from the show. To start, that means formatting your event management resume in a way that earns a standing ovation.
Follow these formatting rules on an event manager resume:
- Start with the address on your resume in the professional header.
- Separate the sections of a resume with titles that stand out.
- The most effective resume format is the reverse-chronological resume template.
- Choose from the best fonts for resumes so they don’t have a difficult time reading.
Pro Tip: Pick the PDF resume format, unless the event management job ad explicitly asks for one in Microsoft Word. PDF renders right everywhere, whereas Word looks funny on certain devices.
2. Write an Event Manager Resume Objective or Summary
A resume objective or summary, also known as a professional profile, is your elevator pitch to the hiring manager. This intro paragraph provides hiring managers with a quick look at your skills and experience.
Use the resume summary if you have plenty of event management experience. “Sum up” your event management experience and skills with this one. Include a key accomplishment with numbers to prove you’re awesome.
Use the resume objective if you have little or no event management experience. This objective statement also provides them with a quantifiable achievement. However, it replaces your lack of event management experience for a statement on your career goals.
Make sure it’s compelling—otherwise, this particular job you’re applying to will be dismantled before it even gets installed.
Pro Tip: Your resume heading is the opening act, but write it last. This way, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the best tidbits to include there after the rest of the resume is penned.
3. Create the Perfect Event Management Job Description for a Resume
Whether coordinating the events of an international trade show or a small team building afternoon, get your relevant work experience details right.
Don’t bore them with trivial duties related to event manager jobs in your past. Instead—here’s how to create an event management job description:
- Use reverse-chronological order here, placing your most recent job first.
- Add the job title, employment dates, agency name, and 5–6 bullet points listing the most event manager-relevant job responsibilities you were tasked with.
- Start with resume power words (e.g., coordinated, supervised, etc.) to begin each entry.
- After your responsibilities, give a numbered accomplishment or two to prove how effective you were.
- Know how to tailor your resume to a job posting. No one wants an event manager who handed in a generic resume.
Pro Tip: Are you creating your first resume for event management jobs? All the same rules still apply. Just remember, when you add your previous jobs in your work history, list duties and achievements most relevant to event manager positions.
4. Make Your Event Management Resume Education Section Shine
Many people slack on their education in a resume. But—a poor education section might just be the item which causes the employer to turn you down.
Here’s how to keep them on-script through your academic area:
- Use reverse-chronological here, too, with your most advanced degree first.
- List your degree name, completion date, college name and location, and coursework relevant to event management.
- If you have some impressive extras, such as Latin honors or publications, don’t be shy—those look great on event manager resumes.
- Don’t include high school on your resume if you’ve completed a university degree.
Pro Tip: You may not realize it, but there are other classes which are worth noting on your event manager resume. For example, coursework on project management, leadership, hospitality, and communication are quite valuable for event manager jobs.
5. Highlight Your Event Management Skills for a Resume
In the US, jobs for meeting, convention, and event planners are projected to increase by 11% in the years of 2016–2026. You’ve got 12,700 more people to compete against.
So—to leave those other candidates behind, awe the hiring manager with your event manager skills on a resume. Here are some top examples of skills for event managers:
Event Manager Resume Skills—Examples
- Pre-Planning & Event Coordination
- Invitations & RSVPs
- Venue Choice & Setup
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Dealing With Vendors & Consultants
- Logistics
- Sales & Marketing
- Social Media Skills
- Stage Production Abilities
- Budgenting & Financial Skills
- Staffing Needs
- Stage Management
- Seating & Guest Arrangement
- Attention to Detail
- Top Communication Skills
- Project Management Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Decision Making Skills
- Technical Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Problem Solving Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Management Skills
- Teamwork Skills
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Creative Thinking Skills
However—you need to tailor them, remember? So don’t just take this list for your director of events resume.
Here’s how to make a perfect skills resume section:
- Think of hard and soft skills you have related to event management jobs.
- To find the perfect keywords for a resume, look in the job requirements section of the employment ad.
- If there are matches in the job ad to skills and abilities you have, put those on your event management resume.
Note that many jobs at larger organizations filter the dozens of resumes they receive through applicant tracking software, first. To make sure you don’t get filtered out of the applicant pool, use similar wording to the job description when listing event management skills.
By reviewing 11 million resumes made in our builder, we discovered that:
- Event managers include an average of 13 skills on their resumes.
- Among the top skills frequently listed by event managers are vendor and contract negotiations, cross-functional teams leadership, promotional advertising, team leadership and supervision, and multitasking.
- Event managers tend to create resumes spanning about 2.2 pages in length.
Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, our online resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
6. Add Other Sections to Your Event Manager Resume
Your event manager resume template is looking good! However, every other event manager you’re going up against has got the same sections. They’re core resume areas, after all.
How to beat them? Add some unique sections to make your event management resume stand out like the keynote speaker.
These are several great additions for a resume for event manager jobs:
- Achievements in a resume
- Event management organization memberships
- Personal interests
- Resume volunteer work
- List of certifications and licenses
- Language proficiency levels on a resume
7. Attach an Event Manager Cover Letter to Your Resume
How important is a cover letter? Very (if you want to beat the other candidates, that is). Though it’s not required, don’t forget the covering letter, as more than half of hiring managers agree that a resume alone isn’t sufficient.
So, here’s how to build an event management cover letter that’ll win them over:
- Know how to format a cover letter before you begin writing.
- The cover letter first paragraph should be engaging as you introduce yourself as an event manager candidate.
- Impress them with your event management skills and experience.
- Use a key accomplishment or two to set yourself apart.
- Finish strong with a cover letter ending that’s compelling.
Check out our guides on how long should a cover letter be, what to include in a cover letter, and other professional cover letter tips.
Pro Tip: Send a job follow-up email if you haven’t heard back from the employer after 2 or 3 days. As you’re waiting for their decision, use our best tips for interviews to prepare!
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:
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