Summary.
During the past few years Amazon has been experimenting with programs to recruit mid-career professionals who’ve spent a few years away from the workforce. Like most other companies, the online retailer started out small, hiring a few dozen people at a time in pilot cohorts. But in June 2021 Amazon made a stunning announcement: It would expand its return-to-work initiative by hiring 1,000 returning professionals—an order of magnitude larger than any other company’s program. Each participant would be given coaching and mentoring as part of the paid 16-week program, with potential to land a permanent position at its conclusion. “We’ve formed a dedicated team that recruits specifically for professionals who are restarting their careers,” says Alex Mooney, Amazon’s senior diversity talent acquisition program manager. And instead of looking skeptically at résumé gaps or skills that may need refreshing, Amazon’s recruiters are directed to focus on each candidate’s potential.