The jewelry industry has continued to grow year after year for the past decade. With the price of precious metals at an all time high, people are breaking into this industry and there are many jobs being created in all sorts of positions. If you are looking for a bit more stability in your career, you may want to consider breaking into the jewelry industry. You can find a job in this business with very little school or experience if you are willing to put in some hard work.
The four year University or College course.
This is the highest reward path to getting the most secure job within the industry. However, it comes with a huge time requirement. There are many formal colleges and Universities within North America and Europe that offer some sort of gem focused program within its geology faculty. Although there are easier ways to find a job within the industry, this is perfect if you know you want to get into the business before going to college or university.
Online programs or local colleges.
If you are looking to get a step ahead of the pack as far as formal education goes without having to spend the better part of a decade to do it, online diploma programs are a perfect solution. There are many local or online colleges that offer a condensed program for jewellers and gemologists. This is a great way to add a bit more job security and stand out in the pack of applications that a potential employer might receive.
Management trainees and apprenticeships are great.
There are often apprentice-like training programs within the industry. If you are truly interested in a career as a jewelry or within the business, you can likely find some sort of training programs that offer you a full time position. These positions often have a bit reduced pay for their work load and require that you pass a series of exams but will reward you with a full time and full pay position once it is completed. These are a great alternative to paying for a formal education.
Sales, sales, and more sales.
One of the most popular entry level jobs in any industry is the sales associate. If you are good at your job in this role, you can rise through the ranks of any company very quickly. The sales reps are the people that make the company money - and they reward them substantially for it. If you are able to find an entry level sales position or even a commission based sales job within the jewelry industry consider taking it and working your tail off in order to rise through the ranks.
Final words of advice for the job hunt.
Work hard and be prepared to put in the effort and time required to impress and get the results. Do something that sets you apart from the rest - whether it’s a quick half year training program, writing on the industry in your spare time, or be willing to take a commission only position. If you are willing to put the effort in, there is a lot of upside in this industry.
Harry has been in the jewellery industry for over 20 years and runs both retail jewelry stores and several cash for gold locations. He specializes in recruiting within the industry.