CrimeSep 24, 2026
From Conclave: Security Measures Jewelers Should Be TakingJSA and Jewelers Mutual shared advice on spotting suspicious behavior, combatting cell phone jammers, and staying safe at home.
ColumnistsFeb 16, 2021
Creative Connecting: Recruiting and Job Hunting on Social Media
Need to find top talent, or looking for a new opportunity for yourself? Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams outline best practices for doing so on social media.
Duvall O’Steen, left, and Jen Cullen Williams are independent communications strategists and senior consultants for the Luxury Brand Group. They can be reached at DuvallOsteenNYC@gmail.com or Jen@JenCullenWilliams.com.
In a digital world where more and more people are working from home, both recruiting and job searching has vastly expanded.
Companies can now hire top talent from anywhere in the country, potentially without relocation costs, while talented professionals have access to a broader range of career opportunities.
The global connections made possible by social media are both a blessing and a bane, on both sides of the equation.
Professionals looking to accelerate their careers can discover a wealth of opportunities that can be daunting and overwhelming if not streamlined and specific.
Companies looking to recruit qualified talent can widen their nets but may encounter roadblocks without specificity and strategic communications.
To capitalize on the advantages of this new digital world and mitigate the conundrums, we’ve talked to leading recruiters and communications experts about how jewelry professionals and businesses can best use social media to attract top talent and/or great opportunities.
For Job Seekers
All the professionals we talked to agree that LinkedIn is, obviously, the best social media tool for professionals to use for connecting with great job opportunities or talent scouts and recruiters.
Specificity of language in your LinkedIn profile is key.
John-Stuart Fauquet, vice president of Bonnell-Ryan Executive Search, advises making your LinkedIn profile as detailed as your resume.
“Take your resume and copy it word for word into your LinkedIn page. That allows recruiters and HR executives to find you in specific keyword searches when they are looking for particular skills.”
Ginny Miller, director-retail practice at iRiS Recruiting Solutions, echoed the need for keywords.
“Use keywords on your resume and in your profile on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed, so that your resume/profile will pop higher on a search. Also, the more you use each keyword on your profile, the higher up your resume will appear. Using multiple titles for what you do can also help; for example, buyer, merchant, purchasing.”
Simply having a presence on LinkedIn, however, is not enough. Networking is still key.
Fauquet said, “The biggest piece of advice is networking! The best way to get a job is to put yourself out there and meet with people who are connected in your industry and find a time to connect with them.
“This extends to social media. Make a list of people you know who hold high-ranking positions at companies that interest you. Reach out and connect with them via social media. Once you put
Companies can now hire top talent from anywhere in the country, potentially without relocation costs, while talented professionals have access to a broader range of career opportunities.
The global connections made possible by social media are both a blessing and a bane, on both sides of the equation.
Professionals looking to accelerate their careers can discover a wealth of opportunities that can be daunting and overwhelming if not streamlined and specific.
Companies looking to recruit qualified talent can widen their nets but may encounter roadblocks without specificity and strategic communications.
To capitalize on the advantages of this new digital world and mitigate the conundrums, we’ve talked to leading recruiters and communications experts about how jewelry professionals and businesses can best use social media to attract top talent and/or great opportunities.
For Job Seekers
All the professionals we talked to agree that LinkedIn is, obviously, the best social media tool for professionals to use for connecting with great job opportunities or talent scouts and recruiters.
Specificity of language in your LinkedIn profile is key.
John-Stuart Fauquet, vice president of Bonnell-Ryan Executive Search, advises making your LinkedIn profile as detailed as your resume.
“Take your resume and copy it word for word into your LinkedIn page. That allows recruiters and HR executives to find you in specific keyword searches when they are looking for particular skills.”
Ginny Miller, director-retail practice at iRiS Recruiting Solutions, echoed the need for keywords.
“Use keywords on your resume and in your profile on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed, so that your resume/profile will pop higher on a search. Also, the more you use each keyword on your profile, the higher up your resume will appear. Using multiple titles for what you do can also help; for example, buyer, merchant, purchasing.”
Simply having a presence on LinkedIn, however, is not enough. Networking is still key.
Fauquet said, “The biggest piece of advice is networking! The best way to get a job is to put yourself out there and meet with people who are connected in your industry and find a time to connect with them.
“This extends to social media. Make a list of people you know who hold high-ranking positions at companies that interest you. Reach out and connect with them via social media. Once you put
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
yourself out there and let people know you’re looking for a job, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that open up.”
“While social media can be lighthearted, it is also important to portray yourself as a respectable professional. Use your social media profile to put your best foot forward.” — Peter Harts, GIA
According to Miller, LinkedIn allows you to join up to 50 groups and subgroups.
She advised joining groups with the largest number of members, e.g., Buyers, Retail Industry Professionals, Luxury Fashion & Lifestyle Executives, Nonprofit Network, Marketing Communication and LuxuryRecruit.
Once in, you can communicate with any member inside these groups and post or blog to the group to get yourself noticed.
GIA’s Manager of Career Services Peter Harts warns that all social media outlets can affect a job search.
“While social media can be lighthearted, it is also important to portray yourself as a respectable professional. If your profile is public, anyone has access to your photos and information, so it’s important to use your social media profile to put your best foot forward.”
He also echoed the need for digital networking.
“It is worth investing time in networking, as its potential effects are significant and long lasting. Find companies and professional groups that interest you and ask to follow or join their communities,” he said.
“By participating in the right conversations, being active in LinkedIn groups and using hashtags, you will gain more visibility to other users. You should also share relevant content that shows off your professional and educational experience for the role you want.”
Kristy Hurt, founder of Kristy Hurt Consulting, believes so strongly in the power of networking, she started her own networking community, the co-lab.
“For professionals in the fashion, jewelry, beauty and luxury industry, there is no better place to network than in the co-lab, a professional networking community I founded in 2020 to connect the 20+ years of professional colleagues I have engaged with over my career.
“We have internal job listings and lots of opportunities to network with warm connections. Find us at jointhecolab.com or on social media @jointhecolab on all the channels.”
Career-driven websites like Career Contessa and Ladies Get Paid can provide valuable advice for professional development, salary negotiations and more. Follow these resources on social media to learn more about what is happening in the market.
For Employers
For companies looking to attract top talent, social media is an effective tool.
According to Hurt, all social media channels can be helpful.
“It’s so important to meet your customers where they are, and that includes social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and yes, even TikTok. Post news articles, topics and trends, and then jobs.
“It’s a great way to seek warm leads and referrals. If you build trust with your stakeholders, they will send you names. People love to be useful and by making it easy for them to help you, they will do it.”
“If you put your values front and center on your social media pages, people will see that when they’re looking for a job.” — John-Stuart Fauquet, Bonnell-Ryan Executive Search
Fauquet suggests keeping job postings up-to-date and accurate to avoid frustrating or deterring high-level talent.
“Use all the social channels you have to direct applicants to one centralized place. Also, social media can help convey the culture of your organization,” he said.
“If you put your values front and center on your social media pages, people will see that when they’re looking for a job.”
Miller concurred that having readily available information about the company helps: “You can post blogs that can be found easily on a Google search engine that are about the company and the culture and also feature current openings.”
She also recommends getting creative by creating accounts for job postings on platforms that cater to the specific job you are looking to fill. For example, if you are trying to attract a creative talent, check out Creatively.
Also, she said: “Join groups and associations like the Women’s Jewelry Association that are specific to your industry and that would help attract membership talent for the job you are looking to fill.
University alumni groups are another option to consider, like FIT as an example. They might have a roster that is particularly appealing for jewelry job candidates.”
We also asked the pros if there are any best times or specific ways to post job opportunities. Here’s what they said.
Kristy Hurt:
“For Instagram, I find that it’s better to post on Stories than in the feed and be sure to allow followers to direct message (DM) or respond to the stories. More followers will engage on a story and respond by sending a DM to ask for more information. The feed is too public, so they may not want to comment, or it may be ‘too much work’ to send a DM from scratch.”
Peter Harts:
“Many employers in the gem and jewelry industry have found participating in the GIA Jewelry Career Fair and working with GIA career services to be a great way to establish a pipeline of candidates, from entry-level to skilled professionals.”
Ginny Miller:
“Post [jobs] early in the morning during the week, so you are at the top of the candidate’s priority list for the day. Also, posting on a Saturday or Sunday morning gets good results. The other option is to put it on a rotation, so that it is posted every few days at a different time.”
For other places to post job listings, we discovered these tips.
According to Harts, “the GIA Gem and Jewelry Career Center is the premier online job board/portal exclusively for the jewelry industry. It is free for job seekers and employers, offering powerful features to speed up the search for qualified candidates and opportunities, in one easy to navigate location.”
“Indeed is also a good place to post; however, it can be costly,” said Miller.
“Ladders will pick up your posting as long as the salary is over $100K and is posted on the ad. Monster, and Career Builder are good places to post for mid-level to lower-level jobs; however, I don’t recommend them to attract higher-level top talent or passive candidates.”
Finally, for companies looking to partner with a recruiting agency, Hurt suggests finding a partner who will really get to know your company culture.
“It’s important to find a recruiting agency partner who knows your business, understands what you are looking for, and is on the same page as the client when it comes to compensation and level of talent.”
There also are resources for companies searching for specific roles outside of the jewelry industry that can be great for sourcing new experienced talent such as The Mom Project, Exec Thread or Glassdoor, and freelance talent marketplaces like Upwork and FreeUp.
More on Columnists
The Latest
AuctionsSep 24, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Heads to UK Jewelry AuctionThe fancy light blue diamond is estimated to fetch up to $2.6 million at Elmwood’s next week.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
TrendsSep 24, 2026
This New Jewelry Book Decodes the Secret Meaning in Victorian Jewelry“Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry” unveils the meaning behind the symbols, motifs, and gemstones used in Victorian-era jewelry.
Weekly QuizSep 24, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownSep 24, 2026
Kira Jewels Opens B2B E-Commerce Portal for Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry KIRAJewels.one gives retailers access to more than 500 SKUs of lab-grown diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
TrendsSep 23, 2026
Holiday Diamond Jewelry Trends: Layered Looks, PersonalizationThis holiday season, look to pieces that will help to fill out customers’ everyday diamond jewelry wardrobe, experts say.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingSep 23, 2026
Organization That Promotes Natural Diamond Rebrands for Third Time The Natural Diamond Council is now The Diamond Collective and has announced a new strategy under CEO Amber Pepper.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
This Milwaukee-Area Jeweler Is Serving the 7CsPaul’s Jewelers sells coffee, chocolate, and cookies from a custom gold-wrapped trailer parked outside the store starting at 7 a.m.
MajorsSep 23, 2026
Kay Jewelers’ New Campaign Goes ‘All In’ on LovePart of its brand relaunch, the marketing around the campaign includes a contest involving a jacket set with 550 diamonds.
Events & AwardsSep 23, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Exhibition Opening at Arkansas Museum The curation, opening soon at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, honors the jeweler’s heritage through a distinctly American lens.
CollectionsSep 23, 2026
Pucker Up for Pandora’s New Pat McGrath Jewelry CollabThe jewelry giant has partnered with the famed makeup artist to create a colorful new collection of charms and rings.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
Texas Jewelers Association to Celebrate 120th AnniversaryThe association will mark the milestone at its convention next month.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
Sissy’s Log Cabin’s ‘Back to School and Bling’ Event ReturnsThe jeweler donated school supplies to Memphis, Tennessee, students during the event combining basketball and mentorship.
MajorsSep 22, 2026
Foundrae’s Lawsuit Against Pandora Can Continue, Court RulesA federal judge denied Pandora’s motion to dismiss Foundrae’s claim for copyright infringement of its medallions.
IndependentsSep 22, 2026
Constance Polamalu Named to '40 Under 40' ListThe Baltimore Business Journal recognized the entrepreneur for her leadership in business and the jewelry industry.
GradingSep 22, 2026
GCAL by Sarine Opens New Lab in MumbaiThe facility is located within SEEPZ and is GCAL by Sarine’s second location in India, joining its existing grading lab in Surat.
Events & AwardsSep 22, 2026
NYCJAOS Returns for Autumn EditionThe four-day show is slated for Nov. 19-22 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
AuctionsSep 21, 2026
Ultra-Rare Cartier Cheich Watch Sells for $3.4M Offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind white gold watch now holds the title of most valuable Cartier wristwatch sold at auction.
MajorsSep 21, 2026
Longtime Industry Executive Pamela Bernstein-Gulla to RetireBernstein-Gulla has been working in the jewelry industry for 40 years, most recently as chief engagement officer for Hill & Co.
IndependentsSep 21, 2026
Bhindi Jewelers Moves Into New, Larger California StoreThe relocated Glendale store, now at The Americana at Brand, was designed to be a contemporary “timepiece haven” inspired by luxury resorts.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
7.52-Carat Unheated Paraíba Tourmaline Sells for $1.3M at Sotheby’s The top lot of the auction house’s Hong Kong jewelry sale was an Art Deco Mauboussin necklace with ruby beads, which sold for $2 million.
Policies & IssuesSep 18, 2026
Tariffs, Retail Crime Top of Mind at JA’s Annual Fly-In Retailers and manufacturers headed to the Capitol this week to discuss tariff exemptions for diamonds and gemstones, among other issues.
CollectionsSep 18, 2026
Nanis Transforms Its ‘Boule’ Into a Mirror Our Piece of the Week is a pair of drop earrings from the “Sway” collection featuring Nanis’ first use of mirror-polished gold.
GradingSep 18, 2026
De Beers Introduces Faster Version of Diamond Screening Machine SynthDetect 2 can scan a full tray in less than five minutes, De Beers said, making it six times faster than its predecessors.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
Noonans To Auction Medieval Gold Seal Ring Recovered By 2 FriendsTwo metal detectorists discovered the ring, which may have belonged to English noblewoman Matilda of Lancaster, in Suffolk.
