Workplace

Internships are no longer just for the “college crowd,” said Amy Farnsworth in The Christian Science Monitor. “In what is a sign of the times,” seasoned ­professionals are seeking unpaid stints in order to “retool” their skills and gain experience in new industries. And employers are taking note. Last fall Sara Lee Corp. rolled out a three- to ­six-month “returnship” for adults. Start-up Babyboomers.TV has brought on four “mid-career interns” since April. It’s “a great way to test-drive somebody without investing huge salary benefits in them,” says Nancy Valene, content manager for the company.

Yet even if you’re willing to work for free, employers may not welcome you with open arms, said Sarah Needleman in The Wall Street Journal. You’ll need to put as much effort into landing an internship as you might to find a paid position, says Constance Dierickx, a management psychologist at RHR International Co. Be prepared to explain why you’re interested in an internship with that particular company—and “being unemployed and having nothing better to do” won’t cut it. Another potential faux pas: Asking whether an internship could lead to a paycheck. “You don’t want to be too eager,” Dierickx says.

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