The event management industry can be a tough one to crack, but SME owner Jenny Faucher says that with the right attitude, you can make a name for yourself.<\/p>\n
Faucher founded her event and association management company Managing Matters in 2004. The 15-person firm is based in Toronto, but puts on events all across Canada and around the world. The firm also provides companies with management services such as communications and website management.<\/p>\n
She hires mostly business and communications graduates, but says a candidate\u2019s attitude is essential: \u201cWe hire for attitude and approach, and will train for specific skills.\u201d The hiring process is \u201ctargeted and competitive,\u201d but candidates with a strong work ethic and great communication skills are one step ahead.
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\n\u201cIt’s so important to have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and this is mandatory in everyone we hire,\u201d Faucher says. \u201cIt starts there, and other qualifications and attributes get layered on top of this, depending on the role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carly Ekstein said it was tough to find a job in this industry. \u201cAfter completing a post-graduate marketing degree and working full-time at a corporate event management company in London, Ontario, I had finally figured out what I wanted to do as a career,\u201d she says. \u201cHowever, making the move from London to Toronto proved to be difficult, at least where my career was concerned. Despite my educational background and substantial work experience, it was a full-time job looking for a job. The job market is saturated, the competition is high and the jobs are scarce. But if you differentiate yourself, your resum\u00e9 and your interview approach, then you can set yourself apart.\u201d Fortunately, persistence and the right attitude landed her an event coordinator position at Managing Matters.<\/p>\n
Other traits that employers value in new employees are originality and imagination. \u201cWe put a strong focus on creativity and innovation, and encourage team members to come forward with new ideas and approaches,\u201d Faucher says.<\/p>\n
Those without experience in the industry can often opt for an internship to gain skills and experience. Nadya Sayenko landed a job as an event coordinator at Managing Matters after her internship there. \u201cI didn\u2019t study event management at all, but after completing my internship, I know how to plan an event, do the budget and communicate with suppliers and clients,\u00a0\u00bb she says. At SMEs, the internship experience often provides more autonomy and responsibility\u2014the small size allows for it.<\/p>\n
Ekstein says she is happy to be applying her degree in a small business. \u201cI have always been very ambitious, goal-oriented, results-driven and thirsty for success, and while these values are very much aligned with large enterprises, I would never thrive in such an environment,\u201d she says. \u201cSMEs perfectly intertwine business initiatives with humanistic characteristics to create the perfect place to work, develop a career and grow both personally and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Jordan Adams
\nJordan Adams is a Carleton University journalism graduate.<\/p>\n
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