In the new film “The Intern,” Robert De Niro goes back to the first rung on the ladder to re-energize his career. But what’s great for the movies isn’t always the best move in real life.
by Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert | September 25, 2015
Albeit, this article only mentions the military once, I find this to be a very appropriate way to step back into civilian life for our Veterans. I met with a very dynamic recruitment manager this week who works for a recognizable social media company who expressed his thirst for great veterans as they have a fellowship (6 months to a year) where the candidates work in different departments based on their MOS (military occupational specialty) or interest with the hopes of bringing them on at the end of the fellowship.
It’s really hard to hire military these days because it is intimidating for the recruiter and hiring manager to understand how they fit based on their profile. With a little discipline and change of mindset, you can hire the best talent from a great pool of candidates transitioning out. ~ The Organic Recruiter
Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro share the big screen in The Intern, out today. In this role-reversal comedy, Hathaway’s character, Jules Ostin, runs an online fashion website, while De Niro’s character, a 70-something widower, re-enters the workforce as her intern after he realizes retirement isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
When we think of interns we typically think of college students or recent college grads—ready to roll up their sleeves and learn the ropes.
But older interns are trending, at least in Hollywood. A Tina Fey comedy recently picked up by NBC is a similar play on the theme: An overly involved mom from New Jersey gets an internship at her daughter’s workplace, a cable news network. And in the 2013 movie, The Internship, Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn played down-on-their-luck career salesmen starting over as interns at Google, where all of their peers are 30 years their junior.
Suffice to say, that the silver screen doesn’t always accurately portray life off screen. So, in reality, would taking an internship have been the right move for the late-career De Niro?
You’re never too old
I believe that there are some instances that pursuing an internship mid-career can make sense. In particular, if you’re looking to start a new career, rebooting an old one (like De Niro’s retired Whittaker or a stay-at-home mom re-entering the workforce) or returning to civilian life after the military an internship is OK.
And in fact, in such cases, an internship can help you open the door to reposition your future.
But you’ll face hurdles
Although you’re never too old for an internship, you’ll have to overcome the stigma of hiring managers to get one. Recruiters are often looking for fresh young talent that they can mold into tomorrow’s leaders—while paying them little to nothing.
That may be the biggest challenge. Once you’ve hit mid-career, your financial obligations have likely blossomed, and many people don’t have the resources to quit their jobs to work for free.
So you might consider the alternatives
Remember that an internship is not your only option as you re-route your career goals. For instance, you can temp. This way, the company can try you on for size while you get a hang of the industry and company culture and take home a paycheck.
Another option: part-time employment in the field, if you can find a department that is expanding or going through a busy season. This route works well when there’s at least one key transferable skill that’s integral to the job. Try to connect the dots from your former role to your aspirational one. By being strategic about where you apply, working to prove yourself once you’re brought on and continuing to network internally you’ll hopefully be able to make your mark as their next best hire.
Finally, you might consider volunteering on the side of your day job with a relevant non-profit that would help you build the skills you need to make a shift. That way you can keep the paycheck coming while you’re getting the experience you need.
And if you do go the intern route…
Be sure to set your tasks and goals for a fixed period of time. Going into an unpaid internship with an indefinite, unlimited timeframe is not ideal if you’re older. Don’t forget: You’re arriving on Day 1 with a plethora of skills and years of experience, just not within that particular industry.
Act like De Niro’s Whittaker and recognize that you’re likely the low person on the totem pole, having to pay your dues all over again as you learn new skills. Be clear with new colleagues and indicate that you’re not above doing anything assigned to you.
People may feel guilty giving you “busy” or “trivial” work since you’re older, so you should specifically mention you’re there to work on whatever they need accomplished. It’s likely you’ll get higher-level responsibilities quickly.
Impress with your work, and that will help you gain valuable contacts.
Who knows, you may find yourself informally mentoring your younger peers—maybe even your boss—which is a tremendous path toward a fulfilling new job or career
