[Jewelry making - Article 00148] - Re: [Orchid] Employment frustration

[Neilthejeweler]

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>     that I'm familiar with components die struck/cast in the latest
>     metal trend, and that head/shank assembly and setting princess
>     cuts isn't a foreign country to me 

    You have a good idea here. Someone else said retailers don't really
    want custom jewelers. But it depends on what a shop views as custom. 
I
    did a bench test a while ago, for a chain advertising they wanted a
    custom jeweler. They handed me a white gold shank, a V prong head and
    a princess cut CZ. All they really cared about was could I set that
    stone without chipping the corners. I heard from an employee there
    that their stores discourage custom, yet they advertise they
    specialize in it! Hmmmmmm. Job would have been mine but I declined
    it. I noticed among the 20 or so workers, nobody was in a pleasant
    mood. Wonder why. 

    If you desire to do custom or original work, you might be more
    successful doing it on your own. If you want a job now, market
    yourself as being capable in production and repair, as was previously
    suggested. Having to make that choice sucks, but you need to survive
    in the interim. I managed against the odds, I bet you can too.
    Whichever way you choose. 

    Another thought. I've seen some people disparage repair. And for
    good reason, it can be a huge pain. But think about this. Who needs
    repair? Consumers with jewelry. And very often they are repeat
    buyers. Your proficiency in repair is the tool you need to build
    traffic, whether for yourself or an employer. 

    Might I suggest that you continue looking for a position, while
    trying to develop your own 'thing', quietly, on the side. When you
    land a job hold onto it for awhile, until you're ready to make your
    move. Its a bit calculating but really now, would an employer
    hesitate to end your employment when it no longer suited him? You
    have the same responsibilty to yourself as he does to his company.
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