Taking an extended career break to care for your child or an elder parent is not uncommon. In fact, roughly 18% of all parents in the U.S. are out of the workforce at this time.
Of those parents, almost 2.2 million college-educated parents want to return to the workforce after their long absence.
On the flip side, employers are faced with a skills shortage that recent college graduates cannot fill due to their lack of experience.
What’s the solution?
RETURNSHIPS!
According to SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management), a returnship is a structured, paid program to help experienced professionals refresh their skills and return to the workforce after a career break. Most returnships last from 12 weeks to six months and help the employee get reintroduced to the workforce.
Some returnships allow people to rotate between various departments and roles. This kind of program enables you to determine which job is right for you before applying for full-time employment. Many programs offer comprehensive training, along with opportunities for mentorship and professional development.
These back-to-work programs are a win-win for the employee and the employer- the employee can slowly integrate back into the workforce without starting at ground zero, and the employer can snag experienced workers at internship-level pay rates.
Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Allstate offer such returnships. If you’re interested in learning more about which employers offer such programs, check out related websites such as iRelaunch and Path Forward.
Whether you’re returning to work after raising a family, managing an illness, or caring for a loved one, a returnship could be your golden on-ramp back onto the career highway. These programs not only offer the chance to rebuild skills and confidence—they prove that your experience still matters in today’s workforce. So don’t count yourself out. Instead, explore your options, do your research, and take the first step toward re-launching your professional life. Your next chapter is waiting—and it just might begin with a returnship.
Shelley Maley, PHR, CCSP
Dreamcatcher Career Coaching, LLC