How Old Is Too Old to Be an Intern and Is a Returnship Right For You?

The number of workers ages 75 and older is expected to grow by an eye-popping 96.5% between 2020 and 2030, according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Staying in the workforce longer might mean changing careers or learning something new.

Can you get that reskilling or upskilling education by working as an intern? There’s no official age cutoff to work in an introductory role like that, but it doesn’t mean the path will be smooth, and it raises some questions.

So, if you’re looking to replicate Robert De Niro’s experience in the 2015 movie The Intern, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons of taking this route.

What Is the Value of an Internship?

Internships have historically been perceived as options only for college students or recent graduates. The University of Maryland describes them as “supervised, structured learning experiences” in a student’s field of study. The National Association of Colleges and Employers indicates that they’re intended to allow students to use their classroom learning in real-life jobs, honing their skills.

Interns can gain experience in the kind of work they’re interested in pursuing, and possibly get paid for doing so. Those who aren’t students may simply want to explore a new field and gain experience in it.

The term of work for an internship isn’t indefinite. It starts and ends on predetermined dates, and the span is typically short-term. Some but not all internships are paid roles. Students sometimes perform these roles in exchange for college credits rather than income. Internships are often part-time roles.

Internships for those older than college age are sometimes called returnships, meaning they are intended to be for mid- to late-career professionals who’ve taken some extended time off for family, health, or other reasons. Firms like Goldman Sachs, Amazon, and Deloitte offer them for folks looking to relaunch their careers.

How Old Is Too Old?

“There’s no such thing as being ‘too old’ to be an intern,” according to Alari Aho, human resources and talent acquisition expert and CEO at Toggl Hire. “More and more people are changing careers later in life, and internships can be a great way to pivot into a new industry. Employers who focus on skills and potential over age tend to build stronger, more diverse teams. Age shouldn’t be a barrier to learning, and in today’s evolving job market, it often isn’t.”

Age comes with a few advantages for interns as well. Adults should target paid roles because working for college credits most likely won’t help them. Luckily, a significant majority of internship positions are paid.

Internships may be more amenable to working part-time hours, particularly if you’re still working full-time in your original jobs or careers. And, yes, you can include the internship on your resume and ask for a reference or recommendation upon completion.

Challenges for Older Interns

Ageism in the workplace is alive and well, and older interns can be subject to the same stereotypical biases as employees. These might include the perception that older people take more sick days than younger workers or that they’re inept with the latest technology.

Older interns may be excluded from social activities such as the customary end-of-work-week happy hour gathering or feel “marginalized.” You can spot this if your roles and responsibilities are limited compared with those of other interns, which can be particularly damaging in a situation where you’re trying to learn a new skill.

Some challenges will be the same regardless of age, including what is typically low pay, if any.

“The key is finding companies that value lifelong learning and are open to non-traditional career paths,” says Aho.

Alternatives to Consider

You’re not limited to an internship if you want to change jobs, switch careers, or just try something new to determine whether you like the job or industry.

“There are other options to gain experience if a traditional internship doesn’t feel like the right fit,” Aho says. “Volunteering, contract work, returnship programs designed for people reentering the workforce, and even project-based freelance work can offer similar learning opportunities without the structure of a typical internship. Online certifications and skills-based platforms are also great for building credibility during a career shift.”

No rule says you can’t reach out to a company that doesn’t mention available internships on its website. It’s possible that the firm hasn’t ever considered the concept, but it may be amenable to it if you make a good impression and can outline the benefits to an employer.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of age, you don’t have to remain married to your job for life if you’re dissatisfied with it. You may be subjected to some bumps and hiccups if you become an intern when you’re a bit up in years, but that’s a societal issue, not unique to internships. And it’s always possible that learning and embracing something new will make you feel like a kid again.