What is the Outplacement Process?

This article will explain everything you need to know about the outplacement process, including what it involves, how it benefits both individuals and companies facing redundancies and what to look for when you are choosing an outplacement provider.

What is outplacement?

Employers offer outplacement services to staff whose roles have been made redundant or where there has been a mutually agreed exit and the outplacement is part of their settlement agreement. Outplacement helps employees to find a new role so that they minimise employment gaps. It can also help individuals consider their career options and even change direction including self-employment.

Who provides outplacement services?

Specialist career coaching firms typically provide outplacement services to companies. They have expertise in helping people consider their career options, develop their candidate marketing materials, and provide an expert sounding board to overcome a wide array of career challenges.

What does outplacement involve?

Outplacement services usually include help from a specialist career coach who works with the individual employee in addition to online career development resources.  Group training, research services and networking opportunities may also be available.

For many employees, their priority will be to receive help with their CV and LinkedIn profiles as well as interview preparation. A specialist career coaching firm will offer all this in addition to more in-depth guidance on finding the “right role” for the individual and strategies for success.

How do I find a good outplacement provider?

It is recommended that you choose a specialist outplacement company as they will be well equipped to meet the range of career challenges your employees are facing. Some recruitment companies,  independent HR consultants and coaches offer outplacement services, but they rarely have the depth of experience or resources that are required.

Consider the company’s track record of experience, their coaching team’s background, whether they are a member of a reputable body such as the Career Development Institutes and any testimonials. 

Will the individuals work with one coach throughout or with a variety of people? A specialist company will offer a coaching expert who can work with the individual throughout their coaching programme, helping them with both their practical and psychological needs. Companies who do not offer this relationship, assigning the individual to different coaches or perhaps a random hepline, necessarily offer a more transactional service where the individual can easily be overlooked with no-one attending to them.

Note your impressions from the outplacement company’s website and your conversations with them. Do they seem client-focused and sensitive to the psychological challenges that employees facing redundancy are likely to experience. Are they helpful, clear, and efficient? Talk to a few companies to contrast and compare. If you feel comfortable with the company, then your employees are likely to do so as well.

How does the outplacement process work?

The company and the outplacement service will agree on the level of service to be provided. The same support may be supplied for all leavers or differentiated depending on need, seniority or budget.

Employees will receive information outlining what is on offer to them and usually have an introductory meeting where they can discuss their needs, answer any queries, and be matched with the career coach they will be working with.

The coach will be able to help and guide them in all aspects of their career, including helping them craft their CV and LinkedIn profiles, prepare for interview, and create a career action plan. They will be their sounding board during recruitment processes and can even help with onboarding or executive coaching in their new role.

What are the benefits of outplacement?

Outplacement services offer many benefits for individuals. Practical job search advice and emotional support are invaluable at a time when many feel overwhelmed. In addition, they provide an opportunity to learn vital career management skills which will help them throughout their career, building career self-awareness, growing confidence and self-advocacy skills.

For organisations, outplacement helps position the company as a caring employer, protecting the employer’s reputation with its existing staff and influencing its ability to recruit new talent when needed.

Individuals who feel supported in their exit are also less likely to cause disruption, reducing conflict and freeing up everyone’s time and headspace to focus on the future.

Next steps

For more information on how to include employee outplacement in your redundancy package or how career coaching can help you, please call Personal Career Management on 01753 888995 or for a free guide on settlement agreements visit our compromise agreements page.

We also provide career coaching and director outplacement programmes ideal for those at a senior level.

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