Integrity

Allstate's returnship program helps professionals after a career pause

With Allstate's 12-week returnship program, employees gain the confidence and skills to ease back into the working world.

Professionals temporarily step away from their jobs for many reasons.

But when the time comes to rejoin the workforce, it can be challenging without the right support. So in 2021, Allstate launched the first returnship program within the technology organization, with plans to expand to other areas in 2024 and beyond.

The Allstate Returnship Program is a paid 12-week mid-career internship for experienced professionals returning to the workforce after taking time off for caregiving. It's open to anyone with at least five years of professional experience who's been out of the paid workforce for at least two years. The program's goal is to increase the percentage of underrepresented populations in mid-level roles by attracting and filling critical skill needs with high-potential quality talent. Participants are motivated to develop and progress – and stay with Allstate.

• 93.5% of returnships converted to full-time positions in 2022.
• 100% of returnships converted to full-time positions in 2023.
• 87.5% of participants would recommend the program to someone else.

See what some returnship participants had to say about it:

"Allstate's Returnship Program has been a fantastic experience for us returners who are coming back to the workforce after a career break. It has provided us the opportunity to successfully relaunch our careers, while receiving invaluable on-the-job training and mentoring." – Erin Fennacy

"The Returnship Program at Allstate was well organized and smooth onboarding. This program has given me the confidence to re-enter the workforce. We have got the required training to upskill, periodic touch-point meetings to ease the transition and were well supported throughout the Returnship." – Sudha Mahalingham

"Allstate's Returnship Program is an excellent way for anyone to re-enter the workforce. The program is structured in such a way that it helps you gain confidence; the encouragement and the technical trainings they provided were valuable." – Viji Nair

"This Returnship Program recognized the potential in returners and offered us with both the opportunity and guidance needed to successfully re-enter the workforce." – Jayashree Nagarajan