Stage 7 · Lesson 3 of 8

Returnships after a career break

A is a paid, time-limited programme, usually lasting a few months. It is for experienced people returning to work after a break for caring, health, relocation or study. Some large tech companies and banks run technical returnships in engineering, data or IT.

These include training and a real project, and many aim to hire participants at the end. They suit you if you had a professional career, took a break, and used some of it to learn technical skills. Directories list employers that run them. Larger companies post them on their careers pages once or twice a year.

Common trapapplying with no previous professional experience; these programmes are designed for returners.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

GuideFree
The Complete Freelance Web Developer Guide
freeCodeCamp · Beginner
Free guide to finding and handling first freelance clients, useful for a freelance-first route

Practise

Google Developer Groups
Free local and online developer communities in many countries, to meet people regularly
Sefism 1:1 Mentorship
Talk your routes and story through with a mentor before you start approaching people

Keep handy

Job Scams (FTC Consumer Advice)
Clear list of job scam signs; the tactics are the same worldwide
iRelaunch
Employers that run returnships, if your switch follows a career break

Also worth your time

OutreachyGo deeper
Paid remote open source internships open to people from groups underrepresented in tech