Be part of our Volunteer Staff
Are you looking to volunteer for the first time? Are you a returning former volunteer? Please click the link to join us!
Volunteer Staff Requirements:
- Must be 18 or older by May 16th, 2019
- Must be able to work Thursday thru Sunday
- Must sign up for a minimum of 24 hours during Thur-Sun at the event.
Departments Seeking Volunteer Staff
The Forums are a great source to ask questions about the positions you are thinking of applying for. Click here to see which teams are currently looking for help.
Position: Guest Relations Logistics Department Staff
Job Purpose:
The Guest Logistics department provides support and assistance to guests of honor as it relates to the convention.
Duties:
Assisting with transportation for Guest of Honor
Arranging for travel for Guest of Honor for excursions
Via a transportation service or directly driving yourself
Assisting with airport pickups and departures for Guests of Honor
Assisting with planning excursions for Guest of Honor
Coordinating outings with Guest Assistants department
Looking up venues and related information in the area for excursions as needed
Making reservations for excursions
Providing information services for the Guest Relations section
Assist with keeping track of Guest of Honor location during the convention
Assist with answering radio calls for the Guest Relations section providing information as needed regarding Guest of Honor activities
Assisting with other tasks as needed
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Meet the requirements for volunteering at ACen
Ability to be able to drive strongly preferred
- Have a valid drivers license and good driving record
Availability Thursday Morning through Sunday afternoon (May 18th – May 22st 2017)
Availability Monday morning May 22nd preferred but not required
Ability to work long hours (lots of walking(
Professionalism and ability to stay organized while multi-tasking
Prior convention experience and knowledge a plus but not required
If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Guest Logistics' as the department you are interested in.
Position: IRT Staff Member - Special Events
Job Purpose:
IRT Special Events is responsible for crowd control and rules enforcement inside ACen’s largest and loudest events, such as the Soap Bubble. They ensure that IRT has a presence inside these events and that everyone in them is safe. They are also responsible for making sure no-one who is not authorized goes into the events and the surrounding back hallways.
Duties:
Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
Documents and records incidents as needed
Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
Patrols inside Main Programing areas and back hallways of their areas
Maintain safety of attendees and hotel property
Further duties as assigned by IRT Management
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Customer Service Skills
Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
Active listening and monitoring skills.
Ability to communicate via radio.
Ability speak loudly without yelling.
Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
Ability to work in dark areas with strobing lights and loud music for prolonged amounts of time
If you are interested in the positions, please fill out this form here:
Position: IRT Staff Member - Rules Enforcement
Job Purpose:
IRT Rules Enforcement shifts consist of roaming the convention grounds, responding to incidents, looking for rules violations, making sure that IRT is nearby if attendees need them, and helping attendees. They are also responsible for some more direct policy enforcement, such as making sure the elevators in the Hyatt are not overloaded. The Rules Enforcement sub-department has options for the hotel (days, mids, nights), as well as an option for the Exhibit Hall.
Duties:
Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
Documents and records incidents as needed
Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
Patrols hotel area
Elevator monitoring
Further duties as assigned by IRT Management
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Customer Service Skills
Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
Active listening and monitoring skills.
Ability to communicate via radio.
If you are interested in the positions, please fill out this form here:
Position: IRT Staff Member - Line Control
Job Purpose:
IRT Line Control ops are responsible for managing lines for large events all around the convention such as those outside the Grand Ballroom and the Rosemont Ballroom. For many attendees, Line Control ops will be the most frequent kind of IRT ops they interact with.
Duties:
Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
Documents and records incidents as needed
Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
Patrols line areas
Maintain orderly lines in high traffic area
Badging and ID checks into Main Programming events
Further duties as assigned by IRT Management
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Customer Service Skills
Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
Active listening and monitoring skills.
Ability to communicate via radio.
Ability speak loudly without yelling.
Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
If you are interested in the positions, please fill out this form here:
Position: IRT Staff Member - Administration
Job Purpose:
IRT Administration is responsible for maintaining the Pen, keeping track of IRT’s supplies, checking in and out equipment such as vests and radios, running op check-in and check-out at the beginning and end of the convention, and collecting and checking paperwork. Though working in Administration is not the most glamorous job on IRT, it is one of the most important.
Duties:
Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
Documents and records incidents as needed
Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
Databasing incident reports as they are collected
Maintain the Pen
Check-In and Check-Out supplies/Track inventory
Track staff at event/Track staff paperwork
Log major incidents/outcomes in the registration database
Further duties as assigned by IRT Management
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Customer Service Skills
Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
Active listening and monitoring skills.
Ability to communicate via radio.
Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
High level of organizational skills
Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive
If you are interested in the positions, please fill out this form here:
Position: IRT Staff Member - Dispatch
Job Purpose:
IRT Dispatch directs information flow and communications for the department, and keeps track of all of the activities IRT is engaged in on the floor. Commanders work with the dispatchers assigned to their shifts or teams to make sure there is adequate coverage in their areas, and dispatchers are responsible for directing ops and teams, supplying information to ops, and managing their rotations and breaks.
Duties:
Monitor and track radio traffic via team/radio communication
Documents and records incidents as needed
Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
Logs incidents with detail
Communicate op assignments and rotations
Communicate with upper management for elevated situations
Log major incidents/outcomes in the registration database
Further duties as assigned by IRT Management
Skills/Pre-Requisites:
Customer Service Skills
Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
Active listening and monitoring skills.
Ability to communicate via radio.
Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
Ability to work in dark areas for prolonged amounts of time
Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive
If you are interested in the positions, please fill out this form here:
Guest Assistant Interpreters provide support and assistance to Guests of Honor as it relates to the convention.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
-Coordinating communication and necessary translation tasks for Guests of Honor during the convention (Japanese to English/English to Japanese)
-Planning and assisting with guest-related events while coordinating with other departments as needed
-Assisting in managing travel arrangements
-Going out on social outings
-Wearing business casual attire
-Assisting with other tasks as needed
We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:
-Eligible to volunteer at ACen (See Volunteer Staff Requirements at (http://www.acen.org/about-us/
-Fluent, formal (teineigo) Japanese speaking skill
-Ability to interpret and translate English into Japanese and Japanese into English
-Availability Thursday through Sunday (May 17th – May 20th, 2018)
-Availability to also work Monday (May 21st) morning a plus but not required
-Ability to work long hours and walk and stand for extended amounts of time
-High level of professionalism
-Customer service experience
-Ability to stay organized while multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment
-Excellent verbal communication skills
-Prior convention experience and knowledge a plus but not required
-Knowledge of anime industry-related Japanese a plus but not required
Interested candidates, please send your resume and a cover letter to both guestassistants@acen.org and guestinterpreters@acen.org so that we can respond to your application in a timely manner. We look forward to hearing from you!
Departments to Choose From
Section: Operations
Department Description:
Convention Operations, or Con-Ops handles getting things to and from the convention. The department also handles radio communications at CON and helping make sure all logistics issues are solved in a timely fashion.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
The Convention Support department provides crew members to departments who need help. Con Support Crew can work the event without a commitment to a particular department, earning a rollover badge after 16 hours.
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Costume Events runs and facilitates the Masquerade event. Helps Cosplayers with their participation in the event, help monitor stage needs.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
Customer Service is responsible at the convention for handling any issues that come up for our atendees. They help locate panels, help answer any questions that come up, and handle the lost and found.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
EMRT (Emergency Medical Response Team) is the group at Anime Central that responds to incidents requiring first aid and/or other medical care. Our group consists of individuals from emergency medicine.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
Anime Central seeks to provide a quality experience for everyone. For any of our attendees with special needs, come to any of our Accessibility Services Desks for assistance. In the Hyatt we are located in the Grand Boardroom, next to Customer Service. Over in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center we can be found next to Registration.
Section: Sales
Department Description:
The Exhibit Space helps maintain a welcoming environment for Artists, Exhibitors, and Industry Partners to sell and promote their products here at Anime Central. With a collection of industry leading talents, an innovative approach to problem solving, and decades worth of hands on experience in fast pace operations, the Exhibit Space is the place for you!
Section: Guest Relations
Department Description: Guest Assistants provide support and assistance to guests of honor as it relates to the convention. This includes assisting guests of honor with guest related events (panels, autographs, etc.) as well as interpretation services as needed.
Section: Guest Relations
Department Description:
Guest Logistics is the arm of our Guest Relations section for handling the transportation and radio in support of Guests. Staff in this area will be driving guests to and from the airport, taking guests on any special requested stops during the convention.
Section: Guest Relations
Department Description: Guest Services is a small department that works behind the scenes within Guest Relations Section ensuring that the Guests of Honor are feeling welcome and appreciate. we also help with the autographs team making sure the Guests of Honor requests are fulfilled.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
The Incident Response Team (IRT) is responsible for the safety and well being of Anime Central attendees. They also assist with rules enforcement in the Hyatt and the Convention Center, line control for large events, mobile first line customer service and much more.
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Main Events handles big events at the con such as masquerade,and our raves. They handle setup and tear down, line control, and ushering at main events.
Section: Sales
Department Description:
Anime Central's Merch department sells all of the fantastic ACen merch so you can show your ACen pride. Everything from shirts to yearly pins. We've got it all!
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Panel Programming is responsible for reviewing, scheduling, and managing panels and panelists.
Section: Guest Relations
Department Description:
ACen's press department is responsible for communicating and driving ACen relationships with press. These staffers will check in staffers, help validate credentials, help arrange interviews if necessary, and help press have an excellent experience.
Section: Sales
Department Description:
One of the largest departments in the convention, the Registration team processes memberships and payments for attendees before and during the convention.
Section: Operations
Department Description:
Staff Suite is a 24 hour room where ACen Staff can go to relax on break and eat. Catering is provided by a local Chicago catering company.
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Table Top Gaming does setup and maintenance tabletop game rooms. Setup and check in with demo vendors. Check badges for attendees.
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Video Gaming assists with setup and check in with vendors in video games rooms. Check badges at the door, help attendees with any issues.
Section: Programming
Department Description:
Video Programming department handles set up and running of anime viewing rooms. This department handles 24 hour service at con.
At ACen- Con Support Crew
Want to help out Anime Central without being a full-fledged staffer? Still want to experience the con from an insider’s perspective without missing out on any of the exciting events ACen has to offer? Try volunteering in your spare time! Sounds fun does it not?
At Con Volunteer Requirements:
- To be a Volunteer you must be 18 or older by May 17th, 2018. (Bring ID with you)
- Have an ACen membership and Photo ID.
- You must be responsible for your provided time card and turn it in on a daily basis.
- You must be able to perform the given tasks and be in good health to perform tasks.
Volunteer Perks:
- Your choice of your very own “Roll-Over Membership” for next year after 16 hours of volunteering.
- Experiences & Stories you’ll never forget.
- Join our team and make a difference. Who knows, you may even find a department to staff with next year!
How you Earn your Volunteer Hours:
- Checking for ACen issued membership badges and passes at the door of a featured event or function.
- Fulfilling various tasks around the convention center – running from hotel to hotel or even hotel to convention center.
- Helping with Room Changes
- Work with IRT and panels, and learn what goes on behind the scenes.
- Assembling swag bags or handing out program books
How to Apply at Con:
- If interested in volunteering any and all days of ACen join us in the Exhibit Hall during open hours at the event.
- Remember, you must be 18 or older to volunteer and must have an ACen issued membership badge or pass. (ID will be required upon sign up)
