Per Diem
Per Diem is a daily allowance or payment given to employees who travel for work, particularly common in event management roles. The term literally means "per day" in Latin, and it covers expenses like meals, lodging, and incidental costs. In event management job descriptions, this term often appears when positions require frequent travel to different event locations. It's an alternative to expense reimbursement where instead of keeping receipts, employees receive a fixed daily amount. This makes budgeting and expense management easier for both the company and the employee.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Per Diem accounts for team of 15 event staff across multiple venues
Coordinated travel arrangements and Per Diem disbursement for international conference staff
Developed standardized Per-Diem policies for touring event crews
Typical job title: "Event Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Event Managers
Professional Networks
Job Boards
Industry Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop a per diem policy for an international event team?
Expected Answer: Should discuss considerations like different country rates, compliance with tax laws, tracking systems, and fair policy development. Should mention experience with both domestic and international per diem management.
Q: How do you handle per diem budget planning for large-scale events?
Expected Answer: Should explain budgeting process, consideration of different locations, seasonal variations, and how to balance staff needs with company resources. Should mention experience with budget management software and reporting.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What systems have you used to track and distribute per diem payments?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe experience with payment systems, tracking methods, and ensuring accurate and timely payments. Should mention experience with expense management software.
Q: How do you handle per diem disputes or special circumstances?
Expected Answer: Should discuss problem-solving approaches, policy exceptions, communication with staff, and documentation procedures for special cases.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is per diem and why is it important in event management?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic concept of daily allowance, its purpose, and common situations where it's used in events. Should understand basic calculation methods.
Q: How do you calculate per diem rates for different cities?
Expected Answer: Should know about standard rate resources like GSA tables, understand basic factors affecting rates, and be able to explain simple calculations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of per diem calculations
- Ability to process basic per diem paperwork
- Knowledge of standard per diem rates
- Basic expense tracking
Mid (2-5 years)
- Per diem policy implementation
- Payment processing systems
- Budget tracking and reporting
- Staff training on per diem procedures
Senior (5+ years)
- International per diem management
- Policy development and optimization
- Complex budget management
- Compliance and audit preparation
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of current per diem rates and regulations
- Lack of experience with expense tracking systems
- Poor understanding of tax implications
- No experience managing travel-related budgets
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