SME Owners: What Do They Look For? An Inside Look at the Event Management Industry
By Jordan Adams
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.
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.
She hires mostly business and communications graduates, but says a candidate’s attitude is essential: “We hire for attitude and approach, and will train for specific skills.” The hiring process is “targeted and competitive,” but candidates with a strong work ethic and great communication skills are one step ahead.
“It’s so important to have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and this is mandatory in everyone we hire,” Faucher says. “It starts there, and other qualifications and attributes get layered on top of this, depending on the role.”
Carly Ekstein said it was tough to find a job in this industry. “After 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,” she says. “However, 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 resumé and your interview approach, then you can set yourself apart.” Fortunately, persistence and the right attitude landed her an event coordinator position at Managing Matters.
Other traits that employers value in new employees are originality and imagination. “We put a strong focus on creativity and innovation, and encourage team members to come forward with new ideas and approaches,” Faucher says.
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. “I didn’t 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,” she says. At SMEs, the internship experience often provides more autonomy and responsibility—the small size allows for it.
Ekstein says she is happy to be applying her degree in a small business. “I 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,” she says. “SMEs perfectly intertwine business initiatives with humanistic characteristics to create the perfect place to work, develop a career and grow both personally and professionally.”
SMES: Small but Amazing
By Jenny Faucher, president of Managing Matters, and Carly Ekstein, event coordinator at Managing Matters
There are a plethora of reasons why job seekers are flocking to SMEs over large organizations:
- There are more opportunities to get to know everyone in the company. From the intern to the boss, everyone has a rapport with one another.
- There’s a family feel to the office. Everyone is willing to pitch in and help out. It’s very much a team effort.
- You have the chance to wear more hats. Roles are not as defined or constraining. For example, at Managing Matters there are a number of different committees that you can join depending on your interest (website, decor, charity, eco-friendly, recognition, celebrations, etc.).
- There’s less red tape. While small businesses do not necessarily have the same ability as large companies to offer extravagant benefits packages, they typically have fewer rules and therefore more flexibility in the work-life balance they offer. SMEs make every effort to ensure working conditions are really good.
- They foster change. Money is not the sole motivator for many people—employees seek satisfaction from making a difference. It is much more likely that you can effect change at a small company and be recognized for doing so.
Jordan Adams is a Carleton University journalism graduate.
For more information, please visit: managingmatters.com, careeroptionsmagazine.com
To learn about job opportunities and internships at Managing Matters, visit managingmatters.com