GIA Offers Networking to Jumpstart Your Career

CARLSBAD, Calif. – May 7, 2009 – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) ”Mini” Jewelry Career Fair will provide the opportunity to jumpstart your career as 21 career coaches, five speakers and like-minded job seekers gather at the May 31 event during the JCK show in Las Vegas. A schedule and line-up of participants is at www.gia.edu/careerfair.

The Mini Career Fair begins with a short “state of the industry” address by the Institute’s president and CEO, Donna Baker. Following, she will moderate the “Job Success in Today’s Market” panel, which includes John Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond & Green; Matthew Green, sales director of Europe, Middle East, and Asia for John Hardy International Ltd.; Joel Schechter, CEO of HONORA; and Phyllis Bergman, CEO of Mercury Ring Corporation. This panel will provide insight on how to maximize career opportunities in today’s market climate.

The career coaches, all notable industry leaders, will provide one-on-one sessions with attendees, offering tips for success in specialized categories including: Design, Career Information, Networking, Resume Review, and Business Start-up and Entrepreneurship. Each private session will last 15 minutes.

The GIA Mini Jewelry Career Fair, sponsored by JCK Events, is a condensed version of the Institute’s popular career coaching and job search advice event that has helped place job candidates in the jewelry industry for the last 18 years. Although no on-site recruiting will be available, GIA will provide information on current career opportunities in the gem and jewelry industry.

The GIA Mini Jewelry Career Fair will be held on Sunday, May 31; the opening session will take place from 10-11 a.m., followed by coaching sessions through 1:15 p.m. The doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for career coaching sign-ups. The event takes place at the Venetian Conference Center in the Zeno Room 4702. The event is free and open to all with no advance registration or show badge required.

Those interested in attending the GIA Mini Jewelry Career Fair should visit www.gia.edu/careerfair, call (800) 421-7250 ext. 4100 or e-mail careerfair@gia.edu. JCK Show exhibitors and buyers interested in having their openings for jobs and internships listed in materials that will be distributed at the GIA Mini Jewelry Career Fair should contact Danielle Aposhian at daposhian@reedexpo.com or call (203) 840-5837.

Career Fair was founded by GIA and The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California. The next GIA Jewelry Career Fair in Carlsbad is scheduled for Oct. 16, 2009 at the Institute’s world headquarters.