An internship with a difference: how Morgan Stanley is helping mothers get back to work
Return to Work programme aimed at those who have had a career break has attracted 10,000 applicants worldwide
Most internships are aimed at giving students a chance to gain a bit of useful work experience.
But Morgan Stanley is offering something a bit different – a programme designed to help mothers and other people who have taken a career break to get back into the workforce.
The American investment bank is inviting applications from people to join its “Return to Work” programme starting in February next year.
First launched in the US in 2014 and then in Hong Kong a year later, the scheme aims to help anyone who has at least five years’ experience but has taken a break of two years or more. Successful applicants undertake a 12-week paid internship which sees them work in different departments within the bank. Those who complete the programme and perform well could turn be rewarded with a full-time position.
We realise there are a significant number of talented people who have left the workforce for a variety of reasons such as taking care of young children
“While our summer internship programmes are aimed at younger people with limited work experience, those who join our Return to Work programme are usually more mature and have applicable work experience. They appreciate us offering them a tangible opportunity to get back to work and they take the programme very seriously,” said Catherine Loui Chau Chun-yi, managing director and co-head of human resources of Morgan Stanley in Asia.
“The programme aims to attract talent across different backgrounds. We realise that there are a significant number of talented people who have left the workforce for a variety of reasons such as taking care of young children. We see tremendous benefits for the firm to tap into this pool of talent. Our past experience has shown that it works well,” Loui told the South China Morning Post in an interview at her office at ICC.