More than 800 people turned out for GIA’s annual New York Career Fair on July 25 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center to take advantage of the industry’s premier employment and recruiting opportunity.

Kathryn Kimmel, GIA’s vice president and chief marketing officer who co-founded Career Fair 18 years ago, said the day-long event featured a strong line-up of panels and seminars. A total of 39 recruiters and industry leaders gave their time sharing knowledge with audiences in the workshops and spoke to people during the one-on-one coaching sessions.

Donna Baker, GIA president, welcomed participants by congratulating them for taking a smart first career step by attending Career Fair. She commended attendees for choosing to work where they could offer people a truly valuable service at the best moments in their lives.

Baker debunked the notion that people had to be born into the jewelry business in order to be successful. Baker, with her background in law and education, said she was “welcomed into the jewelry industry with open arms.” Baker said that GIA co-founded and continues to host the fair because of the industry’s ongoing need for highly skilled professionals who will strengthen and perpetuate the industry.

Career Fair offered six separate workshops titled Working to Win; Moving from Dream to Reality; Jewelry Design: One Passion, Many Paths; Marketing Yourself for Success; and Immigration Law.

Working to Win was moderated by GIA chairman Ralph Destino and included panelists Ann Arnold, chief financial officer/vice president of Lieberfarb; Susan Jacques, president and chief executive officer of Borsheims; Rahul Kadakia, senior vice president and head of jewelry, Christie’s Americas, and Steven Lagos, designer and chief executive officer, LAGOS.

Each speaker on the panel told their own story of starting on the ground floor within the jewelry business and how each achieved a high level of success in their respective disciplines. The panel summarized the tools for success are constant learning, applying creativity, personal integrity, pursuing passion, self-motivation and finding out what works best for each individual. Each said that there are many paths to success and every person must find their own road.

On the West Coast, employers, first-time jewelry job seekers, and those looking to advance their career in the industry can attend the GIA Career Fair in Carlsbad, Calif. Sept. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Employers who would like to recruit at this year’s Career Fair may contact GIA’s Career Services office at 800-421-7250, ext. 4195, or e-mail Dani Oliver at dani.oliver@gia.edu.

Job seekers may RSVP to this event by calling the GIA’s Jewelry Career Fair hotline at 800-421-7250, ext. 4100, or e-mail at careerfair@gia.edu. For more information visit, www.careerfair.gia.edu.

Career Fair was founded by GIA and The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California.

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