TALENT@Work

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Talent Toolbox

Access a curated collection of tools and insights to attract top talent, retain key employees, and promote professional growth. From workplace trends to proven strategies, discover the connections with local resources and institutions and also the knowledge you need to thrive in today’s competitive labor market.

Developed by the Leadership Catawba Class of 2018 and maintained by our team, The Talent Toolbox addresses this critical business challenge in Catawba County.

Recruit

Do you have great positions to fill? Tap into the following resources to assist you with your direct recruitment efforts.

Selling the Community

Do you need tools to help “sell” Catawba County to a top talent prospect? We’ve compiled some of the most comprehensive digital resources to assist in showcasing what it’s like to live, work and learn here.

Relocation Support:

Video Library

Get To Know Hickory Video

Welcome to Hickory Video

Crafting Hickory – Video Renderings of the City Walk Project

Doers & Makers – Personal Stories of Living in Hickory

Coming Home to Hickory Video – Hickory Public Schools

A Weekend in Hickory – PBS Charlotte (2018)

NC Works Career Center

Post an open position on the statewide job search portal, access labor market data and tap into the local representatives at our local NCWorks Career Center, all provided by the NC Department of Commerce.

Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board

The Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board, a function of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, provides, planning, technical assistance and implementation of employment, and training activities as required by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for the local area, as well as providing oversight, coordination and guidance of the local NCWorks Career Centers.

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Regional Higher Education Career Centers

Connect with the Career Centers of the community colleges and universities within our region for direct recruitment via job postings, participation in on-campus events or career fairs and/or to host an intern.

Staffing Services

Tap into any of our local temporary staffing or direct recruitment partners to assist with your human resource needs.

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Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina

Goodwill’s Career Connections Centers offer free, personalized services to aid job seekers such as resume-writing assistance, skills assessment, career coaching, access to computers, help with interviewing skills and job placement services. Tap into the local Career Center to make them aware of your career opportunities.

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Veteran Recruitment

Over 15,000 service members from all branches of our armed forces transition into civilian workforce from a military installation in NC alone annually. Align with the efforts of the Catawba Military Taskforce, a collaborative effort led by the Catawba County Chamber and the Catawba County EDC , recruit this top talent and advocate for a veteran-ready community.

HKY4Vets – A dedicated website, specifically including the resources and community information needed for transitioning service members and their families.
Learn how to become a HKY4Vets Employer Partner and allow us to assist you in marketing your company and positions to transitioning service members/spouses.
Local Resources for Veterans and their Families

Partner Organizations with Valuable Resources:

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services provides counseling, training, education, transportation, job placement, technology and other support services to people with disabilities.

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Hiring Events

Visit our Events Calendar.

Develop

Talent is the backbone of every organization and data proves that companies that invest more in training and development on current employees experience higher employee performance and retention and overall profitability. Furthermore, more often than not, employees cite that the lack of job challenge and advancement opportunities is one of the top reasons good employees decide to jump ship.

Utilize these local resources to cultivate your own talent.

HIGHER EDUCATION

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURES

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

JOB SHADOW, INTERNSHIP & APPRENTICESHIP

Interested in creating an work-based learning program at your business, but unsure about where to start? Contact any of the following individuals who will be happy to assist you in customizing a program that will be mutually beneficial to both your company and your future intern(s):

Robin Ross, Vice President for Talent Development/K-64
Katie Wohlman, Director of Career and Professional Development at Lenoir Rhyne University

Catawba Apprenticeship Network
CVCC, local business partners, and local school districts have partnered to offer apprenticeships to area high school students. Catawba Apprenticeship Network is committed to the purpose, value, ethics, and integrity of a formalized apprenticeship program.

Christy Lefevers, Associate Dean for Workforce Connectivity at CVCC

Find an intern to be placed at my place of business:

ENGAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT

Xplore64 Portal
Xplore64 is your digital bridge between aspiring local talent, the employers that rely upon such talent, and the learning institutions that offer essential job preparation and training resources. Learn more here.
Volunteer to serve as a guest lecturer, host a high school or college intern, participate in a career fair, serve on a career panel or simply find out more about the various opportunities to engage with students.
Contact: Robin Ross, Vice President for Talent Development/K-64
Career & Technical Education Programs
Catawba County Schools: Dr. Jeff Isenhour, Director, CTE
Hickory Public Schools: Dr. Timothy Sims, Director of Federal Programs, CTE & Elementary Curriculum.
Newton-Conover Schools: Angelo Palozzi, Director of CTE

Retain

Simply stated, an employer brand is your organization’s reputation as an employer. Unlike your company brand, which we control internally (logo, tagline, colors, products/services…etc), an “employer brand” is shaped and driven by your employees and other stakeholders. Regardless of how you’d like to present it, this identity and reputation is consciously developed for you and is a stand-alone driver for your effectiveness at recruiting great employees.

Tap into best practices by connecting with your colleagues. Here are some other local resources you may find helpful to assist you in retaining your best and brightest.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Learn more about Leadership Catawba, The Chamber’s longest running program, here.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Hickory Young Professionals – The Hickory Young Professionals (HYP) is a leadership development organization established in 2008 that provides opportunities for young professionals in the Greater Hickory Metro Region to excel professionally, socially, and economically.
HYP provides young professionals the opportunity to network with one another and engage in professional development programs. HYP hosts events throughout the year to provide members a chance to get plugged in, to the places we live, work, and play.