Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Staging • General Session • FOH (Front of House)

General Session

Term from Event Management industry explained for recruiters

A General Session is the main gathering at a conference or event where all attendees come together in one large room. Unlike smaller breakout sessions or workshops, General Sessions typically feature keynote speakers, major announcements, or main presentations that are relevant to everyone at the event. Event planners use this term to describe the portions of an event program that bring the entire audience together, usually in the largest meeting space or ballroom available.

Examples in Resumes

Managed logistics for 1,000-person General Session including stage design and AV setup

Coordinated multiple General Sessions and breakouts for annual sales conference

Led team of 5 staff members during General Session production and execution

Organized seamless transitions between Plenary Session and breakout rooms

Typical job title: "Event Managers"

Also try searching for:

Event Coordinator Conference Manager Meeting Planner Event Producer Corporate Event Manager Event Operations Manager

Where to Find Event Managers

Professional Associations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle last-minute changes to a General Session with 500+ attendees?

Expected Answer: A senior event manager should discuss contingency planning, vendor relationships, communication protocols, and specific examples of successfully managing unexpected changes while maintaining event quality and timeline.

Q: How do you determine appropriate budget allocation for General Sessions versus breakout sessions?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of cost factors like AV requirements, room setup, staging, staffing needs, and how to balance resources across different session types while meeting event objectives.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when selecting a venue for a General Session?

Expected Answer: Should mention room capacity, ceiling height, staging requirements, AV capabilities, loading access, backstage areas, and considerations for audience flow and comfort.

Q: How do you coordinate timing between General Sessions and breakout sessions?

Expected Answer: Should explain scheduling strategies, transition time planning, communication with speakers and staff, and methods for keeping multiple sessions running on schedule.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic elements needed for a General Session setup?

Expected Answer: Should list essentials like stage, audio-visual equipment, seating arrangements, registration area, and basic understanding of room layout principles.

Q: How do you create a run-of-show document for a General Session?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of timeline creation, including setup, rehearsal, actual program elements, and strike schedule, plus basic understanding of documentation needs.