Here’s more from Holly Dippner, a 22-year-old event planner at the University of Pennsylvania.  

Alex: Describe some of the day-to-day activities of your job. 

Holly: Some day-to-day activities include obtaining details from potential new clients, determining and requesting spaces for those potential clients, working with current clients to plan their events, managing events currently taking place and following up with former clients to see that they were satisfied and if we could help them with future events.   Though this might seem easy, it takes a lot of organization to keep track of all the potential new business, current business and past business.  You need to get to know someone in a short amount of time and in that time determine what makes him happy, and equally, what will make him unhappy.    

Alex: What's one piece of advice you'd give to recent college grads who aspire to hold your job?

Holly: You can’t think that just because you have a college degree that you are going to make $50,000 right off the bat.  Being an event planner involves a choice of lifestyle.  You’ll probably start in the low 30s and your salary will rise with your experience. 

Alex: What post-college training (if any) would you recommend to be successful in your job?

Holly: Definitely join Meeting Professionals International and go to your local chapter meetings.  Not only will you have the chance to network with other planners and vendors, but you might be able to land a job!  After a few years of experience, get your CMP certification from MPI and possibly consider getting a master’s degree in Hospitality Management.

Thanks, Holly!  To learn more about event planning, visit Meeting Professionals International for some great information.