It didn’t take me more than five minutes to determine that Alexis Roumeliotis, the Muse’s own Events Manager, is well-suited in her client-facing, fast-paced, multi-skilled role. Whether she’s attending a client dinner with Muse CEO and founder Kathryn Minshew or hosting a margarita mixology lesson for 30 people, Roumeliotis loves working with people and juggling a busy workload.
It wasn’t hard to see how she nabbed this job—her thought process as she went after the role early this year: “In my head, if I apply and they haven’t reached out to me, it’s my fault.” She elaborated: “You’re not going to be top of mind unless you make yourself be top of mind.” That’s why she was “proactive” and aware of what she wanted and how to get it.
Early on in her career, Roumeliotis realized that a job consisting of mundane tasks wouldn’t suit her, hence her appreciation and enjoyment of events that take her near and far. “I can’t sit at my desk for more than 30 minutes,” she told me, and, indeed, I’ve observed this to be true.
To see how she made moves that mattered and what steps she took to get the job she set her sights on, keep reading.
Can You Give Me a Quick Rundown of Your Work History?
I graduated from Northeastern University, where I had the opportunity to start working before I graduated. My first internship was for six months at the Massachusetts Convention Center as a guest services representative.
From there I did a number of internships in social media and marketing along with a few in TV and media.
My first job out of college was as a marketing coordinator for Simon Property Group, a real estate group. I moved to NYC next and worked as a marketing coordinator once again, this time at a company called RevTrax for about a year and a half before coming to The Muse.
What Does a Day-in-the-Life of a Muse Events Manager Look Like?
6:00 AM: I’m up and ready to start my day.
7:00 AM: Assuming there’s an event, I make sure to get there about an hour before it starts.
7:15-8 AM: This is when set-up happens. I assemble gift bags, arrange the chairs, do the flower arrangements, and prep the food and tech. I’m always checking my email for add-on guests (or people who RSVP at the last minute).
8-9 AM: The event starts and I’m running around introducing people, making sure everyone has their name tags, getting them things, like water, food, tea, and coffee. I also speak with the people overseeing IT to make sure sound is OK. And I touch base with the sales team about who’s arrived.
10:30 AM: The event ends. I help with clean up, but not before thanking the guests for their attendance, chatting with clients who attended about how we can partner up to do other events, and starting to plan what the takeaway or message to our guests should be once they leave.
12:30 PM: Back at the office, I catch up on emails, and I set up or have meetings with whichever sales team member will be joining me at the next event so that we can go over the run of show.
1:30 PM: This is the time I usually try to get lunch and take a break. Do a quick walk around the block. Or if I have errands to do, like go to FedEx to ship boxes or get things printed, this is the time I do it.
2:30 PM: I’m back at my desk again, checking in with various teams on things I need. I often touch base with the design team regarding ads or one-pagers. I may meet with the B2B team to discuss workflows on emails, and plan follow-up emails for leads for the next event.
3:30 PM: This is when I’m usually in meetings with the marketing team to discuss goals and upcoming events in the next two weeks. I like to walk them through the plan and schedule.
4:30 PM: I write up and schedule social posts for our upcoming event. This is when I get to flex some creative muscles.
5:30-6 PM: I catch up on emails that I didn’t get to, and I write my to-do list for the next day.
6:00 PM: I usually head out of the office and call it a day.
Do You Have Any Advice for People Who Are Going Through a Challenging Job Search?
You have to know your strengths and learn the best way to showcase them when applying for jobs you want. [You have to] be creative and try to separate yourself from the rest of the applicants. Send examples of actual work you’ve done (pictures, PowerPoints, news articles) that you might’ve been featured in or worked on as a part of a past role. These things will put you ahead of others.
What Skills, Traits, and Qualities Do You Think Matter Most in Your Position and in This Industry?
[You] need to be willing to think quickly on your feet. At every event, regardless of how well planned it is, something will go wrong, and it’ll need to be fixed. Being creative helps attract people to your event (that should be reflected in your emails and invites, and in the physical event itself).
Also, I think you have to be confident and ask for what you want and need. In this position, I have to ask for a lot of support from my sales team, and I need to be confident and know what I want in order to get the results that I need.
What Skills, Traits, and Qualities Do You Think Matter Most in Your Position and in This Industry?
What’s the Best Part of Your Job Now?
I have a lot of control in what happens at the events. It’s great having an idea and being able to make it come to life, with full support from your team.
If you’re an extrovert like Roumeliotis who truly enjoys spending her workday surrounded by other people, consider working in one of these types of roles. And if you’re just, well, trying to get your foot in the door somewhere, take her advice and be as proactive as possible. Being assertive and going after what you want may just get you the job of your dreams.
