No. People of all gender identities are welcome to apply for returnship programs. Women’s workforce participation is disproportionately affected by caregiving responsibilities and so they are more likely to be eligible to participate, but these programs welcome anyone who is returning from a career break.
Returnship programs are for mid-career professionals looking to restart their careers after a career break. Employers usually require candidates to have at least 5 years of professional experience, but this requirement varies by company and role. Be sure to review the job description for each returnship position for details.
Returnship programs are for mid-career professionals who are looking to restart their careers after a career break. Employers usually require candidates to have at least a 2 year career gap, but this requirement varies by company and role. Be sure to review the job description for each returnship position for details.
We understand the need to generate some income during a career break, either from non-professional activities or from consulting, freelance, or part-time work, and employers generally do too.
It's up to each employer to determine if a candidate meets the eligibility requirements for their roles, but generally speaking freelance or consulting work won’t count against you.
Just be sure to make it clear on your resume that you were not working full-time and that you are returning from a break. We always encourage you to apply for return-to-work roles for which you are qualified.
Most of the opportunities you’ll find onPath Forward’s Returnship Matcher are only available to those living in the US. If a program offers international opportunities, we’ll indicate this in the write up for that program in the Returnship Matcher..
The following are organizations that aggregate returnship opportunities available outside the US:
- Career Returners (UK)
- Jobs For Her (India)
- STEM Returners (UK)
Most return-to-work programs are only available to US citizens or those with a visa or work authorization.