Xplore64 Employer Guide

What is Xplore 64?

XPLORE64 is Catawba County’s innovative resource for connecting local talent with Catawba employers and learning institutions. Whether you are an employer looking to build a pipeline of future talent, an educational institution seeking engaged, career-minded students, or an individual pondering career possibility, Xplore64 is your launchpad for finding your future.

Xplore64 ensures that young talent and other career-curious individuals develop an early awareness and interest in an employer so that its future job openings are easier to fill. Also, because Xplore64 connects all posted positions with locally available job training and preparation resources, participation on the site ensures that an Employer’s future hires are well-equipped to succeed in their roles!

Inspired by our organization’s name K-64, Xplore64 was designed for anyone from the start of their career to retirement to “Xplore” careers and industry in Catawba County.

SPOTLIGHT VARIOUS POSITONS

Post clear, compelling job descriptions which attract relevant talent to your company. From entry-level to senior-level positions, there is no limit to what you post and who you connect with.

MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT MATTER

Young talent commonly goes online to learn about various career paths, but their research most often yields “generic” results. Xplore64, introduces local talent to real careers with actual Catawba County employers, enabling employers to boost awareness of their career offerings among the Unifour’s future workers.

SHOWCASE YOUR CULTURE

Career explorers are drawn to employers with a strong sense of purpose and a healthy workplace culture. Post video shorts on Xplore64 in which your employees highlight their career experiences while also emphasizing the differentiating attributes of your organization.

Get Started

REGISTER AND CREATE AN EMPLOYER PROFILE

Step 1: Click “Register” > Register Employer” > Enter required information

Step 2: Return to login

Step 3: Click on gear icon > Enter employer-related content

1. Upload Company profile photo (we recommend this to be the company logo)

2. Add company/brand video link

3. Add supporting brand imagery

Step 4: As applicable, include company website and social links, corporate benefits for applicants, company locations, corporate headquarters (if within Catawba County).

Step 5: Click “Save”

*Please note that you organization will not be live on the website until it is approved on our end.

ADD POSITIONS

Step 1: Finalize your employer profile

Step 2: Add new position/job description

Step 3: Classify position type and link position to company location

Step 4: Insert content – Video (see page ___ for helpful tips) & Supporting imagery

Step 5: Save and post position

Not sure which positions to share?

While Xplore64 primarily serves as a career exploration website rather than a job board, it’s beneficial to post positions that yourcompany frequently hires for or those that are in high demand. You’re not obligated to be actively hiring for a posted position; feel free to showcase a diverse range of roles at various levels, from entry level to experienced positions.

My company uses online services like Indeed and LinkedIn to post job openings. Why should my company register and post positions on Xplore64?

Xplore64 is NOT a job board! Unlike traditional job sites that primarily focus on filling immediate vacancies, Xplore64 serves as a resource for individuals to research and prepare for careers in Catawba County. One of the key distinctions of Xplore64 is its cost-effectiveness—it’s entirely free to use. This stands in stark contrast to other paid platforms, making it an accessible option for individuals looking to explore career opportunities without any financial burden.

Can I register as an Employer if my company is based outside of Catawba County?

Yes. To qualify for site registration, an Employer must offer at least one position of employment within Catawba County. Many companies will be based outside of the county, but will have facilities (and therefore, Positions) within the county.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact Isabella Esposito for any assistance with Xplore64. Whether you have questions about your profile, encounter technical issues, or need help with content such as creating videos or obtaining photos for your profile and positions, Isabella is available to assist you.

Email: iesposito529@cvcc.edu

Phone: 828-327-7000 x4944

Tips for Filming Video

RULE OF THIRDS

Keep subjects, in this case your employee, in the center of the frame or slightly off center to showcase their workspace. This helps draw the viewers eye the video and more emphasis on the subject. Make sure that subjects head is not cut off in the frame.

LIGHTING

Be sure to film the video in a well-lit space where the subject and workspace can be seen. Ring lights are easily accessible and available if you need more light.

USE A TRIPOD

Avoid shaky footage by using a tripod or propping your phone or camera on top of stable surface.

HORIZONTAL LAYOUT

If filming on a phone, please do NOT film the video vertically! Flip your phone to fit the format used to Xplore 64.

USE DYNAMIC SETTINGS

If filming on iPhone, utilize “cinematic” setting built into the camera for more dynamic videos. This is great to use when filming “B-Roll” or extra footage that shows tasks of the position.

FILM IN ONE TAKE

You can film everything in one take or film each question separately. For example, you may film one entire clip of the subject answering the question “Why they like to work for [company]” and then stop recording, ask them the next question and begin recording when they are ready. Everything can be put together when editing.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Start the video out with an introduction of the employee being interviewed (name, position, how many years with company)

ASK QUESTIONS

Here are some questions to help guide the video

1. What does a [Position] do (i.e., how do you add value to the company)?

2. What are your chief responsibilities?

3. What do you love about your work?

4. What prepared you for your current role (education, training, previous roles at the company, etc.)?

5. What do you like best about the company?

BE CREATIVE

Showcase your talent by incorporating footage showing what the employee does. Get “action” shot of employees working by themselves or with others to create variety so that viewers will stay engaged.

Employer Testimonials

“As a business owner in Catawba County, I know first-hand the importance of developing a pipeline of future talent, but we’ve had limited tools at our disposal for promoting the many attractive career opportunities at our company. I expect Xplore64 to be a game-changer for us in terms of promoting our employer brand and broadening awareness of what it means to work at Shurtape. Our plan is to incorporate Xplore64 into our overall talent pipeline management playbook so that future job openings at Shurtape will be quickly filled with well-prepared, enthusiastic employees. I encourage all Catawba employers to join Shurtape in leveraging the potential of Xplore64. With this new resource, we’re better equipped than ever to keep our native human talent right here in the Unifour.”

- Stephen Shuford Vice Chairman, Shurtape Technologies, LLC

“The nonprofit sector is a critical part of Catawba County’s infrastructure, providing life changing services and resources to the community. As the Executive Director of the Catawba County Partnership for Children, a nonprofit agency that provides a variety of early childhood services, it is so important that we secure the right staff to do the work of the agency. We need a variety of highly qualified employees, with experience in early childhood education, accounting, program management, social work, human resources, marketing, outreach, and administration. Xplore64 has been a wonderful tool for us to promote the many careers that are available in the early childhood field here in Catawba County. We have been able to broaden awareness of our agency’s employment opportunities, as well as promote the critical field of early childhood education, including the roles of child care teachers and child care directors. We want potential employees to understand how expansive the early childhood education opportunities are, and how fulfilling the work is. We are very thankful to have a platform like Xplore64 to help tell the story, and to help promote early childhood career choices in our community.”

- Kim Holden, Executive Director, Catawba Partnership for Children

Employer Testimonials

“As a healthcare organization serving our community, we are looking for great help and employment opportunities. Just as many businesses are hiring and competing for staff, we are looking to bring in young talent and train them to grow within our company with their perspective careers. At Abernethy Laurels we want to entice the next generation of young leaders in the local school system. Xplore64 will serve as the bridge connecting us to the community and the upcoming generation of healthcare workers.

The process of joining as an employer was fairly simple. The biggest challenge for our facility was coming up with a video for each individual department. However, Isabella was instrumental to us in this area. She came to our facility and helped guide the video process with questions prepared for our staff to answer ahead of time and then to capture them in their daily setting of their job performance. This was a gamechanger for us. I highly recommend using her services.”

- Ashley Jones, Health Care Administrator, Abernethy Laurels

K-64 brings education, business, and government together to connect people of all ages with the skills needed to fill jobs and build careers in Catawba County.

In an effort to address the declining working age population with efforts to proactively drive economic and population growth, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners identified education as one of eight critical growth sectors in their strategic plan and commissioned K-64 Learning to lead the way.

www.k-64learning.org

@k64learning