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Event Planner Mock Interview

Question 12 of 25 for our Event Planner Mock Interview

Event Planner was written by on July 21st, 2020. Learn more here.

Question 12 of 25

Tell me about one bad experience you've had, preferably something catastrophic, how did you handle it? Was the event still a success?

Event Planners can only plan so much. There are always outside factors that are unpredictable, even for the most well-planned events. Give an example of something that could have destroyed a great event and explain what you did to resolve it, and how you learned from that mistake. Being able to show that you understand things can go wrong and you anticipate having to deal with them is a great quality to share. Show how you are proactive in your example, even if it is something you couldn't have predicted.

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How to Answer: Tell me about one bad experience you've had, preferably something catastrophic, how did you handle it? Was the event still a success?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Event Planner job interview.

  • 12. Tell me about one bad experience you've had, preferably something catastrophic, how did you handle it? Was the event still a success?

      How to Answer

      Event Planners can only plan so much. There are always outside factors that are unpredictable, even for the most well-planned events. Give an example of something that could have destroyed a great event and explain what you did to resolve it, and how you learned from that mistake. Being able to show that you understand things can go wrong and you anticipate having to deal with them is a great quality to share. Show how you are proactive in your example, even if it is something you couldn't have predicted.

      Written by Ryan Brown on July 21st, 2020

      Answer Example

      "I put together a wedding and my client requested candles all along the front of the room for her ceremony. The candles began to melt and one fell over and caught the table linen on fire. I had two other assistants working with me and we were standing on all sides of the room to monitor everything. As soon as the candle fell over, my assistant grabbed two bottles of water and ran over to put it out. I anticipated that the candles could be an issue, so we had buckets of bottled water on both edges of the stage and we were ready for anything."

      Written by Ryan Brown on July 21st, 2020

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I was managing a week-long event in Utah. I spoke with the Facilities manager shortly before flying out and identified the layout and supplies we would need for our venue. She informed me that everything would be set up the Friday before my flight. I arrived on Sunday, the day before the event, to prep what I could in advance to find that a number of tables were missing. We had no chairs and no power strips. When reaching out to our Facilities Manager, I would get a voicemail and no response. I left a voicemail and set up the supplies I could get in advance. When returning the next morning, we were still missing these items. I called the Facilities Manager one more time and was able to get ahold of her; it turned out she was in the mountains with no cellphone reception that weekend and her support team did not follow through on our request. As she planned on driving to our site, I worked fast and identified security who could open up a closet that would have chairs and sped to make arrangements. As some attendees slowly arrived, I informed them that we were still setting up and invited them to enjoy breakfast at an open table or downstairs. Eventually, we could get the layout and supplies we needed, and I debriefed with the Facilities manager to identify the shortcomings and additional alternative contacts if needed. After this, the event went smoothly, and the Facilities manager and I were better able to collaborate on future events."

      Rachelle's Feedback

      It's a good thing you were so adamant about finding solutions in this situation. A less driven person may have been tempted to curl into a ball in the corner :) You tell this story very well - it's engaging and will allow the interviewer to picture you in action in the workplace! The fact that you performed some troubleshooting to ensure the situation didn't happen again is a great touch to your story example.