Ignite Employer Partner Network
Entry-level hires who show up ready. And a Navigator who stays with them.
Ignite Nebraska connects employers across the state — from health systems and tech companies to trades contractors and business operations teams — to candidates who are up-skilled, supported, and have a fire in their belly. Many come through our 10×10 career-readiness accelerator, and every one has a Navigator in their corner.
Already Hiring Through The Network
19 Founding Employer Partners
These organizations committed to the Employer Partner Network from the very beginning — shaping how it works, and giving Ignite candidates a real first-round interview.
Roles we prepare candidates for
Join them as an Employer Partner
Fill out a short commitment form and we'll follow up. Prefer to talk first? Email us.
We believe getting people into meaningful careers can break the cycle of generational poverty — one hire, one career, one family at a time.
What Partners Get
A Nebraska talent partnership
built for employers who hire well
If you hire for entry-level and early-career roles — across health systems, tech, trades, and business operations — this network is for you.
Up-skilled, supported, and driven
Many candidates complete our 10×10 career-readiness accelerator. Before they apply, they've done mock interview prep, a skills assessment matched to their strengths, and barrier-removal planning with their Navigator.
A heads-up when they apply
When an Ignite candidate applies to one of your roles, we let you know — so a prepared applicant doesn't get lost in the pile.
A Navigator walking alongside your new hire
Every Ignite candidate has a dedicated Navigator supporting them through the interview process and into the job — helping remove real-life barriers like childcare, transportation, clothing, and food.
A path to grow your own people
Partners can put current employees through a program too — say, a security officer moving into an IT Help Desk role through Ignite Tech.
A say in how the programs are built
Employer Partners attend our twice-a-year network meetings, where you help shape roles, pathways, and what we look for in candidates.
An endorsement you can trust
Ignite partnership signals to Nebraska's workforce and community that you're serious about giving local talent a real shot at a career.
The Process
How the network works
Two different flows, depending on the program. Click any step to learn more.
They know our partners
Candidates have a link to your career page and apply directly to roles that fit their skill set.
They tell us
Candidates are instructed to let Ignite know as soon as they've applied.
We flag it for you
Ignite reaches out to let you know an Ignite candidate has applied — so you know to look for them.
Interview & feedback
You interview and decide. If a candidate isn't advanced, we ask you for feedback.
Placement support
Once hired, the Navigator stays in touch — support ranges from ongoing coaching to light check-ins, based on need.
Quarterly check-in
We reach out each quarter on your IT Help Desk & Data Visualization headcount needs.
3–4 candidates per role
For every role you need filled, we provide 3–4 candidates for you to interview.
You select, they apprentice
Pick the culture fit — they enter the apprenticeship to build the skills the role needs.
Ongoing cadence
Navigator and manager set a check-in rhythm — weekly or twice monthly, adjusting as the program continues.
Full-time offer
Goal: a full-time offer at 6 months, right as classroom instruction wraps — celebrated together at the Ignite graduation ceremony.
Common Questions
What employers ask us
Is this really free — for employers and participants?
Yes — completely. No fees, no retainers, no placement costs. Ignite is funded through grants from local foundations and state funding, along with corporate sponsorship opportunities our Employer Partners generously take part in.
What does the interview commitment actually mean?
When Ignite refers a qualified candidate, you commit to a first-round interview — at no cost to you. This isn't a hiring guarantee: Ignite is a support system for candidates, but interviewing well and landing the job is on them.
What if I already have a hiring process in place?
Keep it exactly as-is. Candidates apply directly through your career page, then let Ignite know once they've applied — Ignite reaches out to flag it for you. You don't change anything about how you hire.
Can we put an existing employee through a program?
Yes! We love when organizations partner with us this way — say, a security officer through Ignite Tech to become an IT Help Desk hire. Our focus is on income lift, and that's just as true for someone already on your team as it is for a new hire.
What happens if a candidate doesn't work out?
It happens — every employer has to make those calls. If the issue is coachable, we ask to be brought in to help before it becomes a firing. If it's a policy violation, that's your call to make. We only ask to be told when possible.
Program Tracks
Candidates prepared across four programs
Most candidates start with 10×10 — a 5-week career-readiness accelerator, and a requirement before Ignite Health or Ignite Works.
10×10
Customer Service · Banking · Executive Assistant / Admin · Furniture Installer · Property Management
The entry pointIgnite Tech
IT Help Desk Support · Data Analyst / Visualization
6-month apprenticeshipIgnite Health
CNA (active) · Ophthalmic Technician & other allied health (in development)
Requires 10×10Ignite Works
Roles within the skilled trades and public works
Requires 10×10 · Launching 2027Partner Commitment
What we ask — and what we expect
A few commitments on both sides that make the partnership work.
What We Ask of You
Four things that make the partnership real
- A guaranteed first-round interview for qualified candidates
- Interview feedback, especially when a candidate isn't advanced
- Attendance at our twice-a-year network meetings — where you help shape the programs
- Collaboration with us to understand roles and career pathways, so we can build a real talent pipeline together
What We Expect as a Leader
A partner who invests in the climb
- A welcoming environment for new hires
- Meaningful wages
- A willingness to lead alongside us in widening access to life-changing careers for Nebraskans — Ignite and the network provide the lane; our partners walk it with us
The People You'll Be Hiring
Real Nebraska talent.
Real outcomes.
Every candidate brings real preparation — and a story worth knowing.
"They made it easy to start fresh. I've always wanted to work in IT, but I was never given the opportunity — until now. Their support helped me make the transition, showing it's never too late to learn and do something new."
Graduation days — Omaha, Nebraska
Ready to Join?
Join the Ignite
Employer Partner Network
Ignite Nebraska is a Nebraska-based workforce development nonprofit helping people build careers that lead to economic stability and beyond. Fill out the form below to join the network. We'll be in touch.
Complete the Partner Form →
Prefer to talk first? Email info@ignitenebraska.org