How to Get a Job as a Wedding Planner

How to Get a Job as a Wedding Planner

I sift through a lot of resumes, cover letters and, conduct my fair share of interviews so I thought it was time to write a blog post to help all of you in your effects to get a job as a Wedding Planner. With this on how to get an interview, impress in the interview, and how to land the job.

I get asked often:

How hard is it to be a wedding planner?

How did you become a wedding planner?

How hard is it to find a job as a wedding planner?

How do I get an internship or even get myself noticed?

I’ll be answering these questions and more in this post, and telling you a bit more about what it’s really like to be in the wedding industry (buckle up!)

I’ve realized that there is this idea out there that being a wedding or event planner is an easy job. Sorry, it’s not. Forbes lists it as the 8th most stressful job (and for good reason!). I know, we all make it look like a ton of fun, and that it’s all glam, but those are the parts you see. There’s all those hours behind the scenes, in the office, working on budgets, and managing expectations, emotions, timelines and, vendors. It’s not all fluff and fun and pink and diamonds. (Don’t get me wrong I LOVE what I do but by no means would I ever call it an easy job)

Now to getting a job!

I’m always shocked when someone applies for a job with us and doesn’t follow the instructions (e.g. Having a cover letter? Hint: If it’s asked for you should do it).

I thought maybe a blog post was in order to coach through the application process along a little. Be ready, I’m going to dish out a little tough love, but hey, honesty is the way to great success!

 Modern Pixel Photography

If you want to stand out the very first thing you should do is follow the application instructions.

1) Follow instructions

If the job posting says “Please include your resume and cover letter”  Don’t have one? Then create one! There are a ton of great resume building resources online:

Free Resume Builder

Resume Genius

Wiki How – Resumes

How to write a masterpiece of a resume

10 Steps to writing a resume

If you want the job it’s safe to say if you don’t follow instructions you won’t be considered. If you can’t pay attention to the details in the application process – and follow them – why would they want you on the team? (especially in event planning; attention to detail is everything)

Things to not do:

– Copy and paste your resume and cover letter into an email and send it (ALWAYS send it as a PDF attached to the email)

– Drop off a resume and cover letter when it states to email it (then it goes right to the correct person)

– Use a cover letter with “To whom it may concern” when it’s clear who the resume will be going to (Hint: If the company is us, “Amanda Douglas Events”, it’s pretty safe to address it to me; Amanda. Or do a little research and find out who is doing the hiring. Call in and talk to the receptionist, or whoever answers the phone. They won’t mind a call like this, so don’t be scared to put in that little bit of extra effort)

– Leave things out. If they ask for a head shot put in your best one. Don’t leave it out because you don’t have a “professional head shot”. We all know how to take selfies and we all have access to a camera. Find a way, set up some good lighting (this can just be with lamps you have at home, no reason to get extreme about it if you can DIY it) and, take a few photos. You can google “How to do a great head shot at home” and there are a ton of suggestions.

 MacKenzie Jean Photography

After doing all the things asked for, and doing them well, there are many different things you can add to stand out:

2) Include Social Media links

You’ll notice that with all of our job listings  we ask for social media links and portfolios. If you don’t have a portfolio do say so, don’t just leave it out (google clever or professional way to say you don’t have one). Leaving it out makes it look like you forgot it which never looks good on you and your strength/weakness for attention to detail.

Everyone has social media of some sort. If you don’t have a Pinterest account just for events, or a blog that’s all about weddings that’s totally ok. We want to see what you’re up to online, so include what you have. Again, don’t just leave it out, that’s never a good idea.

Source

3) Spice it up a little

Seeing resumes all the time, in the same format, and in simple black and white can be really boring. You don’t have to have PhotoShop or InDesign to spice up a resume and cover letter.

A few tips:

– Make your headers bold, or in a complimenting neutral colour

– Keep it organized and simple, drawing the reader to the info that’s really important

– Keep it to 2 pages (more and you’ll lose the reader)

Source

I’m a visual person, as are most wedding planners, so catching them on your resume will make it that much more likely for you to land an interview.

4) Be complimentary

If you love the company say so!  Read about the right order of content for your cover letter and be sure to write a couple of lines about how much you love the company (Hint: After the first paragraph is a good place) and what you love about it. For wedding planning that’s pretty easy. We’re all online, have websites and post many photos (and even videos) of our work.

Victoria Anne Photography

5) Don’t just talk about you

Your cover letter is the perfect place to answer some questions every employer is looking for:

– Why should I hire you?

– Why would you be a good fit for the team?

– What will you add to the team?

– Why do you want to work for us in particular?

You’ve got the interview, now what?

I feel like a lot of my tips are really straight forward and common sense but I’m going to state them all the same because it’s not really that complicated, and I think sometimes we think there should be more to it then there is:

– Dress professionally (Take it to the next level? Dress in the companies colours)

– Show up on time (Take it to the next level? Show up 10 minutes early)

– Be prepared and show up with your portfolio (Don’t have one? Just bring your resume and cover letter presented well)

– Review interview questions and be ready to answer (Take it to the next level? Look up what a behavioural interview is like and prep for that)

– Be complimentary and thankful. Start off the interview by saying how thankful you are to be there and how much you love the company

– Have and show your confidence (Hint: As a planner this is one of the most used tools/skills we have, so show it off)

– Be realistic with your expectations. No one starts as a wedding planner full time making 60k. If it’s something you really love and want to do, know that working your way up takes time (If you want to see the not so glam side of things this blog post from the WPIC has great stories of those “behind the scenes” moments us planners have to deal with)

Have more questions about being a wedding planning?

Follow and ask them over on our Q & A with Amanda series!

A little more preparation for you

Alison Howard puts out the best wedding planning videos. If you don’t follow her already she’s a must! Here are some videos on how to get an internship and questions to ask yourself on why to pursue being a wedding planner in the first place.