Planner Exit Interview

Exit Interview With Jack Garrity

Event Organizer Shares Feedback On Receiving Speaker Proposals Through The SpeakerMatch Job Board

About This Interview Series
Many of the speakers in our community have expressed interest in learning more about the speaker selection process. These exit interviews will share feedback and insights from meeting planners utilizing The SpeakerMatch Job Board. Enjoy!

Q1: Overall, how was your experience utilizing the SpeakerMatch Job Board to find a speaker?

A: I found the format helpful and easy to navigate.

Q2: How was the quality of the applicants who applied to your listing? Overall, did you feel the applicants met the criteria you outlined in your listing?

A: Most of the applicants met the criteria outlined in our listing. We had a limited budget and I did not expect “high profile” candidates. That said, I’m not sure that “high profile” necessarily equates with “high quality.” I was looking for someone who could speak about our leadership topic in an engaging and entertaining way.

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Q3: Of the applications you received, what kinds of things in the teaser/headline of the application drove you to want to open the full letter of application? What kinds of things in the teaser/headline of the application made you skip over reading a full letter of application?

A: The applications that were responsive to the event description got my attention. I felt that some were somewhat “standard” responses.

Q4: Of the applications you received, what kinds of things in the letter of application stood out in a positive way? In a negative way?

A: Those applications that promised to tailor the presentation to our theme stood out as positive. Those that described the presentation without regard to our theme stood out as negative.

Q5: Would you use SpeakerMatch again to help you find a speaker?

A: Yes

In April 2015, Charles posted an open call for speakers on the SpeakerMatch Job Board.