IBM Tech Re-Entry Program
Return to the workforce the right way. We value your skills and knowledge – we’ll welcome you back and show you why IBM is a great place to re-start your tech career.
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About the Program
IBM’s global Tech Re-Entry Program is for talented technical professionals who took a break from the workforce and are looking to restart their careers. This paid returnship program will enable you to work on projects that match your expertise, interests, and abilities and could lead to full-time employment.
During your returnship experience, you will have the opportunity to update your skills in a contemporary work environment. You will have access to the latest tools and technologies available and work alongside multi-disciplinary teams to hone your expertise and deliver on client-critical solutions. You'll be able to experience the breadth of IBM resources while updating your expertise, developing new skills and forging new relationships.
Six reasons to join the program
Working in IBM is always about impact, inclusion, and infinite experiences. There are even more great reasons to join the Tech Re-Entry program:
The program offers flexibility and ease of transition from your break to getting back to the workforce.
A dedicated mentor will help you get up-to-speed with the environment and new technology.
Working with multi-disciplinary teams will enable you to deliver client-critical solutions.
You have the opportunity to update your skills and expertise as you work on real projects with real impact.
Your community of like-minded re-joiners will support you as you restart your journey together.
The returnship experience could lead to a full-time employment at IBM after you complete the program.
Earn a Tech Re-Entry Digital Badge
Participants who successfully complete the IBM Tech Re-Entry program are eligible to earn a Tech Re-Entry badge.
Earning this badge means you had the opportunity to refresh your professional and technical skills through mentorship, one-on-one training with subject matter experts, and self study of curated learning paths in your area of expertise. As a program participant, you worked on project-based assignments that allowed you to demonstrate critical technical skills as well as soft skills for client engagement, adaptability, collaboration, communication, presentation, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making.
A Digital Badge is a cross-industry recognition of technical knowledge and skills, which can be posted to your social and professional networking sites, as well as your digital signature. It is a standard, secure and verifiable means of storing and publishing your skills and technical knowledge that everyone in your industry will recognize.
Click here to view details of Tech Re-Entry Digital Badge
Tech Re-Entry Badge Credentials
The Tech Re-Entry badge is issued at the successful completion of the IBM Tech Re-Entry program. As a participant in the program, the badge earner has had the opportunity to refresh their professional and technical skills through mentorship, one-on-one training with subject matter experts, and self-study of curated learning paths in their area of expertise. While working on their project based assignments, participants have demonstrated critical technical skills for their job role as well as soft skill attainment for client engagement, adaptability, collaboration, communication, presentation, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making.
Badge earners have completed relevant online courses and successfully demonstrated proficiency in the following knowledge and skills:
Delivering Quality Work with Agility
- Takes ownership of assignments
- Applies the quality work process to all requests through clear communication and focus on clients
- Delivers high quality work that solves a problem and reduces effort for the person or group requesting it
- Works with agility while applying the quality work process.
Creative Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
- Uses critical thinking techniques, conducts data gathering and analysis to draw insights and address root causes
- Applies problem solving strategies to define and investigate problems, generate opportunities for innovation, challenge limitations, evaluate and implement solutions
- Works effectively in teams to participate in decision making and seek consensus. Balances independent thinking with consideration of different perspectives.
Design Thinking and Agile Practices
- Uses design thinking practices to form intent and deliver outcomes, with a focus on understanding and empathy for user experience
- Implements agile practices, tools, and techniques used in application development and testing. Working in project teams to plan and deliver iteratively
- Applies soft skills for adaptability, collaboration, communication, and presenting
On top of the required education, badge earners have also completed an additional 13.5 hours of Think40 credit in content related to their field.
QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT
For questions related to your Credly badge earner account and profile, as well as issues related to claiming your badge after receiving a notification, please visit support.credly.com.
For questions about the IBM Digital Badge Program, view the Frequently Asked Questions here or contact ncollar@us.ibm.com
PRIVACY STATEMENT - NOTICE: IBM leverages the services of Credly, a 3rd party data processor authorized by IBM and located in the United States, to assist in the administration of the IBM Digital Badge program. In order to issue you an IBM Digital Badge, your personal information (name, email address, and badge earned) will be shared with Credly. You will receive an email notification from Credly with instructions for claiming the badge. Your personal information is used to issue your badge and for program reporting and operational purposes. It will be handled in a manner consistent with IBM privacy practices. The IBM Privacy Statement can be viewed here: https://www.ibm.com/privacy/us/en/. IBM employees can view the IBM Internal Privacy Statement here: https://w3.ibm.com/w3publisher/w3-privacy-notice.
Real people,
Real stories
“ The program gave me the opportunity to seamlessly integrate into the workforce by providing resources to update my skills and get up to speed with the latest technologies. ”
Priyanka
Partner Business Development Manager - Security
“ After a stint in the fashion industry, I rejoined IBM via IBM’s Tech Re-Entry program, a program for people who had taken a break from the industry. Now I’m back pursuing my first love, software engineering. ”
Anna
Software Engineer
“ As my girls entered 2nd grade and got more independent, I began longing to work again. I found a job post for the Tech-Re-Entry program which said “candidate must have a break of a minimum of 2 years”. It seemed to be describing me! ”
Karuna
Software Developer
“ I had lots of apprehensions coming back into the corporate world. Thankfully, the meetings with the cohort were super helpful in the transition. Knowing we were all going through this journey together provided much needed support. ”
Jill
Software Developer, Cognitive Support Platform
“ Don’t give up on your career. Own the journey you have taken. Opportunities and pathways are changing. ”
Priti
Software Engineer. Quantum Computing
“ The program gave me the opportunity to seamlessly integrate into the workforce by providing resources to update my skills and get up to speed with the latest technologies. ”
Priyanka
Partner Business Development Manager - Security
“ After a stint in the fashion industry, I rejoined IBM via IBM’s Tech Re-Entry program, a program for people who had taken a break from the industry. Now I’m back pursuing my first love, software engineering. ”
Anna
Software Engineer
“ As my girls entered 2nd grade and got more independent, I began longing to work again. I found a job post for the Tech-Re-Entry program which said “candidate must have a break of a minimum of 2 years”. It seemed to be describing me! ”
Karuna
Software Developer
“ I had lots of apprehensions coming back into the corporate world. Thankfully, the meetings with the cohort were super helpful in the transition. Knowing we were all going through this journey together provided much needed support. ”
Jill
Software Developer, Cognitive Support Platform
Jill Shares How IBM’s ‘Returnship’ Program Helped Get Her Career Back
“ Don’t give up on your career. Own the journey you have taken. Opportunities and pathways are changing. ”
Priti
Software Engineer. Quantum Computing
We have a rich past, now be part of our future
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First women and black employees hired
IBM hired three women, Emma Manske, Nettie Moore and Lilly Philp, 20 years before women were given the right to vote. The same year, IBM hired Richard MacGregor, IBM’s first black employee, 10 years before the founding of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and 36 years after the Emancipation Proclamation
First disabled employee hired
IBM hired its first employee with a disability, 59 years before the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 76 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“ Same Kind of Work for Equal Pay. ” T.J.Watson Sr.
IBM recruited 25 female college graduates, slated to work in systems service. These were the firm’s first female professionals, 29 years before the Equal Pay Act. Thomas J. Watson, Sr. champions the introduction of women into IBM’s professional ranks, as the company holds its first systems engineering service class for women.
First woman VP named
IBM named Ruth Leach (Amonette) a vice president, the company’s first female executive. Between 1940 and 1943, one third of IBM’s manufacturing hires are women.
First pocket-sized braille printer manufactured and distributed to all employees
IBM manufactures the Banks Pocket Braille Writer, a pocket-sized Braille printer, which it donates to veterans, sells to the public at cost and provides free to all visually impaired employees.
IBM President signs company’s first written equal opportunity policy letter
IBM wrote its first Equal Opportunity Policy. This policy was signed by T. J. Watson, Jr., one year before the Brown decision ending “separate but equal” in public education and 11 years ahead of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the U.S.
IBM created Supplier Diversity Program
IBM created its supplier diversity program in 1968, before the existence of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Our program’s goal is to provide opportunities to diverse suppliers who can add value in every region where we operate. Suppliers qualify by being at least 51 percent owned by people from an ethnic minority (as defined in each country or region), or by women, military veterans, people with disabilities or LGBT+ individuals.
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition enabled customer engineers servicing equipment to “talk” to and receive "spoken" answers from a computer that can recognize about 5,000 words. IBM also developed an experimental terminal that prints computer responses in Braille for the blind.
IBM’s Computer Program Training for People with Disabilities
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition enabled customer engineers servicing equipment to “talk” to and receive "spoken" answers from a computer that can recognize about 5,000 words. IBM also developed an experimental terminal that prints computer responses in Braille for the blind.
IBM includes sexual-orientation in its equal opportunity policy
Non-discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Publicly Stated. IBM became one of the first companies to include sexual orientation as part of its commitment to nondiscrimination.
Domestic Partner Benefits added in U.S.
IBM announces Domestic Partner Benefits for gay and lesbian employees.
IBM introduces Home Page Reader
IBM introduces Home Page Reader, an award-winning Web browser that uses speech to help the blind and visually impaired use the Internet. The first product of its kind, Home Page Reader was developed by blind IBM researcher Chieko Asakawa. The application was offered in the US, Europe and Asia, and was capable of reading web pages in American or British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and other languages.
Global work-life fund launched
This multi-year fund has been designed to address strategic work-life challenges for IBM employees worldwide, focusing on dependent care.
Global Equal Opportunity Policy – “ orientation, gender identity and expression ” were added
“ Orientation, gender identity and expression ” were added to U.S. and Global Equal Opportunity Policy.
Accessible Workplace Connections launched to request and manage reasonable accommodations
The Human Ability and Accessibility center collaborated with IBM Human Resources and the IBM Office of the CIO to create the Accessible Workplace Connection portal, which makes it easy for managers to accommodate IBMers with disabilities, and teaches those employees about the tools and policies that exist to help them do their jobs on an equal footing with their peers.
First Woman CEO appointed – Virginia Rometty
IBM Board of Directors Elects Virginia M. “Ginni” Rometty President and CEO of IBM: Samuel J. Palmisano and Virginia M. “Ginni” Rometty at IBM’s corporate headquarters in Armonk, N.Y. Rometty, an IBM senior vice president, was elected by the IBM board of directors to become the company’s president and ninth CEO on January 1, 2012.
Introduced rainbow logo in support of the LGBT community
IBM Launched 8-bar rainbow logo as a new symbol of IBM’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This is a demonstration of IBM’s continuing efforts to advance and influence nondiscrimination workplace policies consistent with basic human rights.
IBM honored with 2018 Catalyst Award
IBM was honored with the prestigious 2018 Catalyst Award for leadership in building a workplace that values diversity and inclusion. “ Leading the Cognitive Era Powered by the Global Advancement of Women. ” IBM’s global diversity and inclusion initiative has strategically and purposefully focused on technical women’s career development and advancement. HR and global business leaders partner to drive IBM’s diversity and inclusion goals by attracting and recruiting diverse talent, prioritizing leadership development and talent discussions and engaging as a good corporate citizen.
IBM supported passage of the Equality Act
The Equality Act, or HR 112, called to amend existing laws to provide consistent, explicit protections for LGBT+ employees in the United States. Ginni Rometty stated IBM’s position in a letter to U.S. Congress, and IBM Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Tia Silas testified before the House Judiciary Committee. IBM was the only company invited to testify.
Awards and Recognition
From Application to Offer in Three Easy Steps
Step #1
Search for jobs in your country and apply online.
Tech Re-Entry program is currently being offered in Brazil, Canada, China, India, and the US.
Step #2
Have an interview with prospective team members.
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