Hello Everybody,
I have a question. Here is some of the backstory to the question.
Due to a series of unfortunate events, my family is currently
without my husband’s income, which had been supporting us. No job.
No insurance. And expecting blessing #3. The jewelry store will have
to wait for now. I’m not giving up, I’m just taking a different road
to get there.
I’ve hit the pavement to find myself employment in the jewelry
industry, figuring I have skills and training that are uncommon and
valuable. My figuring is correct, I believe, because I’ve walked
into three stores advertising positions only to find that they’re
struggling (with gritted teeth) to train apprentices. I’ve heard
over and over how their “guy” can’t size a ring. (This sort of
complaint makes me uncomfortable.)
I feel I have been jerked around on a few occasions. I’m not
noticeably pregnant, I merely look a little chubby. I’m not
concerned about maternity leave, my husband wants to be with the
kids, and the past two deliveries I’ve only taken a week off. (With
No. 1, I was landscaping.)
I have pave setting skills, soldering and repair skills, I can size
a ring (I get asked this, anxiously, over and over again- why don’t
they do a bench test and see for themselves?), I can reprong and set
and I can cast (I have no setup of my own, though), I can size,
clean-up, finish and set platinum; I can fabricate anything, I can
work wax models. My wax carving is sketchy. I’ve been happy with all
my carvings, but I feel I take too long to list this as a skill. I
want/need to put in some years at the bench in a jewelry store
proper - I feel this whole episode has been to show me how much I
have to learn about running a store. I have a resume, references,
and a JBT listing. And… nothing. I haven’t listed all of my
skills, here, but I can’t understand why stores are just talking at
me and not doing bench tests. Am I being impatient? Or is two weeks
normal before getting a bench test?
Any insight here? I go to the (sometimes multiple) interviews well
dressed, in a pants-suit and close-toed shoes-read to do a bench
test, my teeth are clean, I’m always early, and I take examples of
my work. The folks I interview with are inevitably enthusiastic, but
it seems as though there’s someone else who I don’t get to meet, who
is the decision maker, and I get blown off. No bench test, no phone
call. Why do these guys prefer to struggle with an apprentice
(always male- though this may not have anything to do with anything)
who can’t size a ring?
I’ve even researched the average jeweler’s salary for the Dallas
area, so I believe my salary requirements are in line with my region
and my skills and abilities.
Frankly, I’m more frustrated than anything. I want to use my
valuable skills, I don’t want to do landscaping (this isn’t the
right time of year, anyway).
Again, any insight? Advice is welcome; but I’d prefer to avoid the
"times are hard" spiel. This has been made clear to me in my own
situation. Besides, why are these guys advertising for a jeweler
when they aren’t hiring? I’ve gotten some tradework, but I’ll need
more before I can begin to make ends meet. Would it be worth it to
advertise for tradework in JCK or Professional Jeweler? All I’ve
been hearing is “business is slow, we’re all caught up. We’ve never
been this caught up.” (Okay, maybe only at two places, but another
two places haven’t returned my calls, and they’ve got my resume.)
I’ve even sent thank you notes, like Monster says to.
I’ve thought, maybe I’m overdressed, and therefore don’t look like I
know what I’m doing. (I’ve consistently been better dressed than my
interviewer, one of whom had a hole in his shirt. Another one was
missing a button - and I wasn’t sitting in a sweatshop-these were
nice stores.)
Seriously, I’ll fax my resume to anyone who wants to take a look at
it - maybe my typeface is offending people - you never know.
Seriously, I need advice/help/a pat on the head.
Thank you, you guys have all been consistently wonderful and
supportive; not just of me, but also of each other, and that means a
lot.
Susannah Page-Garcia
Moonshine Metal Creations