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| HOME : FORUM : MARKETPLACE : JEWELRY CLASSIFIEDS : Job Opportunities : Is GIA's AJP Program Worthwhile? |
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Post#1 @
04-25-04
, 01:27 AM
I'm seriously considering GIA's distance education option for their Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) program. Is anyone here familiar with it? Any comments, positive or negative? Many thanks! |
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Post#2 @
05-08-04
, 09:05 AM
I have been interested as well. Would like to know too! Ronda |
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Post#3 @
10-07-04
, 01:00 PM
Hi, I used to work for GIA as an Instructor and the AJP was one of the courses I was involved in. The basis of the course is a very condensed retail version of the G.G. course. It takes bits and peices from the diamonds and colored stones courses. It is mostly information about the basics. The deploma you get is cool and the you can use the A.J.P. credential on your card. I hope this info helps and let me know if I can help in the future. Justin Krall |
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Post#4 @
10-07-04
, 04:05 PM
They revamped the GG program last year (the year before that?), and the actual AJP program is now given within the GG program. This was the year after I attended, so I have not seen the new AJP materials first-hand. It is valuable info, basics, as Justin mentioned, and completely geared toward retail and sales. Are you already in the jewelry business or do you hope to be? Tell us more about what you both hope to achieve from this program and we can help you better. |
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I am taking the classes
Post#5 @
10-07-04
, 04:12 PM
Hello! I am currently taking the AJP classes. I finished the colored gem stones class and I am in the middle of the Diamonds class. I am doing it only as a hobby today. I just love gems and would like to know more about them. I would love to do something more with them, but I don't want a new job. I love my high tech job! I think the classes are good for the basics. I am aware that I know more about these items than many people I have met in jewelry stores. Personally, I have learned more on DT than in the classes, but the classes are a complete overview of the subjects. I think I will have to go further with the gemstones track because the gemstone class in the AJP did not teach me much over what I knew as a hobbist, but I know there is SO much to learn. Not sure if I have helped, but I wanted to say I find the classes fun and only mildly challenging. |
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Post#6 @
02-12-05
, 10:42 AM
Hi, I'm interested in the GIA distance course as well. But my husband (who would be paying for the course  ) thinks that it would be a waste of money. He thinks that I should just apply to a jewelry store to work as a sales clerk if I want to work with jewelry (even though I don't have any retail sales experience). I think that I should take the courses first so that when I apply for a job I can list that on my resume. Hubby seems to think that the GIA distance courses are useless and would mean nothing to a jeweler who might hire me. What do you all think?
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Post#7 @
02-12-05
, 10:42 PM
The AJP is super cheap-and easy  - approx a 1K>on-campus compared to the GG program which is about 13k>on-campus. Through correspondance they are much more economical especially the GG program even with the extension courses it works out to less than half of the on campus tuition. snowflake- I disagree with your husbands opinion. Knowledge is power the more you know the better off you are. Any action you take to gain more information about an industry(product) the more valuable you are to potential employers. Depending on the type ie/ chain store, independant, or carriage-trade all will have different qualifications that they look for in their employees. What type of store are you thinking of working in? |
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Post#8 @
02-13-05
, 09:36 AM
Thanks for your great input, Loch. I would be interested in working for an independent jeweler, rather than in a chain or "maul" store. I agree that the more knowledge I have going in, the more valuable I would be as an employee. That's good to know that the correspondence courses are more economical (not to mention more convenient to someone like me with school-age children). It sounds like a good option for me. Thanks again! |
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Post#9 @
02-13-05
, 03:02 PM
You're very welcome!  An independant is a great choice. The maul stores often are atrocious; the majority of the sales team lacks critical knowledge. Usually there one person on staff that has some gemological creditials, its too bad not all the staff has that information.
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Post#10 @
02-14-05
, 10:13 AM
Something to think about and check into: I was working for a local, independent jeweler that paid for me to get my certification... I did not pay for any of my GIA schooling. Maybe you can find a similar setup so you can be working in the field and having your employer pay for it!
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Post#11 @
02-14-05
, 10:42 AM
ellie, that's great that your employer did that for you! That would definitely be the way to go if possible. Can I ask how you got the job to begin with? Did you submit your resume to local jewelry stores, go through an employment agency, answer an employment newspaper ad, etc.? I'm not sure how to get my "foot in the door", so to speak. Also, did you have any previous retail sales experience? Thanks; this is all very helpful info! |
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Re: Is GIA's AJP Program Worthwhile?
Post#12 @
05-16-05
, 03:39 PM
ellie, even i m looking for a job overseas, how do i go abt it. i did my diamond grading from IIGJ and also casting. can u help me out plz . |
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Ajp
Post#13 @
09-08-05
, 12:36 PM
I completed my AJP not too long ago via distance ed and I enjoyed the learning process...from a shallow standpoint the printed material is so nice to look at! The material was more condensed than I expected and is also sales oriented (which is why I'm doing the GG program now). Since I had already taken a gem identifaction class at my university, i was happy to discover most of the information was review for me. The examinations are easy--they almost identical to the homework questions. The nice thing is that it dove tails with the Graduate Gemology program perfectly, so your courses will be applied if you choose to go further. I agree with Loch that more knowlege is always a good thing. Good luck with your studies! If you can get you classes paid for even better! |
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To snowflake
Post#14 @
12-20-11
, 04:02 AM
I did A.J.P and D.G at G.I.A, it was very helpful. They help you on the Alumni G.I.A Association ,It is the best networking in the Diamond Industry. I say goo for it.!!! Good luck. |
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to redbeemerbabe
Post#15 @
12-20-11
, 04:05 AM
I did A.J.P and D.G at G.I.A, it was very helpful. They help you on the Alumni G.I.A Association ,It is the best networking in the Diamond Industry. I say goo for it.!!! Good luck. |
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to redbeemerbabe
Quote:
I did A.J.P and D.G. at G.I.A, it was very helpful. They help you on the Alumni G.I.A Association ,It is the best networking in the Diamond Industry. I say goo for it.!!! Good luck. |
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