GIA Career Fair Draws 800 Job Seekers

(IDEX Online News) – More than 800 people attended GIA's New York Jewelry Career Fair, meeting recruiters from 44 companies. This is the first GIA east Coast career fair since 2008.

The event opened with a special panel presentation titled “Job Success in Today’s Market,” moderated by GIA’s president and CEO Donna Baker.

Panelists David Yurman, founder of David Yurman; Ann Arnold, CEO of Lieberfarb; Lex Graham, a recent GIA graduate and retail jeweler at Betteridge; and Rahul Kadakia, jewelry department head of Christie’s New York, shared their experiences in the gem and jewelry business and offered advice for newcomers.

Alba Cappellieri, dean of the Fashion Design Degree at the Politecnico of Milan, and author of Jewellery of the XX Century: from Art Nouveau to Contemporary Design, was sponsored by Fiera di Vicenza and spoke on the innovation and creativity in jewelry design and its effect on future trends.

The 44 recruiters had hundreds of job openings, ranging from retail sales and jewelry design to diamond grading and production. Companies recruiting included Harry Winston, Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, Montblanc, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and Zale Corporation. The Jewelers for Veterans Foundation was also on-hand to meet with and assist U.S. military veterans in their job search.

“I’m happy to report that our industry is wide and diverse – valued at over $160 billion last year; growing even through difficult times,” said Baker. “And the U.S. is only one market. China, India and the Middle East are expanding rapidly, and so are opportunities.”