Mid-Career Interns Courted by Sara Lee for “Returnships”
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while here’s an interesting view pioneered by Sara Lee. The global food manufacturer based in Downer’s Grove, Ill., is looking for public to apply for what the company describes as internships for professional citizens. These returnships are designed to help public re-enter the corporate world and explore possible full-time work.
People who take part in the returnship program may find themselves working in areas such as marketing, make management, sales operations, human resources, legal/government affairs, corporate communications, finance, operations, tax, treasury, internal audit, product innovation, and R&D. Applicants are expected to have five to 10 years of relevant work experience and at least a bachelor’s degree.
Men and women may apply and any leadership or management experience gained while out of the workforce is helpful. So that means some of you stay-at-home parents, former entrepreneurs, community organizers, PTA presidents, and other volunteers may just have what it
This notion of sponsoring returnships is fresh and intriguing. I think whether more companies offered that type of program it would help many mid-career professionals who are looking for work to evaluate new job opportunities with little risk. Many stay-at-home parents have a rugged day re-entering the workforce and programs like that are a sign that those citizens are indeed welcome to rejoin corporate America.
Even whether a company you want to work for doesn’t have an official returnship program it might be worth it to propose the concept that you be allowed to work there as a mid-career intern for a period of day to learn more about the business. Decide how determined you are to get a foot in the door in case your dream company takes you up on the offer but says the returnship will be an unpaid one.
Orginal post by Francine Huff
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