Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to join registry? # User group conferences, sales meetings, and training meetings # Seminars, workshops, town halls, conferences, annual conventions, and symposiums # Webinars, videoconferences, and other virtual meetings # Trade shows - booth management and overall exhibit management, along with ancillary meetings or events # Board meetings, advisory boards, and executive committee meetings # Product launches, press tours, multi-city and regional meetings and seminars # Incentive travel programs in domestic and international destinations Do you fill both contract assignments and full-time positions?
The MeetingConnection®'s registry is comprised of meeting and event planners, trade show managers, and incentive travel specialists. Their experience level ranges from entry level to senior meeting/event planners, as well as individuals in executive management. With entry-level candidates, it is helpful to have some exposure to the meetings industry, whether through work, volunteer activities, a certificate program, or college credit courses.
What specific skills and experience do clients typically look for?
We work with a diverse group of clients, including associations and corporations who represent a variety of industries, as well as public relations firms, incentive companies, and meeting and travel management companies. While the types of skills and experience our clients require varies as well, we find that they frequently request assistance managing or coordinating:
We work with clients nationwide to assist them with filling contract assignments and full-time positions. We also get requests from clients for assistance with programs they are doing in a series of cities or regional locations. Each event can range from one-day to upwards of four to five days in length. To help our clients reduce their travel expenses, The MeetingConnection® draws from planners who live in or near the designated event locations to act as on-site managers or meeting assistants.
How are individuals selected for an assignment or full-time position?
The MeetingConnection® has two categories of candidates - Active and Prospective:
Active candidates complete the initial part of the application process – they upload their resume and complete the online profile, submit the one-time $50 administrative fee, and complete an interview with our staff. Depending on the candidate’s location, we will schedule an in-person interview, arrange to do the interview via Skype or videophone equipment that we ship to the candidate. Once we complete the interview, the final steps in the process involve checking the individual’s professional references and ensuring their resume is up-to-date. After this, the individual becomes eligible for suitable contract assignments and full-time positions.
Prospective candidates submit the same paperwork but do not initially pay the administrative fee, nor do we interview them. We contact Prospective candidates if we are unable to identify suitable active candidates for a specific contract assignment or full-time position. At the time of this contact, the $50 fee must be submitted in the form of a money order or certified check, and received in The MeetingConnection®'s office via next day service (at the candidate's expense). We will then expedite scheduling an interview, using the same options as listed for Active candidates.
We search the database for candidates based on the client's job description. The criteria varies with each client, but some of the determining factors include experience level in a particular area (trade shows, high-tech or pharmaceutical meetings, incentives, etc.), years of experience, length of project, pay or salary offered, and/or the location of the company or organization. The number of candidates is determined by how specialized the client's needs are, or how much notice the client gives us to present a group of candidates.
With contract assignments, clients frequently have a project that needs immediate attention. They don’t have the resources or time to locate individuals with meeting planning experience available to work on a temporary basis. The MeetingConnection® provides our clients with access to a ready pool of candidates and assists them with securing a qualified meeting professional in a short time frame. Example: The MeetingConnection® receives a call on Monday with the specifics about an assignment. Once we receive a signed Service Agreement from the client, we search our database for suitable candidates. We contact each candidate to ensure they’re available and interested in being considered for the assignment. Interviews take place on Thursday and Friday of that same week, and the selected candidate begins the assignment on the following Monday.
Prospective employers come to us to fill full-time positions because: a) they don’t have the time or staff available to manage the job search, or b) they haven't been successful finding the "right" person on their own. Often times they've already received 400 or more resumes from various online job listings. Because we have access to over 1,000 meeting professionals nationwide, The MeetingConnection® is able to provide our clients with a group of qualified and pre-screened candidates in an expedited manner. As with contract assignments, we contact candidates to determine if they’re interested in the position. We never submit a candidate’s resume without their verbal permission.
How quickly do placements happen?
Placements can happen within weeks after joining the registry, or it can sometimes take months. Your background and areas of expertise may not match with the specific requirements a client has for a contract assignment or a full-time position. Other factors that can affect the placement process include the rate of pay/salary range, the location of the company or organization in relation to your commuting range, and the computer skills the client requires.
When you join The MeetingConnection®'s registry, we like to think of it as establishing a long-term career management relationship. The only thing that changes for us is whether your status is active or inactive. We label candidates as Inactive if they’re currently working full-time or involved in a contract assignment.
What if the client wants to extend the contract? Am I required to continue with this project?
The decision is yours whether to take on this additional project or not. If you enjoy the client and the people in the department, and the work is of interest to you, then we encourage you to stay on. We have found that in many cases, extended projects have led to offers for full-time positions. If you would rather be available for other opportunities, just advise The MeetingConnection® representative you are working with and they will work with the client to find a replacement.
What happens if a contract assignment converts to a full-time position?
We find that a number of companies and organizations like to start out with a contract assignment as a way to "test the waters" before committing to a full-time position. If you’re not interested in a full-time opportunity, just let us know and we will work with our client to present other candidates for their consideration. We have built into our Service Agreement with the client to accommodate for this type of transition, so if you are interested in pursuing the full-time position, The MeetingConnection® will advocate for you to negotiate the full-time salary.
How do individuals get paid for contract assignments?
With contract assignments, there are three ways you can get paid: 1) the client puts you on their payroll as a temporary employee and takes out all related taxes; 2) the client contracts through an employee leasing company The MeetingConnection® uses. Candidates become an employee of the leasing company, and again all taxes are taken out; or 3) You're treated as an independent contractor. This occurs most often if you're doing on-site staffing or the client determines that a project does not require direct supervision. In this case, you are responsible for all federal and state taxes.
Do candidates pay any fees to become part of The MeetingConnectionÒ's registry?
There is a one-time administrative fee of $50 which allows for us to provide each candidate with résumé consultation and career counseling. The employer pays all other fees to The MeetingConnection® for contract assignments or full-time placements.
How do I become a part of the registry?
The first step is to go to the Submit Your Resume tab under the Job Seekers section. After you upload your resume, you’ll be asked to complete a brief profile that provides us with additional information about your background and experience. The profile also asks you to identify areas geographically where you’re willing to work and if you’re willing to relocate, length of contract assignments (if applicable), and your desired rate of pay/salary. The MeetingConnection® also requires two additional documents along with the administrative fee before we can schedule an interview: 1) a signed Terms and Conditions form and 2) five professional references. We will contact you to schedule an interview once we receive these additional documents and the administrative fee. The interview typically lasts about one hour.
