What is outplacement support?
Companies need to constantly change and adapt to remain viable and competitive. Unfortunately, redundancies and layoffs will often occur as a consequence, to accommodate restructures, avoid role duplication, reduce staffing costs, or because some skills are no longer needed especially with the advent of new technologies.
“Finding out that you’re losing your job in a company you love working for can be devastating, especially when the job loss is through no direct fault of your own. However, when handled with sensitivity and professionalism, a redundancy or layoff situation can be turned into a positive career and life event. ”
Employees who have lost, or will be losing their job due to redundancy or layoffs, frequently need significant support to help them quickly re-orient in the job market and transition to new jobs. This dedicated support must focus on all the positive elements of the change, to avoid these people being overly affected by the natural emotional turmoil that comes from loss of job security and financial disruption.
Ironically perhaps, HR employees frequently need intensive levels of support - the activities involved in pro active job seeking are very different to being the HR or hiring leader “on the other side” of the interview process. HR professionals often have weak resumes and/or present poorly for their own personal interviews and can as a result face extended periods of unemployment in highly competitive and selective job markets. Our dedicated outplacement support service for HR specialists includes help in providing career coaching, skills identification, personal branding, modern Resume writing, LinkedIn profile enhancement, interview preparation, job readiness assessments, and job seeking tools that are aligned to today’s digital recruiting and hiring methods.
The services are paid for by employers, but provided by our expert, independent outplacement team, who work directly and confidentially with HR employees.
As part of the Carter Morris Talent Solutions Group, we’re also able to utilise all of the market knowledge of our HR Executive Search team, to enable job seeking leaders from all functional specialisms of the Human Resource profession, to leverage every opportunity to gain meaningful employment quickly. We deliberately skew our outplacement program with an emphasis on job seekers putting “skin in the game” - we know that confidence and success is accelerated when HR professionals control and own their job search efforts.
Outplacement support is one of the most important decisions you can make for your people and your organization.
A company's brand and image are everything these days. Most companies have core values that highlight how invaluable their staff are. However, workforce reductions, layoffs and other types of employee terminations typically have a negative effect on the morale and productivity of all staff, regardless of whether they’re at risk of exit, or not. Offering outplacement services to laid-off employees is an effective way to show the remaining staff and your broader community that company leaders have “good conscience” and really do value staff contributions, which can have a positive impact on the morale, commitment, retention, and productivity of remainers.
Providing specialist outplacement support in addition to helping your exiting staff to secure new work options, also helps to maintain relationships with the employees leaving the organisation, which not only preserves the image of the business but also lays the groundwork for any future dealings with them to be positive. When outplacement is offered as part of a severance agreement, it often reduces the anxiety of the laid-off employee and thus the risk of dispute. Offering outplacement support is often a useful “bargaining chip” during an individual severance negotiation, given the value of the perceived benefits to the exiting employee.
Leading companies recognise that providing outplacement support to those exiting the company as a result of business change is an important part of their talent management and business transformation strategy plus it is an effective way to continue to protect their corporate brand internally, and externally.
Why do organisations provide outplacement support?
Outplacement Support Feedback
A sample of the unsolicited feedback we have received from the HR leaders we've helped to get “job ready” after redundancy or layoff events:
Hi and thank you very much for the detailed care you and your team gave during my job search efforts. I am thrilled to report that I have now secured a new role with a hefty pay increase, and I start next week!
VP Reward, Chicago
Hello again. Many thanks for your efforts in my job search. I have been so impressed by your knowledge, care and professionalism and will stay in touch to let you know how I fare in my new role.
Asia Pac Talent Acquisition Director, Delhi
I wanted to let you know that I appreciated the support and counsel you have given me while I make this career transition and look forward to maintaining our relationship going forward.
VP HR, Basel
This is the first time in my career that I have been involved in a job search other than as an employer and I must say, your support has been outstanding. It is encouraging to see your company as a ray of light trying to make a difference in treating job seekers with dignity and respect.
VP International HR, Singapore
Just wanted to let you know that I loved your professional and passionate approach during our recent sessions. It has really helped me to present very differently in my job search efforts and with 3 interviews booked for the coming weeks, I am very hopefully of working again soon.
International HR Director, Atlanta
Greetings. A quick note to extend a heartfelt thanks for all of the energy and focus you put into getting me better prepared for interviews. I’ve never had such constructive and on point advice before and I think it will actually be of huge help not just in my job search, but in my day to day work style as well. Thank you again.
Total Reward Director, Amsterdam
Hi. For what it’s worth, I love the approach you’ve been taking and you really know your stuff! You’ve given me some much needed confidence and great reminders of what I do well in my profession - it’s already been a useful kick in the backside to stay positive to get my career back on track.
Global Talent Management Director, London
Thank you very much for the quick responses to all of my queries after our interview coaching session - I really appreciate the time and care you are taking to help me secure my next career role! I’m busy with applications for interesting roles currently and will let you know how they progress. Thank you again.
SVP HR for EMEA, Dubai
Hello again. I just wanted to thank you and your team for the amazing experience I’ve had - the knowledge you shared freely, the technical support you offered, the market intelligence you guided me on - all of this has been invaluable and I am so appreciative for the direct(!) but positive feedback you shared with me along the way.
Global Talent Acquisition Director, San Francisco
I wanted to say thank YOU, for your kindness, your trust and your honesty towards myself all the time. You changed my life and I am thankful for this each and every day.
International HR Business Partner, Hamburg
Let us help you protect your brand and provide a smooth and positive transition experience for your departing employees:
or find out more about our HR services for employers