A growing number of programmes are being designed to help professionals return to work after several years away. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is bringing its version to Dublin.
Last summer, the number of financial institutions and tech companies seeking ways to attract professionals back into the workforce grew.
PayPal, VMware and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) each devised programmes to help those who had left the workforce, for various reasons, to get back into the office.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
The latter’s London programme, which has been running for six years now, proved so successful that the American finance giant is bringing it to Ireland, complementing plans to up its headcount here to 700.
The programme is currently open for applications, targeting those who have been out of work more than 12 months – stay-at-home parents, carers, those on career break etc.
Operating as a two-day conference – rather than a multi-week course similar to VMware’s approach last year – it follows the London model, which has so far seen 300 attendees, some of which have gone on to take positions at BofAML.
The company’s Dublin programme will see 25 participants attend a conference on 24-25 May, discussing the various ways the workplace has changed, and the role of the returning employee in this office environment.
There will be a series of speakers and workshops, with an emphasis on striking up relationships with new business connections.
Various backgrounds
BofAML is searching for individuals from a range of industry backgrounds, including professional and financial services.
People with experience in the likes of finance, business, project management, banking operations, and technology are encouraged to apply.
The company is specifically looking to source suitable candidates from the programme to fill positions in their Dublin-based technology and operations team.
Roles include developers; business and operations analysts, and project and operations managers.
Nicola Salvatore, a participant in the 2015 London programme, spoke highly of her experience, which saw her join the company’s banking and markets operations team.
“For me, one of the biggest benefits of the programme was meeting other people in the same position,” she said.
“Having been out of the workplace for five years, I was beginning to feel quite isolated. My conversations with senior managers at the bank and other people working there, including returners, were a real eye-opener, and it was great to have an opportunity to ask questions about their own experiences.”
