Fresh Links – Summer Kick-Off

In the spirit of the summer season, we are keeping things lighter and breezier, and besides, we could all use some positive news as our region, country and world continue to navigate COVID-19.

A curated list of business, career and community links with a focus on positivity.


Career Tips + Strategies for Experienced Professionals

More than 500,000 people in North Carolina have filed for unemployment in the weeks since businesses starting closing down due to the pandemic.  This equates to 10% of North Carolina’s workforce.  And the picture is certainly challenging in South Carolina, too.  Last week, WalletHub released a study that compared unemployment claim increases in USA states for the week of March 30, 2019 to the same week in 2020.  North Carolina’s unemployment claims rose 4282.7% year-over-year (7th highest in the nation), while South Carolina’s claims rose 3931.2% (33rd highest in the nation).

With the rise in unemployment, we have curated links that have relevance to professionals – especially those who are experienced in their career paths.

It might be time to think about a career change.
Times of crisis can fuel pivots in your career path. This article provides terrific insights and is aimed at professionals in the 50+ age range.
Click here.

LinkedIn has free resources to help with job search strategies.
11 free courses to help you build a job search strategy, lean on your professional network, and improve your interviewing skills.
Click here.

Why losing a job deserves its own grieving process.
The loss of a job triggers grief.  Understand the grieving process and use these 3 tips to get into a productive mindset.
Click here.

How to prepare for the future of work in uncertain times.
Some great career tips from Forbes on how to use the disruption created by the pandemic to take control and future-proof yourself.
Click here.

How to train your mind for high-pressure situations.
Tips from an Olympic Coach to help you excel during interviews, negotiations, etc.
Click here.


Opioid Crisis Myths + Truths

Last month, the Croixstone team invested in professional development to learn more about the very serious opioid crisis that is not only a public health issue, but a serious economic and workforce productivity problem.

We joined an educational seminar hosted by Social Venture Partners Charlotte that featured a 3-person panel comprised of a police officer, physician and social worker.  Croixstone learned that four North Carolina cities rank in the top 25 cities for opioid abuse.  Furthermore, the #1 city for opioid abuse is Wilmington, NC!

Learn about the myths and truths about the opioid crisis.


Top 50 Public Companies in NC

At the beginning of August 2019, Business North Carolina magazine published its annual list of the 50 largest public companies in North Carolina.  New to the list:  Honeywell International (#2), Dentsply Sirona (#11), Advance Auto Parts (#13), Kontoor Brands (#33), BMC Stock Holdings (#36), Precision Biosciences (#44), Barings BDC (#46) and Biodelivery Services International (#49).

Read the Top 50


North Carolina Tech Race

WFAE in Charlotte recently aired and published a story that caught many by surprise.  The story revealed that Charlotte is on pace to surpass Raleigh-Durham in the number of tech jobs that each metro area holds.  Seven days later, Lowe’s announced that they will be building a new 23-story global technology hub in Charlotte’s South End and adding as many as 2,000 new tech jobs to the Queen City. Read WFAE’s story here


LinkedIn’s June Workforce Report

LinkedIn publishes a monthly report on employment trends in the U.S. workforce. The report provides helpful insights into hiring, skills gaps, and migration trends across the country,  From a migration perspective, LinkedIn captures insights tied to members who change their locations on their profiles.  In the June 2019 report, Charlotte was among the top three USA cities (behind Austin and Denver) that gained the most workers.  Read LinkedIn’s June 2019 Workforce Report here.