Recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees takes time and effort. Finding and keeping those great “culture fits” is costly and time-consuming. Providing opportunities for professional growth is a powerful way to demonstrate commitment to your employees while also meeting your business goals.

Our pathways meet the needs of organizations wanting to grow their software development teams and expand the skills of existing employees.

Powered by a partnership with Doane University, our proven process delivers educational experiences for all levels, from novices with no technology background to seasoned developers who want to keep growing.

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Don’t Panic Labs works with you to identify participants and assess their readiness

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Selected participants join cohort and learn modern software development

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Participants rejoin your organization with modern software development skills

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Which Pathway Is Right for You?

Our pathway programs are designed for organizations needing to grow their software development skills and provide new career opportunities to their existing employees.

Talent Discovery

Transform lives and open up new sources of software development talent for your organization.

This pathway activates the great culture fits and enables them to contribute in new and exciting ways. It also provides new career opportunities for unique and undiscovered talent in your local community.

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Talent Transition

Retain your legacy developers by rapidly equipping them with the knowledge and skills required for modern software development.

This pathway is designed for developers who typically work with legacy technologies like COBOL, Fortran, and Smalltalk.

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Talent Elevation

Accelerate the growth of newly hired developers to make them more productive, faster.

It is ideal for recent graduates needing exposure to modern agile methods and best practices.

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Over 150 participants have launched new careers and grown their software development skills

YouTube video

New Ways of Obtaining Talent

Hear what team members at Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha to hear about their journey with the Don’t Panic Labs Pathways Program in identifying and training new software development talent in their organization.

A Pathway for Every Need

Every organization is at a different place along its talent recruitment journey. Our pathways cover what most teams need today.

Check out our Education FAQs for more information.

We Help Human Resource and Hiring Managers

Imagine reducing the burden on your Human Resources and Talent Acquisition staff while improving retention, increasing diversity, and demonstrating your organization’s community support.

Don’t Panic Labs pathway programs are a proven way to grow software development teams with qualified talent.

Download our Talent Acquisition packet to learn more about how we can help your hiring and retention.

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Stay in Touch

Sign up today to receive regular updates about how we are helping grow qualified tech talent for your organization.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, all participants must be sponsored by their employer to participate in the Pathways Program.

We have the goal of a 100% success rate. Therefore, candidates must be committed and motivated to completing the program and pursuing a software development career at their sponsor organization.
Candidates must demonstrate they are problem solvers with the confidence, perseverance, creativity, independent learning ability, and teamwork-communication skills to do so effectively.
Prior education/training/experience demonstrating problem-solving/reasoning abilities is a plus. Programming experience is not required.

The first step is to understand the program’s purpose and the participant’s role and qualifications. Applicants must possess the commitment, motivation, and problem-solving skills necessary to complete the program. They must also be available full-time for the duration of the program. Invitations to apply can come from Don’t Panic Labs, a sponsor organization, or a community organization aware of the program.

The next step is to complete the application. After reviewing the applications and possibly asking the applicants to complete a short survey and exercise, select applicants will be invited to a half-day workshop/interview at Don’t Panic Labs. This occurs approximately one month before the start of the program.

Shortly after the workshop/interview, participants selected for the program will be paired with a sponsor organization (if they are not already paired) and invited to participate. Formal agreements with their sponsor organization will be signed at that time. These agreements vary by sponsor organization.

Each cohort includes 10-15 participants.

Yes, a variety of worker training grants available could offset the program’s cost. Organizations can contact the Nebraska Department of Labor to inquire about more information.

Participants who successfully complete either the Talent Optimization or Talent Discovery pathways can apply to receive the Certificate in Software Development from Doane University.

These organizations commit to sponsoring a participant(s) by paying the participant’s program expenses as well as providing a wage for the duration of the program. Sponsors provide their participants with a software development position upon the successful completion of the program.