Internship? Returnship?

Internships have long been avenues by which college students or recent graduates gain some practical experience in their field to complement their areas of study. I advise all students to do at least one internship before graduation so that they have a practical understanding of their field, as well as a familiarity with the work environment. But internships aren’t just for people who are new to the workforce. More and more, companies are actively working to recruit “nontraditional” interns, who’ve taken a career sabbatical. Whether you’ve taken a hiatus to raise a family, to be a caregiver, or you’ve experienced a protracted bout of unemployment, an internship can be a valuable way to reenter the workforce.

It is no secret that returning to work after a gap—or after a certain age--presents its challenges. The absence of traditional employment used to be considered Career Kryptonite. But the tide is turning, and savvy employers realize that the real competency they need to be recruiting for is pretty simple—all employers need smart people who can get things done. Just because someone has taken a few years out of the workforce—or even decades—does not mean that these valuable skills are nonexistent within them. In fact, some companies are finding that returning workers are more enthusiastic and energetic than employees who’ve maintained gap-less employment.

While the returnship is being touted in the financial services and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) sectors, these types of test employment can be found in virtually every industry. What’s in it for the companies? It can offer a low-risk trial period of a potential employee, in which the employer can evaluate a potential hire on actual work performed, rather than through a series of informational interviews. This works to the intern’s advantage as well. With a lengthy resume gap, it can be difficult to sell yourself and your skills to an employer. This mode provides an opportunity for you to “walk the talk!”

Some things to consider about doing a returnship:

• Your new manager might be your child’s age.
• Technology has changed since you were last in the workforce.
• Like any internship, a “returnship” is not a guarantee of employment upon completion.
• You will have to work very hard to prove yourself.
• Your absence from the workforce might make you a bit rusty with different procedures or office norms, but it likely did not negatively impact your decision-making ability or resiliency.
• You’ll be able to deepen your network.

A returnship can put to rest the perception that those who’ve stepped away from the traditional workforce lack the talent or expertise of their continuously employed peers. If you’re interested in getting your career back on track after an absence, you should investigate the formalized programs that are available via several nonprofits, most large financial firms, and companies within the STEM sector. If you have been lax on doing so, now is the time to begin actively networking. Look for meetings of people in your field, or for general job search networking. Above all, ASK if anyone knows of any companies that offer these types of programs—after all, that is what networking is all about!