Many of us have heard for sometime now that technology jobs in Lincoln need to be filled. We also know that aspiring University students have a desire to know what career opportunities exist right here in the white hot epicenter of the Silicon Prairie. We decided to stop talking about it and start to do something about it.
So on January 12, 2017, Prosper Lincoln, in collaboration with the Lincoln technology community and the University of Nebraska (UNL), hosted a first-of-its-kind “Reverse Pitch” event. It helped well over 200 students in UNL’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering see what their future careers might look like.
More than 300 total attendees packed the auditorium at Nebraska Innovation Campus to hear nine local companies each take five minutes to pitch students about who they are, what they do, why that’s great and their internship/career opportunities. Assurity, Don’t Panic Labs, Firespring, Hudl, Nelnet, Pen-Link, Sandhills, Spreetail and Virtual Incision represented 75 internships and 92 full-time jobs for students to learn more about. And learn they did, as after the pitches everyone gathered in the Great Hall to partake in food, refreshments and – more importantly – informed and relaxed conversations with the representatives from the businesses.
Comments from the students included ‘I had no idea these cool things are happening right here in Lincoln;’ ‘there really are opportunities for me to start my career here;’ and ‘definitely giving Lincoln a serious look now.’ Presenters/recruiters from participating companies had equally positive feedback – ‘this was great to meet so many young and talented students;’ ‘the format for this event was perfect;’ and ‘I like how this flipped the traditional career fair on its head.’
Up next for the students are monthly gatherings and tours at these businesses throughout the rest of the spring semester. Future aspirations for the event will be to grow it to other colleges at UNL as well as local/regional colleges and universities. In order for innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurism to grow in the ecosystem, we need to literally grow the ecosystem. Identify, recruit, develop and retain talent – that helps lift Lincoln higher.