One of the most important, and challenging, components of a successful business is hiring and retaining the right people. The employer’s task becomes easier when a strong network of educators is producing qualified workers. Smyrna job seekers are graduating from a high-performing high school and acquiring new skill sets at nearby colleges and technical schools. The companies who hire them benefit from state training programs, job matching services, and tax credit opportunities.

 

Campbell High School

Campbell High School is Cobb County’s magnet school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, providing a pre-university course of study for high achieving students. The Washington Post listed Campbell High as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school in the top 10% of high schools across the nation.  

Colleges & Technical Schools

Smyrna residents have easy access to trade and technical schools, colleges and universities. Here are 17 area schools (PDF) within a 30-minute drive that are preparing students for promising careers and delivering a better-educated workforce to our local companies. 

Hiring & Training Assistance

Job seekers and employers alike benefit from state programs and local organizations offering training support, skills assessment, and job search assistance.

CobbWorks
CobbWorks is a nonprofit organization that serves local businesses by supplying them with skilled workers. Assistance for employers includes recruitment, education, and labor market services. Job seekers and students may use the CobbWorks website to create resumes, assess job skills, and review job postings. Look for the Mobile Career Center in the Smyrna Public Library parking lot. 

GDOL Training Resources
The Georgia Department of Labor partners with other agencies to offer education and training programs designed to prepare workers for employment. Programs vary, and financial assistance may be available in some cases.

Georgia WorkKeys Assessments
The WorkKeys Assessment System helps match Georgia workers to training and employment opportunities. Individuals who take the assessment earn a certificate which verifies and demonstrates their skill sets to potential employers. This assessment system is recognized across the country for its ability to measure and communicate a person’s basic workplace skills.

Nobis Works
The mission of Nobis Works in Marietta is to develop and provide job training, employment and vocational support for youth and adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

Quick Start: Technical College System of Georgia
Quick Start offers customized workforce training to new and expanding Georgia businesses. To be eligible for the free classroom instruction or on-site training, companies must create at least 15 new jobs. Cobb County businesses can learn more about Quick Start’s training and consulting services by contacting the Center for Corporate and Professional Education at Chattahoochee Technical College.

Tax Incentives

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program
The Georgia Department of Labor coordinates the federal WOTC program, which provides federal tax credits to employers who hire veterans and other workers from targeted groups of job seekers. Employers must complete two forms, including one IRS form when the job offer is extended.