No matter what industry you’re in, you and your fellow founders are probably talking about how hard it is to find the employees you need.
You might be one of those employers whose talent flow feels like it’s trickling to a stop. Or, for a very young company, you might be wondering if you’ll be able to build the team you need now that you’re ready for growth.
Well, we don’t have all the answers. (If we did, we’d be spinning up another startup right this minute.) But we do offer you the following list of resources and ideas to help you reach the people you need. We believe “team” does not always mean “employees,” so we’re also including places to connect with folks who can help you achieve your goals on a temporary or part-time basis. Why slow down if you don’t have to?
University of South Carolina Career Center
Obviously, we’ve got educated people all over this city. But finding the right ones to fill your internships and permanent roles isn’t so easy. So, here’s what you can do: Connect with the USC Career Center. If you know what you’re looking for, they’ve got a space for job postings and a list of upcoming events where you can make the most of your recruitment efforts.
If you’re clueless, they’ve still got you. You can attend webinars or schedule in-person consultations to help you get your recruitment strategy in order. In the meantime, there’s a handy little cheat sheet that tells you exactly how many students are graduating in each major, and all the options available to reach them.
Columbia Urban League Young Professionals
Columbia Urban League Young Professionals (CULYP) is an extension of the Columbia Urban League, whose programming includes career development for teens and young adults. CULYP members support the Urban League as volunteers, philanthropists, and program organizers. They also comprise the gamut of Columbia-area professionals in their 20s and 30s, including entrepreneurs and executives in a variety of fields. Professional development and networking are openly part of the draw for members, which is part of what makes CULYP a good place to start conversations as part of a talent search.
Emerging Professionals in Columbia
The people who participate in chamber young professionals programs are often the career-oriented types who make an impact wherever they go. EPIC members, ages 22-40, are no different. They’re thinking long-term. Sponsorship and mentorship are a couple of ways to begin connecting with them.
https://columbiamochamber.com/...
Incumbent Worker Training Program
If you can’t find new employees, you can develop talent among your current staff. You can apply for IWTP through SC Works Midlands centers in Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties. Through their portal, you can access the state-funded program to help cover the costs of training existing employees on new technology, roles, products, or services within your company.
And while you’re at it, click around and explore more employment help than you probably knew was available. For instance, you can access WorkKeys skills assessments for free rather than paying about $100 a pop for this nationally recognized standard. There’s a motherload more, but every week there are multiple SC Works training sessions where you get your feet wet virtually or in person.
ReadySC
ReadySC focuses on filling the talent pipeline for organizations that, for the most part, make stuff. If your company is focused on areas such as automotive, food and food processing, textiles, or chemicals, ReadySC is a resource worth looking into. For these industries and more, they can help you find the people you need, but also up-skill the team you’re already working with. You can also access a job board where you can list individual positions or link to your existing careers page. While it’s listed as “tech jobs” the positions cover a much broader spectrum than that.
Apprenticeship Carolina
Don’t skip this one. Many people think of apprenticeships in industrial fields or hand-crafted goods, but that’s the old school version. Apprenticeship Carolina helps employees build staff in areas such as tourism, healthcare, and IT, in addition to advanced manufacturing, energy, transportation, and logistics. And there are many more. On-the-job training might be just the way to help groom prospects into the talent you need, so consider engaging people earlier in their careers. Plus, tax credits and reduced turnover are just a few of the additional reasons to check out the program.
https://www.apprenticeshipcarolina.com
Tech After Five
Okay, it’s a monthly networking event, but it’s actually a good one. In fact, it’s a great one for anybody looking for IT and other tech talent. Picture name tags that tastefully let everyone know who’s hiring and who’s looking to be hired. And even before the event, you can find out who will be in the room and begin making connections. With well over 600 events under their belts, Tech After Five has built a fun and efficient operation highly focused on building community and helping people make as many meaningful connections as possible before heading home.
