Part II: Is it Worth "Buying" a GG?
I thought of writing a bunch of comments to everyone’s responses regarding, Is it Worth Buying a GG Diploma Before Getting the “Real World” Experience, but then I realized I have a mouthful to say about this post and figured I should just make a “Part II” out of it.
Should GIA implement customer service classes (Ken Goldwasser thinks so)?
Shanu-Should GIA, a professional school in gemology, only teach technical knowledge that so many students, future employees, and owners might use in retail settings? GIA now offers a Bachelor’s in Business yet can’t offer elective courses in “customer relations” as part of your GG. A GG alone isn't enough neither is a BBA. Why not offer electives as part of each degree?
Michael Abushakra like so many others is very proud of his GJG.
Shanu-So would I…he learned hands on how to become a professional jeweler.
Rhonda Rivera made an extremely interesting point stating, “I personally have little patience for learning how to sell jewelry.” Rhonda is attending GIA with the intention of becoming a private practice appraiser. Rhonda goes on to say, “Ultimately, it’s the employer’s decision as to whom they hire, and how they are trained in their position. Just as going to a 4 year university cannot prepare a student for the real world (nor is it expected to).”
Shanu-Rhonda, in college though your first two years are supposed to make you a well balanced individual by offering elective courses for students to take. For example, 3 credits in Psychology, History, Philosophy, Economics and so forth. Shouldn’t GIA offer elective courses as part of the each degree program? Maybe courses that are suitable for appraisers, a retail setting, or ones that are solely based on technical knowledge. Possibly, even an entire week on the history of diamonds that would count as a history elective. These kinds of elective courses can be fun and might add to the curriculum by bringing “real-world” appraisers, sales gurus, and history buffs.
On a side note: Rhonda made a comment regarding “The GIA program has PLENTY of flaws - in particular I'm speaking of their distance "education" program.”
Shanu-I totally agree…I think this kind of program shouldn’t even be offered. Can you really learn all this technical information without an instructor? I know I wouldn’t have done as well or wouldn’t have been able to practice what I learned if I hadn’t attended in Carlsbad, CA with an instructor physically present to answer all my questions.
Like Robyn A. Hawk, I do feel part of being hired in a retail setting means they should train you…but who trained them?
Hedda Schupak’s article, “A Backhanded Compliment," is a prime example of how education can make a difference…can help to change our industry. She talks about how a reputable jewelry store made a difference with their local radio ad by using testimonials from customers…until the customers started “gushing” about how, at Barsky, they were confident that the piece they bought was really what the jeweler said it was. Hedda, goes on to say the ad proved how truly tarnished our industry’s image has become…AND
Shanu-I think it is because of a lack of education. To become an appraiser…well anybody can become one…most jewelry store owners are appraisers. Why isn’t their a licensing exam that appraisers have to take? Wouldn’t there then be less inflated appraisals and fewer jewelers promising to appraise anything for twice what you pay for it. Elective courses on “customer service” can help future staff and owners relate to women, men, and even couples shopping together. An elective course on history can help those who want to enrich themselves for no other purpose but to learn. What about an elective course on cost calculations such as gold pricing, an elective on business management (such as how to avoid “pricing tricks”), or even an elective course on how fashion affects our industry greatly.
I'll leave you with this…Food for thought…GIA needs to consider a rigorous system for admission or at the very least add to their current curriculum.
sally commented:
First of all, As a woman potentially entering GIA, Sarah's comment
about "affectiveness" concerns me from a teacher. The word you are
searching for is "effective". Secondly, I would like to hear more
about Santiago!
Shanu S. Guliani commented:
Rhonda...well said. We should chat. Shoot me an email.
Shanu@gulianis.com
Rhonda Rivera commented:
Shanu, you make do make good points - it's true that in college you
do take elective, as well as GE courses to give you an opportunity
to be well-rounded. I think the difference is that GIA is a "trade
school". They teach about gems, and their focus probably needs to
stay that narrow. Let's face it - if the GIA started offering
appraisal education, customer service, etc - the industry would
probably then start saying that GIA is trying to mold the entire
marketplace. (meaning: they would be training people to grade the
gems, value the gems, do sales, make the jewelry...etc.) I have to
admit that I was very surprised that the admissions process wasn't
more rigorous - it took me as long to fill out the admissions form
as it does to sign up for community education classes, and that
just seems wrong. It tends to make me wonder if it's more important
for GIA to get their hands on their students money than it is to
make sure that the people who enter the program have half a chance
of finishing it, or even whether or not they have quality
applicants. It just doesn't seem like the way a highly-esteemed
education program would operate. I mean, I'm sure none of us would
assume that Stanford, Princeton or even Harvard would take anyone
regardless of their SAT scores or high school education. But then
again - GIA *is* a trade school. As for their distance education
program, it seriously needs to be overhauled if they really want to
continue offering it to the general public. Personally, I DO think
it can be a great program - but the school has to be willing to do
the work to make it that way. One thing the program seriously lacks
is GOOD feedback from the "instructors". For example, when I am
finished with a gem identification worksheet - I send it in for
feedback (assuming of course that I have missed a few gemstones).
When I get it back, the only feedback I typically receive from my
instructor are checkmarks beside the gemstones that were
incorrectly identified. Explain to me how that helps? Perhaps
giving me some kind of idea as to where I went wrong would have
been more helpful... Yes, it would require extra work, but isn't
that the point? To teach?? I became so discouraged that I ended up
taking additional gemology courses not at GIA, but at Santiago
Canyon College. (I am in So. CA) To say that I've improved would be
an understatement - and it's all because I get much better
feedback, so that way when I'm doing something wrong or not seeing
something in a stone - I have someone that I can ask who is not
going to give me a standardized response of "please see page #____
in your textbook". It's all about teaching...and THAT is food for
thought. Finally, you (Shanu) make a very interesting point about
appraisers. There are MANY out there that have not taken any kind
of education programs for appraising - and figure that just because
they sell, they can value - and they do their customers a complete
disservice over and over again. This is why organizations such as
the ASA (American Society of Appraisers) and the ISA (International
Society of Appraisers) insist that their candidates take their
rigorous education program, complete a certain number of hours of
appraisal work, and submit two complete written appraisers before
they can even become members. It's true that not every appraiser in
the industry is an ASA or ISA candidate or member (just as not
every jeweler, buyer, etc. in the industry has their GG from GIA),
but as we read over and over again - it's becoming more and more
necessary to have that extra education in order to be
well-respected within the industry as well as by the public in
general.
Shanu S. Guliani commented:
Sarah---The point of my entire article has been...GIA should have a
more rigorous admission...That is my food for thought...then it
would stand for something more.
Sarah Horst commented:
GIA is the AUTHORITY of Gemology and Gemstones... they shouldn't be
expected to provide courses on 'everything else' and should stick
to what they do best! I'm a GJG, and a former GIA instructor, and
feel like GIA is being slammed for not providing 'fluff' electives.
A lot of 'selling' is based on one's 'people skills' and natural
abilities to connect with their customer - a trait which can't
necessarily be taught. GIA has a great thing going, should keep
their scope narrow, and focus on Gemstones. p.s. I agree with
Rhonda about the Distance Course 'affectiveness' and with Hedda
that admissions should be more rigorous! That way a GG diploma
would REALLY stand for something the way it used to...
