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By Jessica Sachariason
Nearly 1,000 attendees – including recruiters, speakers, coaches and staff – packed GIA's Career Fair in New York on July 27.
Recruiters represented many different areas of the industry, ranging from large organizations to boutiques, designers to manufacturers, and masters of new technologies to more traditional craftsmen. It was the largest and most diverse group of recruiters Career Fair has ever hosted.
Donna Baker, GIA president, congratulated job seekers on attending Career Fair.
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Job seeker Ariel Handelman asks panelists a question at the New York Career Fair.
GIA file photo
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"GIA co-founded Career Fair 17 years ago and continues to produce it because we are responding to the urgent need for highly trained, skilled and motivated professionals who will perpetuate and strengthen the jewelry industry," she said.
"Today you have top business leaders volunteering their time, energy and expertise to offer you personal advice and counsel," Baker said. "The sponsors of Career Fair, recruiters, panelists, coaches and the GIA staff all are here to help guide you, the future stars of the jewelry industry. You're embarking on a future full of opportunity in an industry that plays an important part in the most special moments of people's lives."
Ralph Destino, GIA chairman, said the gem and jewelry industry has attributes job seekers often overlook.
"This industry welcomes creativity, is a stable and important craft that dates from earliest recorded history, and is led by people who are willing to guide and mentor new members," he said.
Recruiters said they were impressed by the number of high-quality candidates they met – one recruiter found the three candidates he needed by noon.
Job seekers like Rosemarie Hill were excited by the caliber of companies that attended and the amount of interaction they had with recruiters and career coaches.
"It was incredible to meet all of these wonderful industry leaders, to receive helpful career coaching, and get the chance to network with so many individuals at once," Hill said. "I found Career Fair an invaluable resource as a job seeker, and an enjoyable experience."
GIA's Career Fair was founded by GIA and The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California. The prime sponsor for the New York Career Fair was The Nielsen Jewelry Group. The prime sponsors for the Carlsbad event in October were the Jewelers 24 Karat Club and the JCK International Publishing Group.
Career Fair is held in New York each July and in Carlsbad each October. Admission for job seekers is free. Employers who wish to recruit at Career Fair can call Career Services Manager Dani Oliver at (800) 421-7250, ext. 4195.
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