There’s no question that the economy is having a hard time getting back on track. After the financial meltdown in 2009, banks and other financial institutions are reluctant to offer loans or extend credit to businesses. Without that infusion of cash, businesses were hesitant in 2010 to operate with too much overhead—inventory or personnel.
According to a survey taken by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network of senior-level financial professionals, 49 percent expect to remain flat with employee numbers in 2011 while 29 percent anticipate staff reductions. Eighty percent don’t expect any meaningful improvement in job growth until at least the second half of 2011 or well into 2012. Almost 60 percent of the companies surveyed by CFO Magazine and Duke University anticipate that pre-recession staffing numbers won’t return until 2012 or later.
Responses to Meetings Focus’ annual Career Trends Survey reflect a similar viewpoint about hiring trends for meeting planners during the first quarter of 2011.
Meetings Return Slowly in 2011
When asked about the number of meetings and events their company or organization plans to hold during the first quarter of 2011, 58 percent indicated that they’ll hold the same number as in 2010 while 30 percent expect a slight increase in the number of meetings and events scheduled. In some cases, meetings put on hold last year are returning in 2011.
"It’s a mixed picture for our organization," says Misha Tsirulnikov, program director at BayBio in South San Francisco, Calif. "While we have several new programs we’re introducing in the first quarter of 2011, overall, the number of meetings we’ll be doing this year will decrease. It’s a directive from our board to do fewer meetings but do them better."
Companies in other parts of the country seem to be taking a similar approach.
"I have clients who are both continuing to hold the same number of meetings next year, but with more budget constraints," says Judi McLaughlin, CMP, managing director, New York region for Helms Briscoe.
For some companies, the goal is to offer more-focused content.
"Although we aren’t increasing the number of meetings we hold in 2011, we’re increasing the number of days for each meeting because the company is introducing new training programs," says a Midwest corporate planner I contacted for this article.
Staying Even or Outsourcing
Flat may be the new up in the first quarter of 2011. Eighty percent of respondents anticipate maintaining the same number of meeting planners while only 5 percent plan to hire additional full-time staff.
"We’ll focus on coaching our executive assistants to take on more logistical planning," says Matthew Schermerhorn, CMP, director, corporate events, for AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
On a positive note, 10 percent plan to increase using independent contractors on a project-by-project basis or outsource to meeting management companies.
"Many of our clients are coming up with an outsourcing program to help reduce costs and deal with staffing up on a cyclical basis," McLaughlin says.
Over 70 percent of the planners who responded to the Meetings Focus Career Trends Survey plan to stay flat with staffing or refill entry-level or junior level positions but not replace other positions if the person leaves. Thirty-one percent expect to fill entry-level positions while 40 percent anticipate filling positions that require less than three years of experience.
One ray of hope is that 24 percent expect to fill positions that require a minimum of four to seven years of experience.
While 76 percent of the meeting planners who responded to the survey are not concerned about losing their job if the economy doesn’t improve during the first quarter of 2011, 69 percent believe that if they were laid off it would take them more than six months to find another job at the same level as their current position.
A number of meeting professionals said they’d consider other options if their job search exceeded six months:
- "I’d look at contract work until a full-time opportunity popped up," says Lisa Burkett, CMP, CMM, manager, membership services and events for The Leadership Institute.
My take: Employers prefer job seekers who show current employment, even if it’s a short-term project. Another advantage is that you’ll continue expanding your base of connections for future work.
- "I received my Masters degree in Hospitality Management, so I might consider becoming an adjunct professor," says a Midwest corporate planner with 17 years of industry experience.
My take: Using your skills and experience in a different capacity can help provide you with new opportunities for career growth, whether it’s teaching or taking a job on the supplier side.
- "I might consider a position that offered me more of a work-life balance where I had fewer responsibilities," says Judi McLaughlin.
My take: The economy has definitely made people evaluate their personal and professional goals. Direct your attention toward seeking jobs that offer the opportunity to focus on the things you enjoy doing the most.
Stay on Track with New Technology
We asked readers which of the following technology skills meeting planners should have if they want to remain competitive in the job market in 2011:
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Office software, (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) 86%
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Database management programs (Access and FilemakerPro) 56%
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Handling online registration 77%
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Creating websites to promote meetings and events 66%
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Social media tools to help enhance the attendee experience 79%
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Managing webinars and/or virtual meetings 70%
With entry to mid-level positions, it’s important to have hands-on experience using office software and online registration programs.
"At a more senior level, you need to be comfortable using these tools so you can evaluate them on a strategic level for your organization," says the Midwest corporate planner I interviewed.
Of course, job-seekers that come equipped with the latest technology skills will more easily find a spot in today’s more-streamlined organizations.
"Companies are doing more with less, so if you have the additional skill [creating websites to promote meetings and events], it may be a selling point for you when you’re applying for a job," Tsirulnikov says.
The same holds true with using social media to engage participants pre- and post-conference. While some conferences are beginning to offer workshops on learning to use social media, Burkett has tapped into the expertise of colleagues closer to home.
"I’ve learned a lot from MPI members in our chapter who are experts at using social media to promote our meetings," she says.
Increasingly, companies and organizations are including webinars and virtual meetings in their mix of meetings and events. Some organizations offer webinars as a member benefit.
"We’re finding that webinars extend the life of a meeting by making them available to our members at a later date," Tsirulnikov says.
Corporations now use webinars as a way to direct focused information to employees, as well as allow them to include a larger number of employees in meetings and conferences, thereby eliminating travel expenditures.
"At my company, we’re doing more webcasts where upper-level executives are speaking to our employees on key initiatives," says the Midwest corporate planner. "Overall, we see webinars and virtual meetings as an adjunct meeting function but not a replacement for traditional meetings."
Final Analysis
While it’s still too early to project how the year will turn out, optimism seems high that things will continue to improve in 2011 for the meetings industry. Results from IMEX’s recent Global Insights Report indicate that there’s a more positive outlook that the number of meetings and budgets will continue to rise.
"More meetings with more budget consciousness," McLaughlin says. "Meeting planners across the board are being pushed to get the greatest value from the dollars they spend." MFT
Sheryl Sookman Schelter, CMP, is principal of The MeetingConnection, a company that offers placement services, career coaching and resume design services to individuals in the meetings industry. Sheryl presents workshops, keynote speeches and webinars on career- and employment-related issues. Her book on career strategies and resume design, titled Who’s In Charge of Your Career? Creating a Strategy for Success, is available at www.amazon.com. You can reach her at 415.892.1394 or by e-mail at sheryl@themeetingconnection.com. The MeetingConnection’s website is located at www.themeetingconnection.com
The MeetingConnection,Who’s In Charge of Your Career? Creating a Strategy for Success
