Dear Matt: I've recently heard of job seekers embarking on returnships. Are you familiar with these, and could an experienced worker like me benefit from this?
Matt says: Returnships are internships for older professionals, returning parents, transitioning military and the long-term unemployed, says John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of global outplacement and business coaching consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
"Employers are consistently wary of employment gaps brought on by a layoff, parenthood or some other life event that prohibits working," says Challenger. "A returnship for former or transitioning professionals with otherwise sterling employment records, but prolonged unemployment, solves this issue."
The following groups of job seekers would benefit from returnships, says Challenger:
• Returning parents: Mothers and fathers who left the job market to raise families often return to biased employers who are wary of their absences.
• Transitioning military: Former military members have extensive on-the-job training in new technology, leadership development and discipline, but may lack experience in the corporate world.
• Older workers: Older professionals deal with age discrimination, as well as potential gaps in employment.
• Expatriates: Workers seeking jobs in foreign countries would gain necessary experience in another culture via the returnship.
