Dive Brief:

• Teaming up with Path Forward, Walmart announced it will begin its return-to-work program in two of its California offices this fall. The program will help those ready to reenter the workforce after a long break for caregiving that took their career off track. Emphasizing learning and development, the project hopes to train and retrain workers with skills in software engineering, product development and other disciplines.
• The four-month program will also include networking opportunities, professional development workshops and more. Upon completion, the candidates will be considered for full-time openings at the company.
• The Path Forward program targets professional workers who have a minimum of five years’ experience and at least two years away from the workforce. Return-to-work mothers, those who have had caregiving responsibilities, and veterans are encouraged to participate.

Dive Insight:

Returnship programs aren’t new to the workplace; they’ve been running at many companies like PayPal and JPMorgan for several years. They offer individuals an opportunity to re-enter the workforce with training that helps them re-acclimate to corporate culture, as well as new tech.

For business struggle to maintain head count in an ever-tightening market, returnships create an applicant stream with proven skills, work ethic and abilities. The only thing these workers may lack is a foot in the door and a bit of training to re-launch their careers.

Returnships, or re-entry programs are a win-win for employers and candidates. These programs offer a means to fill a resume gap for staff who were sidelined with personal responsibilities, as well as an avenue for businesses to find workers who, with a bit of development, could be valuable members of the company. Employers who work with these programs and the many nonprofits that help place return-to-workers consider them similar to internships, with an emphasis on developing skills with the newest technology and practices, as well as learning about company culture. At some companies, the conversion rate of returners is close to 100% — a success for learners, returners and business.