How To Write an Event Planner and Coordinator Resume

When writing your resume for event planner jobs, show how you can manage the various moving parts behind a business or social function. Also, highlight your related skills, such as work scheduling, client relations, and contract negotiations. The tips below will help you capture these areas in each section of your resume to get you interviews for your next event planning job.

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level
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1. Summarize your event planner and coordinator qualifications in a dynamic profile

In a brief paragraph or bullet list at the top of your resume, catch employers’ interest by giving the three to five main reasons you’ll excel as their next event planner.

For instance, maybe you already have years of experience managing similar conferences. Or you might be known for building relationships with diverse clients and vendors. Emphasize relevant traits you possess, like adaptability or quick problem-solving. In addition, cite anything that sets you apart from other candidates, such as an advanced degree or rare certification in your field. (Note: most job seekers find it easier to write their profile last.)

Entry-Level Profile Example


Event planner committed to helping organize formal wedding receptions and other social occasions. Expertly manage event logistics to ensure hosts, guests, and attendees have a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Mid-Career Profile Example


Client-focused event planning professional with over five years of experience. Skilled at organizing successful business conventions, wedding receptions, and other social occasions. Ensure event attendees have a positive experience, helping to boost client organizations’ brand and goodwill with members and customers. Committed to maintaining productive and collaborative relationships with clients.

2. Add your event planner and coordinator experience with compelling examples

Use your resume’s experience section to give examples of your background and success in event planning or related roles. For each job in your recent work history, brainstorm your duties and achievements on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, choose the most relevant ones to present as bullet points on your resume.

Cite specific events you’ve organized, and name the various factors you focused on to ensure they went smoothly. Spell out how each event or gathering advanced strategic goals for the client or company. Also, describe any broader improvements you made, such as reducing vendor costs or streamlining event procedures.

Mid-Career Professional Experience Example


Event Planner, XYZ Convention Services, Inc., Seattle, WA | April 2020 to present

  • Hired to organize all aspects of large-scale business meetings and conferences
  • Work closely with clients to understand their needs and concerns, setting a clear purpose and objectives for each occasion
  • Expertly manage various event details such as venue, lodging, expenses, and food and beverage services

Highlights:

  • Facilitated membership growth for three industry associations by planning regional conferences that achieved all attendance goals
  • Negotiated contract updates with three key vendors, improving the partnership and lowering costs by around 8%
  • Helped the business navigate significant disruption and uncertainty in the spring and summer of 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Event Planner, ABC Conference Planning, LLC, San Diego, CA | April 2016 to present

  • Coordinate all elements of major business meetings and conventions
  • Actively engage with clients to develop a clear purpose and attendance forecast for every event
  • Manage various event details such as venue, schedule, lodging, transport, expenses, guest speakers, food and beverage, and audiovisual setup

Highlights:

  • Grew membership for three industry associations by planning regional conferences that consistently achieved over 100% of attendance goals
  • Appointed to a special committee tasked with navigating industry changes and pursuing growth opportunities. Helped guide the business through significant disruption in early 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Negotiated new contracts with four vendors, lowering associated costs by around 12%

3. List any education and certifications relevant to event planners and coordinators

First, give the basics of your highest education degree. Then, flesh out this section with any details that show your relevant knowledge base. For instance, maybe you’ve done coursework on hospitality management, or you’ve become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) through the Events Industry Council. Details like these help hiring managers see the depth of expertise you bring to your role.

Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note optional template areas appear in [brackets].

Education


Template: 

Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, City, ST or online | [Year]

[Academic Honors or Awards]

[Select Coursework]

Example: 

Bachelor of Science (BS) – Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Certification


Template: 

Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]

[Description]

Example: 

Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM), International Association of Exhibitions & Events

Add a key skills section to show the various ways you ensure events go smoothly. Include not only your hard skills like transportation booking and guest registration but soft skills like collaboration and time management. Also, consider specifying the types of events you’ve managed and would like to again. Below are some common skills and keywords for event planner and coordinator resumes:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Attendee satisfaction Budgeting and cost accounting
Client relations Complex problem-solving
Conferences and conventions Contract negotiations
Cross-functional collaboration Event services and activities
Guest registration Meeting logistics
Microsoft Office suite Project and program management
Stakeholder relations Task prioritization
Time management Trade shows
Transportation booking Vendor relations

How To Pick the Best Event Planner and Coordinator Resume Template

As with most vocations, event planners should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by many employers to screen resumes.

Event Planner and Coordinator Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level

Cameron Malfara
123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]

Profile

Client-focused Event Planning Professional with 5+ years of experience. Skilled at organizing successful business conventions, wedding receptions, and other social occasions. Ensure event attendees have a positive experience, helping to boost client organizations’ brand and goodwill with members and customers. Committed to maintaining positive, productive, and collaborative relationships with clients.

Key Skills

  • Customer Relations & Retention
  • Attendee Satisfaction
  • Stakeholder Relations
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Budgeting
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Conferences & Conventions
  • Cost Accounting
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Event Services & Activities
  • Guest Registration
  • Meeting Logistics
  • Task Prioritization
  • Time Management
  • Transportation Booking

Professional Experience

Event Planner, XYZ Convention Services, Inc., Seattle, WA
April 2020 to Present

  • Hired to organize all aspects of large-scale business meetings and conferences.
  • Work closely with clients to understand their needs and concerns, setting a clear purpose and objectives for each occasion.
  • Expertly manage various event details such as venue, lodging, expenses, and food and beverage services.

Highlights:

  • Facilitated membership growth for three industry associations by planning regional conferences that achieved all attendance objectives.
  • Negotiated contract updates with three key vendors, improving the partnership and lowering costs by an average of 8%.
  • Helped the business navigate significant disruption and uncertainty in spring and summer 2020 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Event Organizer, CDE Bower & Estate, Seattle, WA
April 2017 to April 2020

  • Helped orchestrate 15 of this wedding venue’s ceremonies and receptions annually.
  • Gained strong expertise in client relations and support, with frequent phone and email contact to ensure open lines of communication and clear expectations.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree – Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Frequently Asked Questions: Event Planner and Coordinator Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for event planner and coordinator resumes?-

When hiring managers review your resume, they don’t just want to know your skills but how you’ve applied them. How have you built and maintained customer relationships? What measures have you taken to make your company faster or more cost-effective? What was the impact of the events you organized? You can help capture the answers to these questions with action verbs.

Start your bullet points with some of the verbs below, and avoid passive phrases like “Responsible for” or “Management of.” This approach helps you show the dynamic nature of your work.

Action Verbs
Built Collaborated
Coordinated Cultivated
Decreased Designed
Enhanced Expedited
Fostered Implemented
Increased Introduced
Launched Organized
Partnered Planned
Prioritized Raised
Reduced Resolved
Started Strengthened
Surpassed Updated
How do you align your event planner and coordinator resume with a job posting?-

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for meeting, convention, and event planners will increase by about 8% between 2022 and 2032. This growth rate is faster than the average for all U.S. vocations.

You can get more interviews in this field if you tailor your resume for each application. Look closely at the job post text and highlight words that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these highlighted phrases to the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, seek ways to align your resume language with the job post while not copying phrases or misstating your background.

Also consider adding brief descriptions of the companies or facilities where you’ve worked in [brackets] right next to or below the company name. Company descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the one who posted the job. For example, maybe you’ve worked for companies of a similar size or client base. Or maybe you’ve worked at organizations with a similar mission or service philosophy. By adding these details to your descriptions, you can make your resume more relevant to the job opening at hand.

What is the best event planner and coordinator resume format?-

Most event planners and coordinators should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)

By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. With this format, you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can make an informed decision to call you for an interview.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your event planner and coordinator resume

To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to a good cover letter is tailoring it to each job opening. Read our event planner cover letter guide to learn how. For more tips and examples, see our comprehensive cover letter guide.

Jacob Meade Headshot

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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