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Career Re-entry Programs
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.
16-week program for individuals who have taken at least a 2 year career break. Active |
Customized three-week boot camp. Active |
20-week paid programme for individuals who have taken at least a two year career break. September 2018. Active |
Four-week program focusing on developing Java programming skills, competitive process; 12 accepted, four offers, three hired. Inactive |
The University has established the Back to Science Fellowships to provide a one-year opportunity for both women and men in STEM subject areas, who have taken extended career breaks (5 years), to join an established research group. Each Fellowship consists of a £16,000 bursary, with a further £5,000 available for consumable costs. Two scholarships are available each academic year until 2017. Inactive |
Any woman professional with a skill-match and a maximum of three years personal sabbatical from work qualifies to be a candidate. Primarily IT positions. Full-time job, mentoring, skills updating, professional development. Ran 2011 Inactive |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Career Reengineering Program Massachusetts STEM  |
Four-day boot camp, semester long course, 10-week internship, career coaching. Fee $15,500, Inactive |
Return to Work Program for Women in STEM. Started 2012 to encourage women on a career break to return to the workforce through science. Inactive |
3-year, full- or part-time scientific fellowships. Began 2016. Inactive |
Hires female technologists and engineers returning from career break at this largest of GE’s global research centers. For more information; restart.jfwtc@ge.com Inactive |
Sheffield Hallem University Return to STEM United Kingdom STEM |
Three-day course over three months for women interested in returning to STEM fields after a career break. Inactive |
Return to Science, Engineering and Technology. 10-week online course. Inactive |
12-week paid programme for individuals who have taken a career break of at least 2 ywars.Began in May 2016. Inactive |
UK Resource Center SET program England STEM |
Range of initiatives. Courses, workshops, resources for returners in Science, Engineering and Technology Inactive |
Through the Returning Mothers Barista Hiring Program, moms can work between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Program launched 2013. Active |
Women's Development Unlimited "Back for Business" Programme Entrepreneurial & Start-Up, General |
Non-profit offering coaching and training for women returning to work after a career break. Inactive |
Training and mentoring program where “experiencors” assist entrepreneurs sharing workspace at HeraHub. Pilot Summer 2012. Also ran 2013. $10/mth. Inactive |
Program training women to create PR campaigns, plan events, write pitches and press releases, research for clients, blogging and v-logging, emerging communication technologies and the ins and outs of social media and digital strategies. Inactive |
WCM offers up to five annual $5,000 scholarships and paid four-month internships with BMO Capital Markets (in Toronto), National Bank, RBC, and Scotiabank to women preparing to relaunch a full-time career in the Canadian capital markets industry. Must have at least 5-years experience in capital markets or related field. Also includes a WCM mentor and 1-year WCM membership. Began 2012, annual. Active |
6-month paid internship with IT and other support. Active |
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