Returnships are trending: The return to work internships

I read the craziest thing in Parent magazine this month.

Apparently there is such a thing as a “returnship” or a paid three- to six-month program for mid-career-level men and women who have left the workforce for two or more years, with the potential for a full-time job offer. In fact, the new employment trend is catching on at some big employers including Apple, Walmart, PayPal, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Deloitte who developed an “Encore Program” led by Diane Borhani.

According to Working Mother Media, there are several businesses who help companies create relaunch programs and match candidates including: iRelaunch reacHIRE MOMCORP L.P. Pathforward I have really mixed feelings about this trend. I understand that many caregivers experience lack of confidence with a gap, but I might feel insulted accepting a glorified internship (also known as a lower paying contract gig).

As more and more women choose to stay-at-home during the early childhood years (Pew Research show that 29% of mother stay home. This is up 6% from 1999), will returnships help women bridge the gap and “return” to meaningful roles in the office?

What do you think? Are returnships a good move? hashtag#business hashtag#hr hashtag#recruiting hashtag#jobsearch

Author

  • Sarah Johnston

    I’m a former corporate recruiter and industry “insider” who got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the right marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. I have relocated multiple times across the country as a “trailing spouse” and have had to execute job searches in completely cold markets (where I literally knew no one!) I have been named a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space in 2019, HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR, named the owner of the “best resume writing firm for experienced executives” by Balance Careers and a “top follow” by JobScan in 2019 and 2020.

Sarah Johnston

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