The Rise of the “Minternship”    

A “minternship”, or mid-life internship, is exactly what it sounds like – taking on a role in a company or industry that you have an interest in, but little practical or tangible experience. It’s also usually a role that’s temporary and often not considered a full-time employee, so pay and benefits may not don’t apply. In exchange, you can get guidance and mentorship from professionals at a company that you’re interested in working for or an industry that you’re excited about moving into. Like many college-level internships, this can sometimes lead to a job with the company, but sometimes it is just a learning experience to take with you on the way forward.   

Who Takes a Mid-Life Internship?   

“Minternships” are great for people who are feeling stuck in their current role. Whether it’s an inability to move up in the company, a lack of interest in the type of work, or a downturn in the industry, a mid-career internship can help people comfortably pivot and even get excited about work again. It’s also a great step for people mid-career who lost their jobs due to market disruption, company layoff or needed to take a professional break to attend to personal family or health reasons.   

It’s a risk for some people, as losing income or “starting over” can feel disheartening, but more people are choosing this path because they want to find meaningful work at a company they care about and can commit to for the rest of their career. Most companies are choosing to embrace this trend, as it often brings people who are genuinely excited about the work to their door as opposed to people only motivated by a paycheck.   

If you’re fresh out of your “minternship” or racked up new certifications through continued learning, we’re ready to help you find your next role and grow successfully in your new industry. 

Ready to start a new role? 

Give our team a call today and talk to one of our employment experts about how you can take your next steps forward.   

The post Avoid Career Burnout With a Mid-Career Internship appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Here’s what to focus on and plan for to have your most effective, successful interview.  

Have examples of hard and soft skills ready:

As a candidate, you know your skillset, and you know how you’ve showcased those skills in the past. Now is the time to write down those examples and be ready to talk about them. From soft skills like communication or leadership to hard skills like specific programming languages used on the job, be prepared to discuss practical examples.  

Know your worth:

A second interview is often the time that a potential employer will broach the subject of salary. You don’t need to bring it up. Still, you should be ready to talk about your expectations and have the data to support them, from information about your last position to current market data on salaries for similar positions or industries.  

Have essential questions ready:

Companies want to hear you ask questions because it shows that you’re curious and willing to learn, as well as interested in the position enough to want more information about the role. But just asking questions for the sake of asking will do you a disservice – and businesses can usually tell when you’re just playing the part. What do you want to know? What will help you feel more comfortable in taking on the role? What can you learn about your potential employers’ expectations of someone in that role? Think about this before you sit down for your next interview. Decide which questions to focus on, including asking about the company culture or the training process.  

Are you looking for your next IT role?

Our experts have the knowledge, experience, and connections that can help get your resume in front of the right people. Get in touch today with Open Systems Inc and get to that second interview even faster.

The post Get Set Up for Success on Your Second Interview appeared first on Open Systems Inc..