There was a time when an internship meant stuffing envelopes in a dark corner office, but in today’s job market, adult internships are serious opportunities for mature workers to gain experience, prevent gaps in their résumé, or prepare for a career change.

What is an Adult Internship?

Adult internships are a temporary relationships (usually around 3 months) between worker (intern) and employer. An intern works for no pay in exchange for the valuable skills, knowledge, and work experience that can only be acquired on the job. Traditional undergrads have used internships for years as a way of beginning their careers.

The Economic Crisis Leaves Adult Workers Open to Taking Chances, Including Adult Internships

For the many who are out of work or who fear losing their jobs, adult internships are opportunities to take a chance on new careers — perhaps a long forgotten dream job. If you’ve lost a job in an industry on the downturn, why not consider an adult internship that could be a catalyst for an exciting shift in career and life?

Employers and Interns Benefit from Adult Internships in Tough Economic Times

Adult internships benefit employers, especially in a recession, since they can get much needed help without having to provide a salary and benefits. Here’s the internship benefit to the worker, though: Recognizing mature employees as experienced, more responsible, and more dependable, employers are more inclined to give them significant and more challenging work, turning the internship into a valuable résumé addition.

More Reasons to Pursue an Adult Internship:

• Try something you would not have otherwise tried
• Acquire new skills
• Get work experience that can mean a foot in the door
• Network and develop relationships with potential employers
• No cost, little time commitment, thereby reducing the risk in case you don’t like the work
• Gain confidence

Ok, let’s not call getting work through an adult internship a desperate measure because it’s an arrangement that has a lot of potential to help you with future jobs! It can be the chance to live out a dream or make a long awaited career change. Even if adult internships don’t guarantee being hired, there’s nothing quite like real life experience to beef up your résumé. In fact, with the right match between employer and intern, adult internships become a creative measure for survival in an uncertain job market.