Planner Interview Questions
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Planner interview questions shared by candidates
In an environment of layoffs and restructuring, how do you keep your team motivated?
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Be open and honest if their roles are in jeopardy. Understand their concerns and answer their questions as best you can. If you do not know, say so. Keep them busy, and involved in important work. Less
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Stay positive, and focus on the work at hand. Keeping busy on important work helps people realize what they are doing is important. An ideal mind is the devil's.... well, you know the old saying. Be sure the physical environment is welcoming. In summer, raise the blinds, clean the common areas of papers and clutter. You will be amazed how much better things look when you take 10 short minutes a day to make the physical environment look better. The sun is out, blue skies, and maybe it's not so bad here. Let people vent. If you are not holding 1-on-1 meetings, then start. Hear people out. Be honest about what you can talk about. Don't sugar coat anything, but give those more junior to you some context and a bigger view. Sure some people will be laid off, but most will remain. Opportunity to do different things will become available. Sure you will work harder, but you will learn, growth, and build your reputation for having a level head in complex times. Lastly, have a plan. Know what you will do as a manager if you have to layoff 1,2 or 3 people. Know how the work will move around. This will allow you act quickly and decisively should things come to that. Having a manager who looks in charge because they already thought it through will go a long way. Less
What would you do about something you had to do but did not have all the answers?
1 Answers↳
Research, ask questions of people who had done the task before.
You've been planning an event XYZ for a few months, when a week before the date of it, the customer wants to change multiple elements of it. However, you know it will simply not be possible for logistical reasons. How do you communicate this to the customer, who will definitely be upset about this fact.
1 Answers↳
If asked about how to deal with a complaint like that, it's good to know that they divide their customers into three categories: students (who are often treated in a demanding, even condescending way, and are supposed to learn from their mistakes in planning their own events; if they're disorganized about their event, it's OK to be harsh with them and even cancel it all together, just as long as they learn to plan it better in the future); VCU departments (the representatives of which are to be kept happy but with minimal effort) and external, paying customers (who need to be kept delighted at all times, while at the same time being treated as cash-cows and charged for absolutely everything possible). Less
How could you get the information you want from an individual over the phone who you have no prior interactions or connections to?
1 Answers↳
I find it very helpful to be positive and befriend people over the phone, and establish relationships with individuals, especially if I will be making repeat calls. One time in school, I wanted to take a specific professor for one of his classes, so I e-mailed him prior to class starting, because his class was full. I was able to speak with him and tell him why I wanted to take the class, so eventually I was let into the class. Less
Have you used event planning/conference planning software?
Give examples of market forces in this industry?
