Returnship hiring up 35% since 2023 — programs you can apply to today

Indian companies have stepped up second-career hiring for women by 32–35% since 2023. The IT services sector specifically is up 41%; GCCs up 39%; BFSI is among the earliest adopters and now has institutionalised programs.

Four structured returnship programs are currently active and accepting applications:

Wipro's Begin Again — for women with 6+ month breaks. Mentorship, flexible work, role mapping by previous experience band.

Salesforce's Return to Work — 1+ year break. Six-month structured program across engineering, sales, marketing, ops. Often converts to permanent.

TCS Rebegin — for women with at least 2 years of pre-break experience. Merit-based, reskilling support, broad role catalogue.

IHCL's Second That! — 6+ month break. Flexible full-time, part-time, or project-based engagements. Has placed 90+ women since 2023 launch.

What hiring managers signal matters: don't lead the resume with the gap. Lead with the role you want next and the skill stack you're returning with. The break is a fact — frame it factually in one line, then move on to evidence of current capability (a course, a freelance project, a contribution).