Background: There has been an explosion of career re-entry programs since 2004, when the topic of career re-entry began to gain steam in the media and as a research topic for academics. At iRelaunch, we have been tracking career re-entry programs of all kinds since 2008. Our first list included 57 programs worldwide, at universities, employers, government agencies, professional associations, non-profits and foundations. Only nine of these 57 programs, or 16%, existed prior to 2004. Domestically, six of 43, or almost 14%, existed prior to 2004.
In 2012, iRelaunch Chair and Co-Founder Carol Fishman Cohen authored our report on the growing use of mid-career internships or internship-like experiences as an effective vehicle for professionals to return to work after time away. This report was the basis for her seminal HBR article "The 40-Year-Old Intern," which was the first to recognize the emergence of mid-career internships and to predict the proliferation of formal corporate reentry internship programs.
Carol described the phenomenon as "quietly emerging" at the time. Not anymore. We have seen a huge uptick in the number of corporate re-entry internship programs, in addition to corporate career re-entry programs that are event-based or feature direct-hire opportunities with transitional support. Global hubs of career re-entry program activity center in the U.S., U.K. and India. Shoutout to Women Returners for their work in the UK career re-entry space and their list of U.K. programs which is a helpful resource for us in compiling this list.
Some programs that are no longer running were designed to only run once, while others might have been intended to run longer but did not. Note we don’t double count programs that are offered jointly between a school and a company, or an association and a company, although we list them separately. We also don't count strategic volunteering programs.
Help us keep the list current and accurate! Please contact us at info@irelaunch.com to let us know about additions or corrections to the list. For expert advice on starting, refining or sourcing a re-entry internship program, please click here.
10-week paid internship program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least two years.
Updating classes, coaching, events for members of the ICAEW. Personal coaching by appointment. Fees vary based on membership level.
Program for individuals who have taken a career break.
Six-month program starts January 2019 (applications open until November 1, 2018). Participants will have a chance to apply to full-time roles at the end of the program.
Programme for women with at least two years of experience who have taken a career break.
16-week paid internship, 3-days/week to full time.
2- to 4-year part-time or full-time fellowship for returning research scientists in the European Economic Area who will be doing research in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Must have career break of at least two years and must have had at least two years of post-doctoral scientific research experience before the career break. Applicants must secure a research sponsor and sponsoring laboratory.
Part- and full-time roles in accounting and finance; both short- and long-term opportunities offered. Began 2015.
Direct hire for individuals who have been on a career break for at least 1 year.
Program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 2 years.
11-week paid programme began in April 2016 for individuals who have taken a voluntary career break of at least 2 years. The programme continued in 2017.
6-month paid intership programme for individuals who have taken and extended career break. Programme begins 09/17/2018.
6-month program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least two years.
Paid 12-week reentry internship program in the advertising field, including technical/digital updating.
Starting in 2016 a 3-6 month paid internship for women who have been out of the workforce for at least 6 months.
6-month paid internship program for those individuals who have taken at least a two year career break and want to get back in the workforce.
University of Massachusetts McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, Boston, MA: Full-time, two-semester program includes evening courses, public policy case study research project and 200 hour, 10-15 hour per week internships at state, local or national government, or non-profit, think tank or lobbying group. Began 1968 at Simmons, moved 1971 to Boston College, and 1992 to UMass. Ongoing. Tuition based program.
Paid 16-week clinical nurse residency program with progressively independent functioning in the clinical area as a key component.
12-weeks paid internship program. Piloted September-December 2015 and continued through 2018
12-week paid internship program for individuals who have been out of the work force for at least two years.
