Q&A Monday: Careers and Employment

Wow. It's really Monday already? The past week flew by.

Ok so today's question is not really for brides-to-be. But it IS one that we get on an almost daily basis. (In fact, I got two emails today asking this same question.)

So without further ado, here's this week's Q & A Monday!

Question: I have always wanted to be a wedding planner. Do you have any positions available at your company?

Answer: The answer to this question is very complicated, so I'll have to answer it in steps.

First, yes, we do have several positions available. These are internship positions. (Which means non-paid.) We do not currently have any paid openings.

Now, with that being said, our internships are only available to a select group of individuals. These are individuals that make a good impression on us, and give off the air that they will represent our company well. These positions are also not available to those interested in starting their own event planning company. We are looking to add to our team, not train the competition.

For those still interested, here are several do's and dont's when inquiring about jobs with a wedding planner. (I know several prominent event planners have also written about this topic, and I wholeheartedly agree with and second everything they've published on this topic. But I just have to contribute my two cents as well, even though much of it is very similar!!)

1) Don't use the wedding planner's website contact form to submit your inquiry. We are currently in a recession. Everyone needs business. Imagine our disappointment to open up what looks like a potential lead in our inbox only to find it's someone inquiring about a job. So sad!

2) Please read over your email. Very carefully. If it sounds to us like a 16-year-old wrote it, we're probably not going to give you a call back.

3) Please do not send your email to "whom it may concern." Most planners have an "about-me" section. Find out who the owner of the company is and address your email to that person. Show you've done your homework.

4) Don't copy and paste the same email and send it to 15 event planners in town. Show the planner why you want to work with THEIR company above any others. Know something about the company, and express that in your email. Reading their blog is a good place to start.

5) Please double check your spelling and grammar. This is a professional business. Need I say more?

6) PLEASE please please don't tell us that you'd be great at this because you planned your own wedding. Every wedding planner I've ever talked to inwardly cringes when they hear this.

7) DO get some education. Join an association. (I'm a member of ABC and it has given me a wealth of information and tools to use as I continue to grow my business.)

8) DO be willing to work, unpaid, for as long as it takes to get your foot in the door. No event planner will be willing to pay a virtual stranger to help out at an event. There is too much at stake.

9) DO understand how seriously the owner takes their business. Wedding planning is our life's work. We've spent thousands of dollars and many years to build our businesses to the places they are today. We aren't willing to jeopardize that, and anyone who comes on board must be FULLY committed to upholding our business reputation.

10) Be persistent! If this is something you really want to do, work at it to make it happen. Just do it the smart way.

To read other planners' thoughts on this very topic, check out these posts:

"Becoming a Wedding Planner" by Saundra Hadley of Planning...Forever Events

"Why I Won't Hire You" by Terrica Skaggs of Fabuluxe Events

"Advice on Being a Wedding Planner" by Liene Stevens of Blue Orchid Designs