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.
Drexel University Medical School, Philadelphia, PA: Refresher program for clinically inactive physicians who want to return to practice. Online and in-person. Costs vary depending on program.
For qualified architects seeking to refresh their professional knowledge before returning to practice after a break. Free.
Denver, CO: Clinical Practice Reentry Program. 2 days with final report 6 to 8 weeks later. Fees vary. Ongoing.
6 month paid intership program for individuals who have been on a career break for at least 2 years. Starts October 2018.
16-week paid program for individuals who have been out of the workforce for at least two years.
6-month paid program for individuals who have taken a career break for at least 2 years.
Physician Reentry Program.
4-month paid reentry internships for individuals who have taken at least a 3-year career break from engineering. Launched 2017.
12-week paid internship for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 2 years.
REACH is a six-month paid apprenticeship program for programming and coding roles within the LinkedIn functional engineering team. Note, a computer science background is not a prerequisite.
Staffing firm matches selected, experienced women returning to the workforce with interested employers. Six-week "skills refresh," coaching and peer support. Application required. Began 2013. Once accepted into the program the program is free.
10-week paid internship program for those individuals who have been out of the workforce for at least two years.
Two-day program for individuals who have taken at least a year career break.
Paid 12-week program for individuals who have taken a career break.
CDM Smith will conduct three 12-week pilots in 2019. Pilot Cycle 1 iwill be held in their Boston, Mass. office and locations will be expanded as the program grows.
Technical updating program for relaunchers. Silicon Valley., Chicago, NYC, Seattle. Began 2015. Fees vary depending on program.
Six-month paid placements, with possibility of turning into permanent role at end of placement. Also career support - on the job training, CV clinics.
12-week paid programme began in September 2016 for individuals who have taken a voluntary career break of at least 2 years.
Program for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 18 months.
