How to Get Started - Temporary Worker at Conventions and Business Meetings

Description of Job

• Provide reception, registration, clerical, or other professional services at conventions.
• Assist salaried staff at business gatherings, shareholder meetings, and other special events.

The Need

Most businesses are not equipped to fully staff conventions and large business meetings. They usually contract with temporary personnel agencies or hire individual workers as needed. The work includes registering guests, assisting in setup of events, secretarial services, and support staff.

Workers may spend time in the meetings, or they may be dispatched to area hotels and conference centers to assist visitors.

Challenges

Temporary helpers need to be professional in their actions and dress and very flexible in accepting assignments. Working hours may include weekends and early-morning or late-evening assignments.

You’ll need to commit to being available through the entire period of an event.

Some convention centers may require that all employees be members of a union; find out the details and determine whether it makes sense to join for a temporary job such as this.

Know the Territory

Contact area convention and visitors bureaus to find out about upcoming events; most are scheduled months or years ahead of time. Ask whether the bureau hires temporary workers for its clients, or ask for referrals to companies that do the hiring themselves.

Maximize your appeal: Do you have any special skills, such as speaking a foreign language or interpreting for the deaf? Are you capable of working at a computer or helping at the registration desk?

Do you know area restaurants and entertainment well? Many events could use the services of guides or concierges for their guests.

How to Get Started

Market yourself through the area convention and visitors bureau and local chamber of commerce. If you obtain the names of upcoming conventions and large meetings, contact the meeting planners at the sponsoring companies or groups directly.

Contact area hotels that have convention space or those used to house guests for large meetings elsewhere; inform business centers that host large meetings of your availability.

Up-front Expenses

The principal expenses are for promotion and advertising.

How Much to Charge

Expect to be paid on an hourly basis, with overtime for lengthy days or weekend and holiday work. If you are asked to transport materials or move from one location to another, you should be reimbursed for mileage.