The Case for Experienced Interns

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Beth Pampaloni

BJP Communications

www.bjpcomms.com

When most companies think about internships, they picture college students gaining experience, fulfilling graduation requirements and getting their first taste of the professional world. But perhaps it's time to rethink the traditional definition of an internship.

What if companies reserved a few internship opportunities for experienced professionals who want to explore a new industry, transition into a different role or gain firsthand experience at a company they admire?

Call them Experience Internships.

The idea may sound unconventional, but today's careers—and today's workforce—look very different than they did even a decade ago. Careers are no longer always linear. Professionals change industries, develop new skills, return to the workforce and reinvent themselves at different stages of their careers. An internship could provide an opportunity to learn, explore and make a transition—not just at the beginning of a career, but throughout it.

There are clear benefits for employers as well. An experienced professional already understands how to work in an organization, collaborate with others and take responsibility for results. While they may be learning a new industry, role or technology, they can often hit the ground running and bring valuable perspective from their previous experience.

And an internship could become much more than a short-term assignment. It could be a pathway to a new employee. Experienced professionals have successfully navigated transitions throughout their careers and understand how to apply transferable skills in new environments. Given the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do, an Experienced Intern may turn out to be the company's next great hire.

This isn't about creating an entirely new internship program or replacing opportunities for college students. It's simply about expanding the definition of who an intern can be. What if a company set aside one or two opportunities for experienced professionals looking for their next chapter and gave the concept a chance?

This is where Phase2Careers plays an important role. For years, Phase2Careers has supported and empowered Over 40 professionals in the Bay Area as they navigate job searches, career transitions and new opportunities. The organization already brings together experienced professionals and employers while providing training, career development, networking and resources to help people successfully navigate a changing world of work.

Phase2Careers could help employers explore the Experienced Internship concept by connecting them with qualified professionals and helping both the organization and participants prepare for a successful experience. In many ways, this is a natural extension of the organization's long-standing mission of helping experienced professionals discover new opportunities and navigate career change.

Internships are ultimately about learning, opportunity and discovering potential. Perhaps it's time to recognize that those things aren't limited by age.

The next great intern may not be looking for their first job. They may simply be looking for their next chapter.