Partner with Prime
Meet talent, solve business problems, and help foster the next generation of tech talent.
For Employers and Practitioners
Looking for ways for your company and teams to get involved with Prime Digital Academy? We are always looking to engage the community and have a wide variety of ways you can support new and upcoming software development and user experience design talent. Feel free to share these opportunities with anyone in your organization that might want to get involved.
Mentorship
Mentoring is a fun way to help a small group of students orient themselves to the industry. As a mentor, you’ll join a handful of students and other mentors committing to bi-weekly meetings during the students’ studies at Prime. All in, the commitment is typically 10-12 hours in a 12-14 week time period. Meetings are held virtually.
Guest Speakers
The tech industry is full of smart, talented people. Each week we welcome volunteers from the local community to share their knowledge and passion through talks, panel discussions, and Q&As. Tell us the things you're passionate about and we'll follow up. Talks are held every other Wednesday 11am-12pm.
Mock Interviews
Prime is all about preparing our students for the job search. Mock interviews with professionals are one part of that process. Interviews sessions are held for each cohort. Have fun asking students your go-to interview questions or simply have them share their work and talk about why they got into their field of study.
Networking Events
Prime students' educational experience culminates in a networking event. It's a chance for them to share the product of their work and make connections that can help open doors for them on their new career. Here's what's involved:
Project Presentations
12:00-1:00PM CST (via Zoom)
Four teams will present their final client projects for about 15 minutes each. We encourage you to attend, as these are great projects to ask them questions about during your interviews.
Individual Conversations
1:30-4:30PM CST (via Zoom)
Students will be prepared to share their work, talk through their projects, and discuss what teams and roles look like in your organization. Each discussion is capped at 20 minutes!
Answers to Common Networking Event Questions
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Do we need to have an open role?
Nope! (Although we'd love to know if you do!) In general, we are looking to connect these folks with great industry professionals and practitioners in a practice interview setting. Having an open role is no longer a hard requirement!
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Who should conduct the interviews?
Anyone is invited to "interview"—hiring managers, team members, recruiters, and everyone in-between! Ideally, those who interview will play a role in or have a strong sense of how your team and company makes hiring decisions in order to inform your conversation.
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What questions should I ask? What will students be prepared to talk about?
Students are ready for anything—and would love to be treated like this is an interview for an actual role. To that end, we encourage you to ask the questions that you would normally ask a candidate! Uniquely, you can ask about the clients they worked with, the challenges/opportunities they faced working 100% virtually, and what they enjoy the most.
Getting Involved
The week before the event, we will send out resumes and professional links for the whole cohort so you can identify the individuals with whom you'd most like to meet! We ask that you review those materials and attend presentations to have a sense of their most recent project engagement! Otherwise – no prep needed! Sounds good, and want to sign up? Simply RSVP and our team will get you everything you need!
Share an Opportunity with the Alumni Network
Our recent graduates are eager to bring their skills to your team. We understand that career day may not be a perfect fit for every employer, so if you have immediate opportunities, share them with us, and let our graduates become the asset your team needs. Connect with us to welcome exceptional talent to your team.
For Community Organizations
The Twin Cities is booming with tech, creatives, and the need for a user-centered approach to design and business. It is our belief at Prime that there is plenty of human-centered work to be done without making it up, which is why we go straight to the source: clients with real users and business problems to solve! As well, our employer network loves knowing that the projects completed at Prime were as real as they get—no "happy paths" or textbook-only experience here. Double-win!
Many of our client partners are…
- Entrepreneurs who are aiming to bring their ideas into reality with a MVP or proof-of-concept
- Non-profits with processes or systems that are out of date or paper-based (gasp) that could be made modern
- Small companies with small projects that could make an impact on their day-to-day but might not have the funds to invest in professional software development
Interested in Full-Stack Software Development or User Experience (UX) pro bono opportunities? Book some time with our staff to discuss your needs and see if there may be a good fit for a project!