When conducting a serious job search, networking is key. The more visible you are, the more job opportunities will come your way. Set up meetings with friends, industry leaders, referrals or potential employers. Commit to meeting two people a day. Two people a day would mean 10 a week, 40 a month. The more actively involved you become with this process the better your chances of landing the job you want. And remember, while face-to-face meetings have great power, it is also possible to conduct your meetings via phone and e-mail, especially if you are trying to relocate.

Your Networking Resources

Friends
Co-workers past/present
Professional associates
Suppliers or customers
Consultants
Recruiters
Teachers and classmates
and Career Fair Career Coaches!

Here are just a few:

Appraiser
Assembler
Bench Jeweler
Branch Manager
Colored Stone Dealer
Department Manager
Designer
Display Manager
Estate Jeweler
Fabricator
Gemologist
Gem sorter
Grader
Goldsmith
Hand Engraver
Historian
Importer
Independent Retailer
Inventory Control Specialist
Jewelry Buyer
Lapidary Artist
Marketing Manager
Merchandiser
Model Maker
Museum Curator
National Account Executive
Operations Manager
Pawnbroker
Photographer
Polisher
Production Manager
Publisher
Quality Control Specialist
Repairer
Retail Sales Associate
Researcher
Sorter
Stone setter
Supplier
Trader
Watchmaker
Wax Carver
Wholesaler
Writer

1. Relax.
Focus on the present moment and you will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, and self-doubt.

2. Prepare.
Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." Everything you include should ultimately answer the question, "Why should we hire you?"

3. Set goals.
It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into.

4. Remember your body language.
Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you.

5. Follow up.
A "thank you" letter is another opportunity to market yourself. Consider the letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking.

Recruiters use Career Fair to meet prospective employees and conduct preliminary interviews. If they think you're a likely candidate, they will arrange to call you back for a more in-depth interview. During Career Fair, recruiters speak to hundreds of potential candidates, so your goal should be to stand out from the crowd. Here's some common sense advice to help you do just that – in a positive way, of course.

1. Focus.
Employers are attracted to candidates who have clearly defined career goals and objectives. Take some time to reflect on your skills, education, work experience, personality, and aspirations to determine the kind of job you're looking for. There's nothing worse than telling an employer “I'll take anything” or answering “I don't know” when asked about your interests. If you need help finding focus, take advantage of the career guidance offered in Career Fair's Career Coaching area.

2. Dress professionally.
First impressions count! Don't forget that the jewelry industry is based on high-end, high-image product. What's more, a well-groomed and professional appearance means you're taking the job seriously, even before you're hired. You don't want to be remembered as the gum-chewing guy in shorts, flip-flops, and a muscle tee who just dropped in on his way to the gym.

3. Bring many copies of your resume.
Be prepared to paper the hall with your resume. Leave a resume with every recruiter you speak with and consider leaving resumes even with those companies who may not have a job opening that's right for you at this time. Like your appearance, your resume should be clean, polished and professional, with your contact information up-to-date and clearly visible. And don't forget to bring pen and paper so that you can make notes as you meet with potential employers.

4. Research companies.
Do your homework. Before attending Career Fair, get to know the hiring companies by visiting their web sites and looking through trade magazines, so that you can familiarize yourself with their product lines and corporate goals. This information will help you ask informed questions about the companies and their positions available, and will show recruiters that you're enthusiastic.

5. Talk to every company.
Even if a company doesn't list the position you are qualified for, talk to the recruiter and leave a resume. They may not be advertising every position. Be sure to ask for a business card so that you can contact them after Career Fair.

6. Conduct yourself as you would for an interview.
Make eye contact, introduce yourself, ask questions, have a firm handshake, smile, stand up straight, don't chew gum, dress professionally, and be confident. Whew! And remember – Career Fair is your “first date,” and probably not a good time to talk salary – that is, unless the recruiter brings it up first.

7. Follow up.
After Career Fair, follow up with recruiters you spoke with to confirm your enthusiasm and interest in a company. You can do this by either making a personal phone call or writing a thank you letter. This helps you leave a lasting impression!

8. Finally, remember the 3 Ps.
Politeness. Polish. Positive attitude. Nothing exudes confidence more than a warm, friendly person who can speak positively and enthusiastically about themselves, the company they're interviewing with and the industry they're looking to enter. Don't just tell recruiters what an asset you are, show them!

Brainstorm Before You Begin

Know Your Goal:  It helps to have a goal in mind – a certain kind of job, a particular area of the industry you’d like to work in.  This goal should be realistic given your experience, qualifications and skills.  (BTW: if you need some help goal setting – be sure to visit the Career Coaching area at Career Fair.  The industry pros are great at offering realistic career advice that will help you meet your aspirations.)

Given your goal, find out what training, experience and special skills employers are looking for to fill similar positions.  Newspaper want ads and job descriptions, Monster.com and GIA’s job database are great resources.  Not only do they tell you about the specific skills and experience employers are looking for, they often indicate pay ranges for a particular position, and suggest key words and phrases you should include in your resume.

Make a list of everything that you’ve done that demonstrates how you are the perfect fit for the job.  In addition to your education, training and work experience, don’t neglect any hobbies, internships or activities that may have given you experience relevant to the job.

Before you begin laying out your resume, here are some things you won’t include:

Don’t include your salary history on your resume.  If an employer requires a salary history, include this information in your cover letter.

Don’t include the following personal information: your gender, age, height, weight, marital status, race, ethnicity, national origin or religion.

Don’t include any information about why you left one job to go into another.  You’ll talk about that during the interview.

Don’t include references on your resume.  These should be listed on a separate sheet of paper and presented to the employer when asked for.

Hints for a great presentation

Use white or off-white quality paper, with matching sheets for cover letters and references.
Use a standard, conservative 10 or 12 point font. 
Use a writing style that is short and direct.
Use phrases rather than full sentences.
Use action words liberally.
Be consistent with your capitalization, abbreviations and punctuations. 
Be sure your resume design is uncluttered and easy to read. 
No errors – proof and re-proof for typos, spelling, punctuation, errors of fact, etc. A single typo can undermine all your efforts.

Resume Must Haves

Your Name - Make it the biggest, boldest print on the page and easy to read.

Up-to-Date Contact Information - Include your complete permanent address and temporary address (if applicable) along with phone numbers and e-mail address. 

Objective and/or Summary - An objective is a brief statement that targets your professional goals and helps employers determine whether your goals are compatible with their needs.  A summary recaps your qualifications as they pertain to the job you’re applying for.  It should be a powerful statement about why an employer should hire you instead of other candidates and it should compel the employer to continue reading your resume for evidence supporting your claim.

Your Work History - List in reverse chronological order.  Be sure to account for any gaps in employment.  In addition to paid work history, you can include internships, volunteer work, and military experience. 

Your Education - List in reverse chronological order.  Be sure to include advanced training only if it is relevant to the job desired.

Choose a Resume Format

Chronological - Your work history is the focus of the resume; each job is described with some detail following.  Primarily used when staying in the same profession.  An objective or summary is recommended with this format.  Advantages: May appeal to more traditional readers.  Is easy to understand what was done in previous jobs.

Functional - Your major skills and accomplishments are the focus of the resume. Company names and positions are in a subordinate position with no description.  Highly recommended for those changing careers.  Advantages: Extremely helpful in reaching for a new goal or direction.  Helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them.

Combination - Includes elements of both chronological and functional formats and is becoming the most widely used format.  Follows the basic form of the chronological resume, but highlights skills and abilities, line by line under each job listing.  Uses a summary to accent qualifications and marketable skills.  Advantages: Maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes.

Optional Sections

Skills - Describe what you produced, what happened as a result of your efforts and what you are especially gifted at doing. Draw from your paid or unpaid work experience and education, keeping in mind the needs of the position you are hoping to fill.

Associations - You may include memberships in trade associations, professional societies, alumni and volunteer groups.

Hobbies and Activities - This section can indicate a skill or area of knowledge that is related to the goal, can create common ground or spark conversation in an interview and may reveal talents or personality traits an employer finds desirable.  Disadvantages: May be irrelevant to the job goal and resume purpose or meaningless to the prospective employer.

For more resume and career preparation tips, be sure to visit GIA Career Services at www.gia.edu.