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Event planner skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Jokima Hiller,
Duane Sunwold
Event planner example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical event planner skills. We ranked the top skills for event planners based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.0% of event planner resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an event planner needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 event planner skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how event planners use customer service:
  • Provided extra-curricular student learning activities involving art and media Make-up Consultant and Product Specialist Delivered excellent customer service working for M.A.C.
  • Thrived within a busy, high-volume environment requiring the ability to prioritize and provide exceptional customer service.

2. Vendor Contracts

Vendor contracts are legal arrangements that clearly state the provisions and conditions of the work/services to be provided by a vendor/contractor. If drafted accurately, these documents can provide a safeguard against potential liability. The contract must enlist the scope of Services/Products, Contract Duration, Price and intended payment plan.

Here's how event planners use vendor contracts:
  • Negotiated vendor contracts and maintained positive relationships with suppliers such as hotels, destination management companies and speakers.
  • Negotiated vendor contracts and managed expenditures to deliver programs within the approved budget.

3. Plan Events

Plan event, also called event planning, is all that is needed to organize an event. It includes the coordination of every detail of events such as meetings, congresses, fairs, ceremonies, retreats, or parties. This feature is part of the broader framework of event management.

Here's how event planners use plan events:
  • Plan events by securing location, audiovisual equipment, staffing, advertising, ticket sales, concessions and stage management.
  • Helped plan events took orders and reservations, cooked and seasoned food according to recipes, served food at events.

4. Event Management

Event management applies project management to the development and creation of corporate events such as conferences, festivals, ceremonies, concerts, or formal parties.

Here's how event planners use event management:
  • Recruited and organized student volunteers, conducted campus outreach to students and city residents, administrative assistance in event management.
  • Maintained a calendar of events and implemented a system that enabled and anticipated long-term planning requirements and effective event management.

5. PowerPoint

Here's how event planners use powerpoint:
  • Designed highly confidential/attorney-client privileged documents and multimedia PowerPoint presentations.
  • Manage event-planning details including preparation of hundreds of badges, proofing/enhancing PowerPoint presentations etc., and logistical coordination.

6. Event Logistics

Event logistics refers to establishing and managing events within the organization where the organizers plan, control, and manage transfer and storage of the required amenities.

Here's how event planners use event logistics:
  • Provided the highest quality client/attorney experience by ensuring the event logistics, staging and production were thoroughly planned and flawlessly executed.
  • Coordinate all event logistics including venue preparation, audio/visual production, catering services, and security protocols.

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7. Planning Process

A planning process is the sequence of actions or steps that a company needs to take to guide its future activities and develop a budget. A standard planning process generally includes 5 steps, which are: determining the strategic position, prioritizing the objectives, developing a strategic plan, executing and managing the plan, and reviewing and revising the plan.

Here's how event planners use planning process:
  • Managed entire event planning process from program development, event marketing, agency execution and budgeting.
  • Display unsurpassed expertise to effectively assist clients in the entire strategic planning process.

8. Corporate Events

A corporate event is a social or hospitality activity organized or funded by a business entity. The focus audience for corporate events can include but not be limited to employees, board members, stakeholders, customers/clients, and potential clients. The motivation for businesses to organize events may be to reward, motivate, celebrate, educate, manage organizational change, mark milestones, or encourage collaboration.

Here's how event planners use corporate events:
  • Planned corporate events and handled corporate communications.
  • Managed and coordinated all corporate events for incoming training groups and senior management meetings with attendees varying from 5 to 300.

9. Facebook

Here's how event planners use facebook:
  • Planned and orchestrated conferences that included 60+ women * Promoted events using Facebook
  • Promoted business with daily Facebook postings.

10. Event Space

Here's how event planners use event space:
  • Assist with negotiations for space contracts and book event space, arrange food and beverage, order supplies and audiovisual equipment.
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors for event space and rentals, arranged catering services, coordinated travel arrangements for vendors and clients.

11. Social Events

Here's how event planners use social events:
  • Conducted promotions and meticulously coordinated logistical requirements for organized social events of 200 people.
  • Organized and scheduled different social events and supervised the execution and completion.

12. Trade Shows

Here's how event planners use trade shows:
  • Traveled domestically to represent the organization at numerous Industry events and Trade shows.
  • Developed, planned, marketed, executed events, meetings, trade shows and incentive programs with church organizations and entertainment.

13. Event Coordination

Here's how event planners use event coordination:
  • Manage staff responsible for event coordination activities.
  • Increased company revenue through high-level event coordination and client relations that led to an increase in repeat business for the organization.

14. Event Budgets

The event budget is a projection or forecast, of revenues and expenses that may incur at an event.

Here's how event planners use event budgets:
  • Develop and track event budgets to ensure accurate revenue and expense accountability and allocation.
  • Developed and managed event budgets.

15. Site Selection

Here's how event planners use site selection:
  • Travel and Transportation management, Hotel Site Selection and Registration, Database management as well as Strategic Communications.
  • Involved in all facets of event design from food & drink to event site selection, lighting and decor decisions.
top-skills

What skills help Event Planners find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on event planner resumes?

Dr. Jokima HillerDr. Jokima Hiller LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Missouri State University

Employers are seeking candidates who are:
- Adaptable, Flexible
- Have transferable skills such as customer service, financial management, problem solving, critical thinking, etc.
- Self-starter

What event planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Duane SunwoldDuane Sunwold LinkedIn profile

Instructor, Spokane Community College

Personal Communication Skills, Vocational Math, Food Science

What type of skills will young event planners need?

Barbara ConnellBarbara Connell LinkedIn profile

Chair of Events Industry Council’s CMP Governance Commission and CEO at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Events Industry

Depending on the position that is available, various items draw attention. If a manager or junior role is being filled, an experience that shows continued alignment within a field or type of activity and learning within that field or activity is appealing. Dedication and consistency are always attractive. If a senior role is being filled, deep levels of varied responsibility and achievement are indicators that an individual is committed, focused, and likely to be a successful leader. Tenure is also attractive; staying in a position for 3-5 years or more is a positive trait and shows that the organization's investment will be protected.

What soft skills should all event planners possess?

Mark Zanter

Coordinator, Marshall University

All graduates should be able to write and express themselves clearly and communicate effectively in their discipline.

List of event planner skills to add to your resume

Event planner skills

The most important skills for an event planner resume and required skills for an event planner to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Vendor Contracts
  • Plan Events
  • Event Management
  • PowerPoint
  • Event Logistics
  • Planning Process
  • Corporate Events
  • Facebook
  • Event Space
  • Social Events
  • Trade Shows
  • Event Coordination
  • Event Budgets
  • Site Selection
  • Audio-Visual Equipment
  • Event Materials
  • Travel Arrangements
  • Press Releases
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Instagram
  • Biographies
  • Promotional Materials
  • Event Operations
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Post-Event Evaluations
  • Event Security
  • Event Timelines
  • RSVP
  • Client Events
  • Twitter
  • Community Events
  • Event Sponsors
  • Private Events
  • VIP
  • Market Research
  • Private Parties
  • Venue Selection
  • Guest Speakers
  • DJ
  • Giveaways
  • Invitee List
  • Menu Planning
  • Event Site
  • Ticket Sales
  • Local Businesses
  • Gift Bags
  • Non-Profit Organization
  • Event Facilities
  • On-Site Management

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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