Trade Show Coordinator Resume Guide
Trade show coordinators are responsible for organizing and managing large-scale trade shows. They plan the event from start to finish, including budgeting, selecting vendors and exhibitors, arranging logistics such as transportation, setting up displays and booths, coordinating audio/visual equipment needs, overseeing security personnel if necessary, ensuring safety regulations are met during the show’s duration and more.
You know how to create and manage events that draw in crowds, but no one knows it yet. To let employers see the potential you have as a trade show coordinator, put together an impressive resume.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Trade Show Coordinator Resume Sample
Boris Gerhold
Trade Show Coordinator
[email protected]
757-789-1435
linkedin.com/in/boris-gerhold
Summary
Seasoned trade show coordinator with 8+ years of experience in the events industry. At XYZ, successfully managed over 10 trade shows and conventions from concept to completion. Expertise in project management and vendor relations; consistently achieved customer satisfaction ratings above 90%. Proven ability to coordinate staff, secure venues, negotiate contracts for services/materials, manage on-site operations and ensure post-show follow up activities are completed as needed.
Experience
Trade Show Coordinator, Employer A
Ontario, Jan 2018 – Present
- Diligently managed end-to-end logistics for 10+ trade shows and expositions; reduced setup time by 30% on average.
- Prepared detailed itineraries and budgets, ensuring all vendors had necessary equipment prior to each show; successfully secured sponsorships totaling $50,000 over the course of 5 months.
- Demonstrated excellent leadership skills while supervising a team of 20 staff members during assigned events; ensured that tasks were completed according to schedule with no delays or errors in execution.
- Promoted company products through various marketing channels such as social media campaigns and email newsletters, resulting in an increase in sales revenue by 15%.
- Researched industry trends related to target audiences and new competitive products/services ahead of scheduled events, allowing for better decision making when selecting venue locations & promotional materials accordingly.
Trade Show Coordinator, Employer B
Bellevue, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Developed and organized 10+ trade show events annually, budgeting over $200K per event while ensuring cost-effectiveness and on-time delivery of all services.
- Represented the company at numerous conventions and tradeshows, providing information to attendees about products/services; successfully generated sales leads worth an estimated $500K in total.
- Reliably scheduled vendor meetings, identified potential customers for follow up contacts & managed logistics for booth setup and tear down; reduced average time needed for each task by 50%.
- Assessed customer feedback from past shows to identify areas that could be improved upon in future exhibitions; increased number of repeat customers by 15% as a result of implementing suggested recommendations.
- Evaluated vendors’ performance after each event to determine their suitability for upcoming projects; saved the organization $50K through renegotiations with preferred partners due to better pricing terms achieved after assessment.
Skills
- Budget Management
- Vendor Relations
- Logistics Coordination
- Marketing and Promotion
- Networking
- Graphic Design
- Social Media Management
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Trade Show Manager
Exhibition and Trade Show Association
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective is your chance to give the employer a snapshot of who you are and why they should hire you as their trade show coordinator. In this section, highlight any relevant experience or skills that make you stand out from other applicants. For example, mention how many successful events you’ve coordinated in the past, what kind of budgeting strategies you have implemented for previous shows, and how well-versed in marketing techniques like social media promotion and email campaigns.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Reliable and organized trade show coordinator with 5+ years of experience in the events industry. Expertise in managing all aspects of successful trade shows, from budgeting and booth design to media promotion and post-event follow up. At XYZ Events, successfully managed 10 large-scale national conventions that generated over $3 million in revenue for clients. Proven track record of exceeding expectations on tight deadlines while keeping a smile on my face!
Skilled trade show coordinator with 8+ years of experience in the industry. Successfully coordinated 25 trade shows, managing all aspects from vendor recruitment to post-show follow up for ABC company. Proven ability to negotiate and secure favorable contracts with vendors, resulting in $50K savings on booth rental fees over a 3 year period. Highly organized and detail oriented, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
Driven trade show coordinator with 5+ years of experience in organizing, coordinating and managing trade shows. Expertise includes budgeting, scheduling, vendor management and event promotion. Successfully planned and executed 6 large-scale successful events for ABC Corporation that generated over $1 million in sales. Recognized as a reliable team leader with excellent communication skills who can effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Amicable and organized trade show coordinator with 5+ years of experience managing corporate events and exhibitions. Achieved a 45% increase in event attendance by utilizing innovative marketing strategies, establishing key partnerships, and coordinating effective communication between vendors and exhibitors. Seeking to leverage creative problem-solving skills at ABC Trade Show Company to ensure successful client experiences.
Dependable Trade Show Coordinator with 5+ years of experience in planning and executing trade shows. Adept at collaborating effectively with vendors, sponsors, exhibitors, and customers to ensure the success of each event. At XYZ Inc., led the coordination for 8 major events resulting in an increase in customer satisfaction ratings by 20%. Proficient in budgeting, staff scheduling, and promotional material design.
Talented trade show coordinator with 5+ years of experience managing and coordinating trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, and other events. Adept in creating detailed timelines for project execution from start to finish. Proven success in minimizing costs while maintaining quality standards and maximizing profits. Experienced in working closely with vendors to ensure all aspects of the event meet expectations.
Detail-oriented trade show coordinator with 8+ years of experience planning and executing events. Proven track record in managing budgets, coordinating speakers and exhibitors, creating marketing materials, and driving overall success at corporate events. Looking to join ABC as a Trade Show Coordinator where I can apply my skills to ensure smooth operations while maintaining cost efficiency.
Professional trade show coordinator with 7+ years of experience in event organization, marketing strategy, and customer service. Skilled at managing high-stakes events from concept to completion while maintaining excellent relationships with vendors and partners. Seeking to join ABC Events as part of their team tasked to create memorable experiences for clients across the globe.
2. Experience / Employment
For the experience section, you should list your employment history in reverse chronological order, with the most recent role listed first. Stick to bullet points when writing this section; it makes for easier reading.
When talking about what you did, provide as much detail as possible and include any quantifiable results achieved. For example, instead of saying “Organized trade shows,” you could say something like “Coordinated 10+ successful trade show events each year by securing venues, negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers, and managing budgets up to $50K.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Coordinated
- Scheduled
- Negotiated
- Promoted
- Monitored
- Prepared
- Managed
- Developed
- Assisted
- Analyzed
- Researched
- Budgeted
- Supervised
- Executed
- Evaluated
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Advised on and organized the logistics, setup and display of trade show booths for 20+ vendors; achieved a 10% increase in attendance to each event.
- Spearheaded vendor relations efforts by proactively addressing customer issues, handling inquiries & complaints, and boosting satisfaction ratings by 15%.
- Streamlined communication between project managers, exhibitors and other stakeholders throughout 30+ trade shows held across 3 states over 2 years.
- Coordinated promotional activities such as product launches, press conferences/interviews & demonstrations to effectively attract more than 5k attendees per show on average.
- Effectively managed budgeting requirements for all events; reduced costs associated with stand design/setup by 25%, resulting in $18K saved annually.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, sponsors and other exhibitors for ten trade shows over a three-year period; saved the company $25,000 in last year’s show budget.
- Revised and updated existing event plans to ensure that all logistical details were taken care of accurately; reduced staff time spent on planning by 15%.
- Competently organized each stage of trade show production including pre-show marketing campaigns, registration setup & logistics management as well as post-event wrap up activities within tight deadlines.
- Improved lead generation at events through effective implementation of promotional strategies such as email blasts and social media engagement; boosted attendance rate by 12%.
- Structured vendor meetings to introduce new products/services while ensuring customer satisfaction during their interactions with representatives from the organization at each venue.
- Presented product information to over 500 prospective customers at 4+ trade shows annually, increasing sales by 30% within the first 6 months.
- Utilized marketing materials such as brochures, flyers and banners to promote company services and attract potential leads onsite at each event.
- Efficiently coordinated pre-show logistics for 8 members of staff including travel arrangements, accommodation bookings and equipment setup; reduced expenses by 10%.
- Assisted exhibitors with booth design/layout ideas that maximized visibility in high traffic areas; increased footfall rate from 20 visitors per hour to 40+.
- Managed daily operations during events including customer data collection & analysis, post-event follow ups and overall performance monitoring; achieved a 95% satisfaction rating from all clients surveyed after every show completion.
- Mentored a team of 5+ trade show coordinators on event planning best practices and strategies, resulting in a 50% reduction in errors across all shows.
- Expedited preparation for over 20 national/international trade shows by organizing venues, scheduling speakers & exhibitors, setting up equipment & displays and managing catering services; consistently completed tasks with an average time savings of 10 hours per show.
- Thoroughly reviewed vendor contracts prior to signing off on them to ensure that the company was being charged fair prices without any hidden fees or service charges; saved $15K on total expenses within the last year alone as a result.
- Compiled detailed post-show reports which included financial costs, number of attendees and customer feedback data; utilized these reports to improve processes for future events while identifying areas where additional cost savings could be made (resulting in $10K worth of savings).
- Reduced setup times from 4 days down to 2 days at large exhibitions through improved coordination between vendors/contractors and efficient resource allocation techniques; reduced labor costs by 15%.
- Introduced new promotional strategies to maximize visibility and engagement at trade shows, resulting in a 23% increase in footfall numbers.
- Supervised the setup of exhibition booths for over 40 international clients, ensuring that all requirements were met with precision and accuracy within strict deadlines.
- Substantially reduced costs associated with travel & accommodation expenses by renegotiating contracts with vendors; saved $8,000 on average per event/show as a result.
- Reorganized vendor placements inside each booth according to pre-determined criteria such as product type, brand presence or target market groups; increased sales revenue at events by 9%.
- Achieved 100% customer satisfaction ratings from feedback surveys after every trade show attended due to efficient problem solving skills and meticulous organization of resources throughout the duration of each event.
- Scheduled and managed the logistics of 15+ trade show events in multiple cities, coordinating with vendors and hotels to ensure smooth operations onsite.
- Participated in extensive market research to identify potential exhibiting opportunities; identified 5 new markets resulting in a 20% increase in attendance at each event.
- Executed all aspects of booth setup and management including audio/visual equipment rental, ordering supplies, building structures & displays as well as staffing booths for 30+ exhibitors per event.
- Independently handled pre-show activities such as printing materials and mailers, designing promotional collateral pieces and setting up online registration systems while ensuring budget compliance (+$1K savings).
- Monitored progress throughout each project from start to finish using established key performance indicators (KPIs) including customer feedback surveys which resulted in 85% customer satisfaction rate overall.
- Formulated and implemented trade show strategies to generate $15,000 in sales within one month; successfully coordinated 10+ regional and international events.
- Analyzed client needs and developed effective solutions for exhibitors to promote their products/services at each event; established partnerships with 200 vendors across three countries.
- Facilitated over 5000 attendees by managing the registration process, scheduling sessions & workshops, creating agendas and providing hospitality services during the shows.
- Meticulously planned all aspects of the shows including but not limited to venue selection, transportation arrangements, budgeting & cost management as well as staff training & deployment.
- Optimized customer engagement activities through creative marketing campaigns resulting in a 25% increase in customer satisfaction ratings on post-event surveys.
3. Skills
The skillset employers require in an employee will likely vary, either slightly or significantly; skimming through their job adverts is the best way to determine what each is looking for. One organization may be looking for someone who is experienced in event planning, while another may require a candidate with strong communication and organizational skills.
It’s important to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job you are applying for; this will help ensure that it gets past any applicant tracking systems used by employers. The reason being that they scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to human recruiters.
You should also elaborate on the most relevant skills in other sections of your resume, such as the summary or experience section.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Budget Management
- Graphic Design
- Logistics Coordination
- Marketing and Promotion
- Networking
- Social Media Management
- Vendor Relations
4. Education
Mentioning an education section on your resume depends on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have little to no work experience, list your education below the objective statement. However, if you have several years of relevant trade show coordinator experience that is worth highlighting, omitting an education section might be best.
If including an education section is necessary or desired, try to mention courses and subjects related to the job at hand such as event management or marketing principles.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise in a certain field and can be the deciding factor for potential employers. Having certifications on your resume will show that you have taken the initiative to learn more about an industry or skill set, which makes you stand out from other applicants.
Include any relevant certifications on your resume as they are sure to impress hiring managers and give them confidence in your abilities.
Certified Trade Show Manager
Exhibition and Trade Show Association
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Boris Gerhold, this would be Boris-Gerhold-resume.pdf or Boris-Gerhold-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your job application gives you the opportunity to explain why you’re interested in the role and why you believe yourself suitable for it. It is separate from a resume, usually made up of 2-4 paragraphs that provide more detail about your professional background, accomplishments and skillset.
Cover letters are not always mandatory when applying for jobs but they can be an effective way to make a great first impression with potential employers. Writing one allows recruiters to learn more about who you are as a person rather than just what’s written on paper.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Deontae,
I am writing to apply for the Trade Show Coordinator position at XYZ Corporation. As an experienced trade show coordinator with more than 10 years of experience in the industry, I am confident I will be a valuable asset to your team.
In my current role as Trade Show Coordinator at ABC Corporation, I oversee all aspects of trade show planning and execution, from initial budgeting and vendor selection to on-site logistics and post-event analysis. I have a proven track record of successful event management, and I am skilled in both domestic and international event coordination.
I am also well-versed in the latest trends and technologies in the trade show industry, which has allowed me to stay ahead of the curve and deliver cutting-edge events that exceed customer expectations. In addition, I have developed strong relationships with key vendors over the years, which has resulted in significant cost savings for my company.
I believe my skills and experience would benefit XYZ Corporation greatly, and I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to your organization’s success. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Boris