Navigating Your Returnship Interview: Tips for a Smooth Transition
Re-entering the workforce after a career break can be both an exciting opportunity and a nerve-wracking challenge. Returnship programs are designed to ease that transition, offering individuals with prior professional experience a structured path back into the workplace.
These programs are typically paid, time-bound positions that provide mentorship, training, and a supportive environment — allowing participants to reacclimate to corporate life and often transition into full-time roles. If you’re considering applying for one, thoughtful preparation is key to making a confident and successful return.
Refresh and Refine Your Resume
One of the first steps in your career comeback is to ensure your resume is updated. It’s important to include your career break, but don’t overlook the skills and experiences you gained during your time off. You may have gained transferable skills during your career break that can be used in the workforce, such as project management, budgeting, event planning, problem-solving, etc. If you completed any courses or certifications while on your break, make sure to include those too.
When tweaking your resume, you should also add any relevant volunteer work, freelance experience, or continued education. It’s important to frame your background in a way that speaks directly to the organization’s needs. Career breaks are valuable to companies because individuals who return bring so much to the table, like subject matter expertise, knowledge, and experience in the business by applying what they have learned.
Conduct Thorough Research on the Organization
When it’s time to start using your resume to apply, start by developing a strong understanding of the organization you are applying to. Review their mission, values, and recent initiatives. Doing research on a company will give you an edge over your competition.
Researching the company makes you stand out but also benefits you by allowing you to tailor your application with relevant experience and objectives, create insightful questions to demonstrate interest during interviews, and assess whether the company’s ethos aligns with your own.
Having prior knowledge of the role you’re applying for also allows you to make explicit connections to the soft skills you bring to the table. Soft skills are often critical to success, particularly when integrating into a new corporate culture. How are your soft skills mirroring the company’s priorities? Think about your abilities, such as communication, adaptability, and leadership, and make these connections explicit in interviews. Think of examples from both professional and personal experiences during your career break, and shine in your interview.
Use the STAR Method
While you can’t predict all the questions that will be asked in an interview, you can get a step ahead by preparing to answer behavioral interview questions with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This method is beneficial when you’re asked to provide a real-life example of how you previously handled a certain situation. Here’s a structured way to respond to questions:
- Situation: Set the scene by describing the context
- Task: Explain the objective or challenge
- Action: Detail the steps you personally took
- Result: Share the outcome, particularly how it was measured or evaluated
Preparing a few stories in advance using this framework can help you respond with clarity and impact in the interview.
Demonstrate Professionalism and Engagement
When returning to the workforce, it’s important to remember to stay professional and engaged in your interviews, regardless of whether the interview is conducted in person or virtually. Think about what you wear in an interview, even if it’s a virtual meeting, make sure that what’s on camera is appropriate for the workplace you’re interviewing for.
It’s also important to showcase your engagement level by maintaining eye contact, sitting upright, and smiling. Remember: nonverbal communication can be just as influential as what you say. When answering questions, respond thoughtfully and with confidence — even if you’re feeling a bit nervous.
Send a Prompt and Courteous Thank-You
A brief and timely thank-you message is a simple but powerful gesture. Research shows that 57% of job seekers neglect to send one — so doing so can set you apart.
When sending a thank-you, aim to:
- Email your interviewer within 12–24 hours
- Express appreciation for their time and insight
- Reaffirm your interest in the role
Rejoining the workforce after time away can be a meaningful and rewarding experience. Returnship programs offer a structured and supportive gateway, and with the right preparation, you can approach the opportunity with clarity and confidence.
If you’re looking to get back to work, apply for one of our tracks to share your resume with us, join our community, and stay informed for future program launches and helpful Return-to-Work events.