TALENT@Work
Upcoming TALENT@Work Events
Talent Toolbox
The economic landscape in Catawba County remains robust, marked by low unemployment, high sales volume, and strong business confidence, as reflected in our 2023 Partnership Survey. However, the tight labor market has made attracting and retaining qualitified talent a paramount challenge, hindering business growth. In such a scenario, unconventional and innovative solutions become imperative. This portal serves as a valuable resource, guiding you to community centers that can assist in identifying top candidates to fill your vacant positions.
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.
MyHKY.com – A virtual tour of the City of Hickory
Request customized assistance with recruitment and/or spousal job placement
Relocation Support:
Video Library
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.
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.
Catawba Valley Community College Center for Workforce Connectivity & Talent Development
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Career Services
Center for Career Development & Economic Engagement at Appalachian State University
Staffing Services
Tap into any of our local temporary staffing or direct recruitment partners to assist with your human resource needs.
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.
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.
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.
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
- CVCC Corporate Development Center
- Construction Careers Academy at CVCC
- CVCC Workforce Solutions Complex
- CVCC Management, Supervisory & Leadership Certifications
- CVCC On-Site Training
- Career Readiness Certification
- Furniture Academy at CVCC
- Hospitality Academy at CVCC
- Human Resources Institute at CVCC
- Manufacturing Academy at CVCC
- Management, Supervisory, and Leadership Training at CVCC
- North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies
- Personal Trainer Certification Program at CVCC
- Project Management Certification at CVCC
- Six Sigma & Lean Certifications
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certification at CVCC
- Supervisory Certification Program at CVCC
- Truck Driver Training Program at CVCC
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:
- Lenoir Rhyne University Career Center (Assistance with LRU student placements)
- CVCC for Workforce Connectivity & Talent Development (Assistance with CVCC student placements)
- Center for Career Development & Economic Engagement at Appalachian State University (Assistance with ASU student placements)
- K-64 – (Assistance with high school student placements)
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-64Career & 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.
