The Returnship® is a Golden Opportunity

The concept of an internship for university students is common knowledge but the Returnship® is a unique program targeting women who left the workforce for a few years and are eager to get back in. Goldman Sachs and the Sara Lee Corporation are leading the way with this novel approach to re-engage talented women who took time off to raise children, care for elderly parents, or took a hiatus from the professional world for any reason.

The Returnship® came to be when employers realized that many women who left the workforce had trouble getting back in because hiring managers feared their gap-time away from work.

At Goldman Sachs, the Returnship® is a ten week program with opportunities around the globe from New York City, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Salt Lake City, among other destinations. The returnees, as Goldman calls them, work on substantive business challenges tailored to their unique strengths and professional experiences. The talent pool consists of seasoned workers so the goal is to provide them with advanced opportunities so they can play an integral role on a team for a short period of time.

In addition to actual work tasks, the women participate in professional development courses, including self promotion, influence and presence, mentor relationships, and current trends in the financial sector which are relevant to their work at Goldman Sachs.

The Sara Lee Corporation launched their Returnship® program providing opportunities for mid-career individuals re-entering the workforce after having been away for a number of years. Their pilot program was so successful that it is now an integrated part of the company’s ongoing recruitment efforts.

Mentoring for women in the program is essential in both companies to assist the newly re-engaged workers with transitioning and guidance to navigate the realities of work and home life more successfully.

This opportunity is the ultimate test drive for the organization and the candidate to determine best fit. Often it gives candidates a boost of self confidence as they immerse themselves back into the working world after a significant time away.

Cheers to Goldman Sachs and Sara Lee for embracing this incredible opportunity for a positive on-ramp back into the profession. It’s a win-win for all involved and a direct line to hiring new talent. Goldman reports that most of their Returnship® classes result in a 50% conversion rate to full-time hires, in roles that these women may not have sought out on their own before the 10 week program.

The Returnship® signals to all women who take a conscious break from their careers that if they want to go back to work, they can. Let’s hope more companies and organizations take advantage of this great re-entry opportunity to get back to work. Because taking a break does not mean you lose your skills or intelligence, it just means that you made a decision to prioritize something else in your life for a given time period and that should be applauded!