There was a time when a gap on your CV was a red flag and something that, if you made it to an interview, would require an explanation. Now, with the turbulence of the past few years, it has not just become more acceptable to have a gap, it can be an opportunity
to restart, progress or transform your career.
While not new, the concept of a “returnship” is fast hitting the mainstream across all sorts of industries. As the name might suggest, it is similar to an internship but is aimed at those with existing professional experience (usually five years or more)
who have been out of the job market for at least two years.
The absence may have been down to economic impacts, such as those caused by Covid 19, or could be for personal reasons such as caretaking, illness or taking time out to rear children.
Returnships are usually paid and tend to last for a specified number of weeks or months. As the concept becomes more popular, requirements such as application deadlines or levels of experience are becoming less rigid.
Back-to-work programmes
Companies and businesses including Amazon,
Accenture,
Starling Bank, Klarna and
Deloitte are embracing back-to-work programmes for a variety of reasons. Initiatives such as these can help address gender and age diversity gaps in a company. They also allow employers to think beyond more traditional skill sets to build a workforce that
is adaptable and willing to learn.
In turn, this means job seekers can reframe that CV gap and access new opportunities. Not only can a returnship offer the chance to upskill in tech, it can help you capitalise on your transferable skills. And if you’re considering a significant career change,
a return to work programme can offer a window into how a new industry operates.
In some instances, a back-to-work programme can lead to a full time role––but even if that’s not the case, the benefits around learning new skills, the networking opportunities and chance for renewed confidence can make this a worthwhile option for many.
Considering a job move? Take a look at this trio of available roles in a variety of locations––and see the
Finextra Job Board for more.
Business Banking Specialist, Starling Bank, London
Founded in 2014, Starling Bank is on a mission to disrupt the financial services industry. It has over three million customers, including nearly 500,000 SME customers, and almost £4bn in assets. As it grows its digital services to UK SMEs, it is expanding
its team of business specialists and recruiting a
Business Banking Specialist. In this role you will be providing dedicated customer service to business banking clients with accountability for sales, service, risk and operational delivery. The successful candidate will have experience working in relevant
environments such as financial services, business and corporate banking. They should also have expert SME knowledge, and understand business banking, Starling products, and fintech movement. Not what you’re looking for? There are further
available roles with Starling Bank to discover.
Business Consulting – Director, Grant Thornton, Dublin, Ireland
Grant Thornton International is a leading independent audit, tax and advisory firm. It offers financial and business service solutions in over 130 countries, combining a global presence with valuable local knowledge. They are actively recruiting a
Director for the Business Consulting team. This role is an exciting opportunity for aspiring directors with demonstrated commercial acumen within a professional services firm. The successful candidate should have 12 years’ experience with at least one year
in a professional services firm along with a primary degree in a relevant discipline. Excellent communication skills and an understanding of market trends in key industries such as health, energy/utilities, telecoms and technology are also required. Discover
more
available roles at Grant Thornton here.
Engineering Manager, Zilch UK, London
Zilch, a UK based payments technology company, is known for creating the Googlisation of payments through its Commerce Card. This
Engineering Manager role will see the successful candidate lead teams to implement features and design technical aspects of user stories and plans for delivery. They will need to hold a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree as well as three or more years' experience
leading and managing software engineering teams, including coaching teams on agile practices. Experience in solution architecture and managing projects would also be an asset. You can also
find more opportunities with Zilch UK here.
Looking for your next move? Make sure to take a look at the Finextra Job Board for more open career opportunities