Do you have a gap in your tech career? Here’s why you should consider a returnship program

In India, 36 percent of women take a break from work, according to the Center for Talent Innovation. And while they take a career break due to a number of reasons including marriage, motherhood and eldercare, only 58 percent of them are able to rejoin work full-time. There is a dip in the number of women rejoining the workforce because of their gap in work experience, lower pay for dropping out, and outdated skill sets. 

But with the rise of return internship programs, companies are chipping away at these challenges. They are able to create better work opportunities and positive experiences for women reentering the workforce. 

“Sometimes, both men and women need to take a break from their careers for personal reasons. But, they may be raw in their skills upon returning to the workforce, “ said Mohan Kumar, Senior talent acquisition manager, Intuit India. Our returnship program was launched in 2015 and supports women as a pathway back into the tech workforce after a career break. Over time, the program has expanded to all genders, aligning further with our culture of diversity and inclusion. As the executive sponsor of Intuit Again, Mohan is proud of what the program has accomplished. “While many return internship options are available for women, Intuit Again creates opportunities for all,” says Mohan, “ The program helps individuals pick up from where they left off and prepare for a new career.”

A return internship can work for individuals who were away from the workforce for a spell. Do you have a gap in your tech career?

Here are three reasons why an effective return internship can help you grow your tech career. 

Look for real work to have more skin in the game 

A successful return internship program should provide critical work and opportunities to benefit interns. Participants should be able to learn and perform meaningful work that allows them to build their experience, adding value to their resume. 

For example, Intuit Again provides meaningful opportunities for interns to develop new skills.. Interns are involved in everyday activities of the team, and participate in projects as part of the team’s existing work.  As a result, they have a fundamental understanding of the products, learn what’s new in tech, how to design end-to-end systems and may have opportunities to work on product features for customers.

Interns in the program learn to be customer obsessed. “We help them think about those for whom they design. Techniques like Design for Delight and Customer Driven Innovation help them identify unsolved customer problems, and build durable competitive advantage for our products,” says Mohan.  

“Our interns receive constructive feedback from managers about their performance at work. Providing interns with consistent feedback during the 6-month internship can drive them to learn and perform better,” says Kirti Chablani, recruiter. The Intuit Again program creates space for interns to thrive, and grow in tech—despite the career gap. 

Get mentorship and support as you work toward your long-term career goals

Return internships can  help interns bounce back into the corporate world. These programs can help talent who dropped out of the workforce feel less isolated, and build confidence. 

At Intuit, interns get dedicated support from the program which is backed by an engaged team of leaders, program managers and graduates of the program. Managers provide technical mentorship to help them feel confident. Monthly check-ins help interns understand how they are performing against their goals and provide guidance to continue growing in their careers. Regular conversations with managers can help interns align with their long-term career goals too. 

“We ensure there are several touch points to mentor interns in the program,” says Kirti. Buddies are also assigned to help interns settle into their new workplace experience. Interns also take part in leadership connect and fireside chat with Intuit Again alumni to network, build connections and feel like they belong in the workplace. Many of them have found the sessions useful to learn from their seniors’ experiences and aim for a long-term career at Intuit. 

Dedicated career development opportunities can provide guidance for interns. As part of our Intuit Again program, we offer monthly tech learning boot camps which sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge in tech. 

Build connection with the company and its values 

Return internships are more impactful when they align with the company’s mission. Throughout the experience, participants should build a deep understanding about what the company cares about. This gives both the company and interns the opportunity to determine if there is a good fit. We’ve often received feedback from interns that once they became full-time employees, they already felt incredibly connected to the company. 

We’re proud that our Intuit Again program has a 90 percent conversion rate for interns becoming full-time employees. “When we look at the program, it is a great way to bring diverse talent into our workforce. The talent helps us cater to our customers around the world,” says Mohan. 

If you are looking for the perfect next step in your career after a break, consider applying for our Intuit Again program.