As a Communication Studies major and an Events Management minor, I have quite a bit of flexibility in my future career path!  I love that with my educational credentials I will be able to have many different careers throughout my life.  That being said, I do have a dream career that I plan to pursue after graduation.

Because of my communication and organizational strengths and my desire to help others, I plan to become an event planner for a non-profit company.  As an event planner, I will use my teamwork skills to lead teams that will plan fundraising events.  I also excel at multi-tasking, which is an essential aspect of event planning.  I am able to juggle many responsibilities at once and produce quality work while doing so.  My expertise in communication will perfectly compliment my role as an event planner.  Not only will I be able to successfully publicize my events, I will also be able to effectively communicate with many other professionals while gathering resources for the events.  I also believe that my ability to stay positive and calm amidst chaos will play a key role in my career.  As an event planner, I will often have to coordinate many people at once.  Being able to do this with a cheerful attitude will make me far more approachable to other employees.

Important qualities of event planners are composure and skills in customer service, interpersonal communication, negotiation, organization, and problem solving.  The nature of their work includes meeting with clients, visiting event venues, reviewing bills and approving payment, monitoring event activities, soliciting bids from venues and service providers, and planning the scope of the event.  While most days are spent in an office setting, event planners also travel to potential event venues and meeting sites.   A Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Event Management, Hospitality, or Communication Studies is the most common educational background needed for this career.  The median salary for event planners is $45,000 a year.  Event planners are typically hired by hotels or large businesses.  Potential employers for my desired career will be either colleges or non-profit companies.  There are great opportunities for advancement in this career.  One can often begin working as a part of an event planning team and eventually become the senior event manager (who is the director of the event planning team).  The job outlook for event planners is higher than average, with an expected growth of 33% in the next eight years!  The advantages of this career are that each day brings new challenges and it is rewarding to see events take place after planning them.  The disadvantages are that one often has to work extra hours leading up to an event.

Throughout my time in college, I plan to prepare for my future career in a few ways.  Through my communication and event management classes, I will gain knowledge that I can then apply in a work setting.  By serving as an event planning and communications intern for companies during college, I will gain invaluable hands-on experience as well as connections with potential employers.  I also believe that school clubs and volunteering give me wonderful opportunities to improve my communication and organizational skills!  As a part of CCAT (Campus Coalition Against Trafficking), I am a part of a team that plans fundraising and awareness events on campus.  As a service scholar at IUPUI, I will help plan Global Youth Service Day for George Washington Community High School and César Chávez Day of Service at IUPUI.  These experiences will allow me to gain knowledge in event planning as well as develop connections within my community.

I truly feel fortunate to have discovered a career that fits my personality type so perfectly.  My recent Compass Test results indicated that my two most defining traits were “mentor” and “planner”.  These results provided further confirmation that I have chosen a career that I will thrive in.   I am eager to develop the skills I already have over the next few years so I can eventually have my dream career as an event planner.  I am definitely excited for what my future holds!