Outplacement- The Return on Investment

Outplacement services provide tailored, compassionate support to outgoing employees.

Outplacement services are designed to help employees navigate their career transition with less stress and a positive approach to the challenge ahead. They are supported with targeted coaching and professional resources to develop exceptional career marketing materials. This not only benefits the departing employee but also enhances the employer's brand. 

The departing employees are supported as they transition into new roles with different organizations. This service could be provided to meet a need from an organizational restructuring or downsizing. It can also be a service provided with termination for cause. When an employer or organization goes above and beyond to support its employees from start to finish throughout their service, the departing employee is more likely to land a new role with greater ease, and the organization will maintain a positive brand with existing and future employees. 

Outplacement services are offered as part of the employee’s severance package, and the scope of what is included is clearly outlined. Services offered include resume, LinkedIn and cover letter writing assistance, interview preparation, networking, job board navigation, interview coaching, salary negotiation, emotional support and knowledge of current job search strategies. Service contracts can be designed to support departing employees for a fixed amount of time or until the employee secures a new position, depending on the package design and the available services.

Outplacement benefits both employees and employers. Employees are provided with both tactical and emotional support as they navigate what can be a very stressful and challenging transition. Along with the dedicated career coaching support, one of the most significant benefits of outplacement services is the acquisition of new skills and knowledge, which increases the employee’s value to new organizations. This boosts the employee’s confidence while creating a safe outlet to process the grief of losing their job and the pressures of finding a new one. It also ensures their skills and talents are successfully harnessed and directed into another role.

Offering outplacement services is a great way for employers to preserve team morale and maintain a healthy workplace atmosphere during times of change. As employers strive to acquire the right talent for their team, it is important to consider how the labour market perceives their organization. Restructured employees who share their experiences about how their employer supported them during their career transition can earn goodwill credit and favourable social currency.

For employers, there are many factors to consider. Firstly, the outplacement services being provided must be tailored to every employee and every job level. A one-size-fits-all approach will be ineffective and ultimately costly since the right services will not be offered relative to each departing employee's requirements. If you need support in all areas, ensure you work with a seasoned provider with adequate experience.

Secondly, it is important to seek out providers with experience in your business sector. This will ensure that the provider can relate to the employees they are assisting on a professional level. It will also lend itself to more efficient job searching and procurement since the outplacement provider will already have industry knowledge and a suitable network to tap into.

Thirdly, it is essential to assess the service provider’s accessibility and flexibility regarding its offerings. In today’s workplace, many employees are partially or fully remote, and most are online in some capacity. 

Finally, trust in the service provider's commitment, resources provided and engagement in program delivery. Outplacement service providers are passionate about helping people find work that they love and securing roles in which they will flourish, and they will have a vested interest in the success of every one of their clients. Every person deserves their dream job, and outplacement services can be an essential tool to helping clients find theirs.