Kristin Acker
Kristin Acker

Software engineers who are coming back to development after spending some time away from coding now have a new opportunity to get themselves up to speed.

Zillow just added a new posting to its Careers site for a “Returnship” – a 3-month gig that allows them to get back to work in development with the help of a mentor and dedicated refresher training.

This is the first we’ve ever heard of an offering like this, but it speaks to the lengths companies will go to find coders.

The program, which was spearheaded by Kristin Acker, a 10-year Zillow veteran and the company’s Vice President of Product Teams and Product Strategy, is designed to transition people back into the workforce, and bolster Zillow’s engineering ranks. It’s an important move that will help parents who stepped away from their work to raise kids, take care of a family member, or even just travel and take a break.

“I think that the industry moves so fast, and technology moves so fast. I’ve talked to other people, and it’s intimidating,” Acker said in an interview with GeekWire. “The reality is that if they were good at it before, they’re probably going to be good at it again. And if we can help them get back, that’s great.”

ZillowAcker said that the job came about after she kept seeing resumes with gaps in them because people took time off work.

“We wanted to see if there was a way we could support them better, and tempt them to come to Zillow when they rejoin the workforce,” she said.

The job is open to anyone with a BS in Computer Science who has more than five years of software development experience as either a front-end, back-end or full stack web developer. Much like an internship, returnship participants who do well in the program have a shot at a full time job with Zillow.

Right now, Zillow only has five positions open at its Seattle office, though Acker said that she hopes the program will expand to other offices, and eventually encompass roles outside of engineering. There seems to be enough support within the company to make that happen – Acker has received a ‘deluge of mail’ from around the company in support of the project.

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