As my graduation quickly approaches this coming April, I feel my resume could use a little work. Being an event management student, the real knowledge comes from actually seeing how it all comes together. That is why I was certain an internship was in order, and I was given this opportunity at Eatertainment for two months. I first heard about the organization when I volunteered for an event that took place last April. I was in a committee that had to source potential caterers for the event, and Eatertainment was the company we selected! A few months had passed, and I decided to look for a placement in the events industry, when a friend referred me to Beth, one of the event managers here. Remembering the company, I researched it further to learn more about the business and who their clients are. Thanks to Beth, I was given a chance to be a part of the team and learn how to apply the knowledge I learned in school in a real-world setting.
From catering, décor and staffing, to even human psychology, I have been right in the middle of it all. Working with different event managers has been invaluable. Each of them has a different style and personality applied to their work and it is great to see different ideas come into fruition. There were two separate weddings I helped out with that I found interesting. One was a stand-up cocktail reception set up with food stations, and the other one was a plated sit-down dinner. The preparation for each event is the same, but the actual day’s process and outcome were very different. It was amazing to see the details that are involved with planning an event and the amount of information that needs to be communicated to multiple parties in order for its success. It was definitely a highlight of my internship thus far, to assist Senior Event Managers, Natasha and Jennifer, on these events, and to work with a passionate team that shares my love for culinary art and event management is truly inspirational.
What makes this industry exciting is that it is fast paced and always changing. It takes a strong character to survive and succeed. I have observed that a successful event manager must be proactive and positive. ‘The early bird catches the worm’ is a motto I apply to my life. Being proactive will ultimately result in positive outcomes. Through my experiences at Eatertainment, I have grown to love the business even more and strive to know all facets of the industry, and in doing so, give me an advantage over other graduates.
Mee-Lee Shim
Intern
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