What does an event coordinator do?
An event coordinator is responsible for planning and working out on special events based on the client's specifications. Event coordinators' duties include suggesting appropriate venues, providing cost estimates and financial reports, selecting best vendors for the event's needs, and working on the client's approval for any adjustments to be made. An event coordinator must have excellent communication, time-management, organizational, and critical-thinking skills to address any concerns and possible inconsistencies that might affect the event's performance.
Event coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real event coordinator resumes:
- Lead and manage the Instagram and twitter social media sites, also host numerous interviews with stars and celebrities.
- Create a list of invitees for the events, ensuring that invitations are deliver and managing the RSVP list.
- Develop and create venues Instagram account and run on daily basis.
- Create and update continuing education for staff to ensure they have needed resources for upselling.
- Calculate and provide clients with estimates of potential cost in completing an event though BEO's.
- Design layouts, invitations, and other print materials for various events using Photoshop and InDesign.
- Handle the money earn from selling the alumni memorabilia; such as t-shirts, sweaters, and mugs.
- Communicate with speakers on a weekly basis, gather their biographies, and organize them for the event program.
- Accompany bride and groom to assist with photographs, keep them on time, and tend to their needs.
- Maintain a clean environment for the bride and groom, as well as assisted their guests with any needs.
- Plan and coordinate private dining events for clients, this include upselling through direct, suggestive, and upgrade selling techniques.
- Invite creation, mailing list delivery, RSVP coordination, attendee follow up, event organization and details, event execution.
- Ensure each player have proper credentials and waivers, and establish procedures for the viewing of an official NCAA tournament video.
- Design communications materials using Photoshop.
- Direct coordinators and planners during turnaround execution.
Event coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Event Coordinators are proficient in Customer Service, Event Management, and PowerPoint. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Negotiation skills.
We break down the percentage of Event Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 23%
Managed several hundred volunteers during multiple events, oversaw logistics and consistently provided customer service to thousands of participants and spectators.
- Event Management, 6%
Maintained relationships with vendors, customers and internal staff to successfully facilitate all facets of event management, operations and logistics.
- PowerPoint, 6%
Restructured Governing Board meetings from paper reports to paperless Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
- Event Logistics, 6%
Distributed inter office email announcements to our audiovisual team, reserved conference rooms and coordinated event logistics with various government organizations.
- Plan Events, 4%
Collaborated with professional programs to plan events and increased attendance with motive-based marketing.
- Audio Visual, 4%
Administered a large outdoor event involving 2,000 attendees requiring extensive audio visual equipment.
"customer service," "event management," and "powerpoint" are among the most common skills that event coordinators use at work. You can find even more event coordinator responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an event coordinator to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "meeting, convention, and event planners exchange information with clients, suppliers, and event staff." Event coordinators often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "synchronized event timelines and orchestrated communication with speakers, vendors, and participants. "
Interpersonal skills. Many event coordinator duties rely on interpersonal skills. "meeting, convention, and event planners must establish and maintain positive relationships with clients and suppliers.," so an event coordinator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways event coordinator responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "overcome competing priorities to ensure execution of event timelines and schedules through utilization of interpersonal skills. "
Negotiation skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of event coordinators is negotiation skills. This skill is critical to many everyday event coordinator duties, as "meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to secure quality products and services at reasonable prices for their clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "managed vendor relations and negotiations networking and sales social media trade show coordination event timeline management venue selection"
Organizational skills. A big part of what event coordinators do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to event coordinator responsibilities because "meeting, convention, and event planners must multitask, pay attention to details, and meet tight deadlines." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical event coordinator tasks: "committed organizational behaviors and accurate event timelines ensured deadlines were met. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for event coordinator responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of event coordinators all the time, as "meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to anticipate potential issues and prepare creative solutions that satisfy clients." An excerpt from a real event coordinator resume shows how this skill is central to what an event coordinator does: "managed vendor services, including (printed materials, giveaways, dry cleaning, it solutions). "
The three companies that hire the most event coordinators are:
- Fooda76 event coordinators jobs
- Oracle47 event coordinators jobs
- CBRE Group35 event coordinators jobs
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Compare different event coordinators
Event coordinator vs. Marketing and event planning internship
A marketing and event planning intern is responsible for supporting the operations of a company's marketing department, performing administrative duties under the guidance of a direct supervisor or tenured marketing staff. Marketing and event planning interns shadow all the processes of marketing operations, assisting with events management procedures, and suggesting strategic solutions to boost the company's brand image to the public. They also analyze the current market trends, identifying business opportunities to negotiate with more clients by meeting consumer demands and needs, bringing revenues, and increasing the company's profitability.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an event coordinator are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "plan events," "audio visual," and "event space." On the other hand, a job as a marketing and event planning internship requires skills like "event planning," "events intern," "market research," and "linkedin." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, marketing and event planning interns reach similar levels of education than event coordinators. Marketing and event planning interns are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Event coordinator vs. Meeting planner
A meeting planner makes professional decisions in all areas of meeting preparation and presentation. They plan meetings, establish meeting objectives, schedule meetings, budget expenses, inspect meeting sites, negotiate with suppliers, and create a speaker lineup. They also need to deal with travel arrangements and with technical equipment used in the course of the meeting.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that event coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "plan events," "facebook," and "event space." But a meeting planner might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "client facing," "event planning," "site selection," and "meeting materials."
On average, meeting planners earn a higher salary than event coordinators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, meeting planners earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $55,783. Whereas event coordinators have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $44,346.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Meeting planners tend to reach similar levels of education than event coordinators. In fact, they're 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for event coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Siddharth Mobar
Assistant Professor, Lasell University
Event coordinator vs. Event planner
An event planner is responsible for organizing events, following the clients' needs, instructions, and budget goals. Event planners must be highly communicative to coordinate and negotiate contracts with suppliers, third-party vendors, and venue rentals. They finalize the guest list, catering services, and assist with marketing materials to promote the event. An event planner should also have a broad knowledge of the current market industry trends, which plays a vital role in planning and organizing future event opportunities.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an event coordinator is likely to be skilled in "audio visual," "upselling," "banquet event orders," and "administrative tasks," while a typical event planner is skilled in "planning process," "event coordination," "site selection," and "audio-visual equipment."
Event planners earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $53,126. Comparatively, event coordinators have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $44,346.event planners typically earn similar educational levels compared to event coordinators. Specifically, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Event coordinator vs. Event internship
Events interns work directly with development staff to help event coordinators in event planning and promotion. They have varied responsibilities that include communicating with vendors to move event logistics, attending meetings of the planning committee as needed, and organizing and purchasing materials and supplies. A few skills are required for an events intern to accomplish these responsibilities, including being detail-oriented, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Having previous work experience is also an advantage.
Types of event coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
