Stagier is the French term for an apprentice. Stagier programs differ from internships because of the lack of formal education associated with an apprenticeship. As a stagier, you will receive specialized training. Where an intern may work in many different offices of an event-planning company, a stagier will work only for the lead creative planner, executive planner, or owner of the event-planning company. A stagier can take on similar responsibilities as an assistant, but because the stagier's primary objective is to act as a shadow, she would not at any time take the place of an assistant.

A stagier position is usually paid, though not very much. The low wage is a result of the hands-on training a stagier receives. Some companies and industries in the United States have adopted stagier programs, but it's not used in the same manner by each company. Internationally, the program trains stagiers in a craft so they may go on to start companies. For this reason, companies that have a stagier program do not hire an apprentice for a permanent position.