16 Jan Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated “comes home” for recruiting event
Just a week before Christmas, Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC) commandeered Charlotte Works’ Employer Engagement Center (EEC) to host an all-day hiring event, its second such in the company’s historic first bottling facility.
Recruiters and managers fanned out across conference and coaching rooms and a section of the Resource Center to pre-screen and interview a scheduled 66 potential employees for CCBCC’s Customer Care Center.
Changes in the U.S. Coke System mean new territories for CCBCC, explains Gregory Sharpe, talent acquisition manager. To accommodate the growth, his group plans to hire 60 new staff for the Customer Care Center by May 2015.
Alexander Aycock interviews with Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated Sales and Distribution Manager Tammy Caplan at a recruiting event at Charlotte Works’ Employer Engagement Center on Dec. 17.
The event compressed the hiring process into one marathon day: recruiters screened candidates and then, based on suitability, referred them to hiring managers for on-the-spot interviews. Some were made contingent offers and spoke with Sharpe to begin the formal pre-employment background and drug screenings and paperwork.
Just before 5 p.m., Sharpe said the team had made 30 offers, beating their target of 25. He expected those who passed the screenings to start in January.
At CCBCC’s first event at the EEC in September, Sharpe said the company made 13 offers and seven employees started this fall.
He’s familiar with the workforce development system both from the job-seeker and corporate recruiter perspectives. Sharpe is also a member of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, the local chapter of which hosted an event at the EEC in 2013, so he knew it was the perfect facility for a series of hiring events for his company.
“It’s been a great experience in a professional atmosphere,” he says. “The layout and flow have been smooth – I can’t imagine doing this anywhere else.”
Sharpe also appreciates the support of Charlotte Works’ employer engagement team in helping him meet his recruiting goals. “They make the process easier. They give 100 percent to make sure you have a good experience – giving other ideas, promoting this event to candidates. It’s truly a partnership,” he says. “You can’t go anywhere in the city and find this service at this professional level and with these professional people. Plus, there’s that one word that employers love to hear: no-cost!”
“We’re excited to be in partnership with Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated to support their recruiting efforts,” says Beth Lefevre, business services project manager. “When we can provide customized services such as this event to employers who, in turn, get people back to work, our entire community benefits.”
Sharpe and his team have scheduled additional hiring events at the EEC in February, March and May. He also is considering hosting an information session for Charlotte Works’ clients to introduce them to CCBCC, its hiring process and potential employment opportunities.
If you’re a job-seeker who’s interested in working in the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated’s Customer Care Center, Center Director Joachim Rogers says he’s looking for candidates with inside sales, consumer goods and/or customer service experience. Check the company’s website to learn more about available positions, or email Gregory Sharpe, talent acquisition manager.
If you’re an employer who’d like to learn more about hosting a recruiting event or other Charlotte Works’ services, contact Beth Lefevre, business services project manager, at 704.206.1352.