Job!

Just wanted to share the good news that I was offered a job and have worked four days so far including a big charity ball benefiting a local hospital.

The company consists of four people who specialize in producing events, conferences, concerts, galas, etc. throughout the Asia Pacific region. I will be an Event Coordinator to the owner/event producer. My role will be assisting in creation, implementation and execution of all the events. Currently, there are five projects being worked on, one of which is a conference for 500 people being held in Malaysia. It is a six day event held in Kuala Lumpur that will consist of opening ceremonies, three days of educational sessions/guest speakers, golf outing, gala and closing ceremonies. My event planning group is responsible for the entire implementation from accommodations to producing the ceremonies, to arranging guest speakers, etc. The company's portfolio is unbelievable and I look forward to not only being an asset to the team but learning A LOT.

Funny story of how I found this opportunity. Before I left my last job, I asked my co-workers if they had any work contacts in the Brisbane area. After receiving four names I emailed all of them and they all responded. One of them emailed me a scanned copy of the Event Management page in their equivalent Yellow Pages book. There were about 100 contacts so I narrowed down the selection by looking at the companies that had websites listed. I looked at all of them and narrowed them down a handful in walking/public transport distance of our apartment. Then, I decided to email the one with the most appealing website/clients/portfolio. This happened to be the company I am now working for. I emailed the owner, sent him my resume, letter of recommendation from my previous supervisor, and asked if he had any positions opened. He emailed me back that night and said that he went to IU and graduated from the music school in '82!!!! My jaw literally dropped. We instantly had an immediate connection. He then informed me that he promoted his event assistant and invited me in for an interview. I found out he is an Australian and was given a scholarship to study at IU. We talked about the small company and the events he has hosted and even conducted! The list of performers that he has collaborated with is quite impressive - Frank Sinatra being one! Later on that week I came back for a second interview. After he told me about the stories of him and his Wilkie dorm buddies using a window washer crane to hoist a keg to the top of the roof for a keg party, he offered me the position.

Jason and I are so much more relieved now! The best part is I will get the opportunity to travel with this company so I'm super pumped! If all works out as I hope, this really should be the dream job I was looking for in the US.