This is a list of all career re-entry activity that we have been able to document since we started documenting back in 2008. Any career re-entry program that has run even one time is listed. We also have filters so you can filter by "active" and "paid corporate career re-entry programs" to see what programs continue to be active. Alternatively, you can go to our "Paid Corporate Return to Work Programs Around the World" for an easy access list of active programs. That list is not as comprehensive as the filtered list below.
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.
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.
12-week program for individuals who have taken a career break.
3-4-month paid internship program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 2 years.
12-week paid internship program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 2 years.
Courses for women and men reentering the workforce. Fees vary depending on program.
Culture of and interest in hiring experienced proferssionals.
Lilly’s expectant mothers may leave work with pay up to one month before their baby’s due date and are elligible for a total 16-week maternity leave (see details on pdf). Employees approved for a dependent care leave may take up to 3 years [or length of employment, whichever is less] off without pay. Lilly provides access to the internal position posting system to help employees find a new position when they wish to return.
IBM's leave of absence programs.
Re-entry platform that matches experienced lawyers returning to the profession with law firms nationwide for a one-year, paid training contract. Overview of legal technology and coaching advice provided as part of program. Application required.
2-year flexible, paid, part-time research fellowships at universities or in industry for those on career break from SET careers. Began 1985. 250+ success stories, 96% success rate in returning fellows to SET careers. Ongoing, annual.
Training and skills-updating courses covering all of the major disciplines in financial services. In-person or online accessiblity. Prices vary depending on the course.
12-week paid internship program for individuals who have been out of the work force for at least 2 years.
A firm-wide initiative to bring in professionals to the tax and audit practices from January - April.
Internships in coding, user experience design, graphic design, documentation, web development, marketing, translation and other types of tasks needed to sustain a FOSS project. Relaunchers welcome to apply.
Extended leave program for PwC employees who take a career break and want to return several years later.
An opportunity to work with Google for qualified women professionals who have taken a break from active working life for a year or longer.
7-week free training course in business training, mentoring and a job placement on the completion of the course. Successful applicants will be trained at FDM’s London Academy.
Recruiting resource matching people and non-profit boards in the tri-state area.
Fee based, 8 week online program for individuals to train as "global interns" and grow portable careers as tailing spouses/partners.
Paid, 11-week summer internships for current students and recent graduates of Bachelors, Masters, or PhD programs. Age of students is not a factor nor is it relevant whether the person took a career break before beginning one of these degree programs.
Two fellowships each year to mathematicians who need support when their career is interrupted by family responsibilities, relocation of partner, or other similar circumstance, making possible some continuous mathematical activity, so enabling the fellow to be in a position to apply for posts when circumstances allow.
