What is Outplacement? Everything You Need to Know!

Zoi Kotsou -

Outplacement is a service that helps individuals find new employment after being laid off or losing their jobs.

It typically includes assistance with resume writing and personal branding services for career transition and interview preparation, as well as career coaching and counseling.

Outplacement can help individuals make the transition to their next job easier by providing them with the necessary resources and support.

With outplacement services, people are better equipped to navigate the job market and have an increased chance of securing a position that fits their goals, skill set, and needs.

Ultimately, outplacement allows professionals to continue pursuing their career aspirations despite difficult circumstances.

Check out the way outplacement works, what services exist, and why it is important for both existing employees and the employer brand, below!

» FREE TRIAL: Get Started with LoopCV & Send Out 100s of Highly-Targeted Job Applications in <10 Minutes for those in career transition

Table of Contents

How are outplacement services designed?

Outplacement services are designed to provide individuals with the support and resources they need to take control of their careers and rebuild their professional trajectory.

Along with assisting in resume writing, outplacement may include job search training, guidance on networking and leveraging social media, interview preparation, career counseling, and more services offered to aid in the career transition of exiting employees.

Your company's outplacement services may include:

  • Helping organizations make layoff choices to protect the employer brand and support existing employees.
  • Assisting managers in communicating layoff decisions to staff.
  • Assisting in surviving employees so that they may remain productive throughout the transition.

It can also help those laid off or out of work for an extended time understand how their skills still fit into today’s job market.

By offering outplacement services, companies demonstrate a commitment to helping employees transition out of their current roles as smoothly as possible to continue being successful in their future careers.

Professional outplacement services for job searchers.

They can find jobs more than 2.5 times quicker than those who do not. Exiting workers benefit from one-on-one mentoring targeted to their specific requirements and career objectives.

Outplacement services include:

  • Coaching (or outplacement counseling)
  • Online tools and resources
  • Career exams
  • Simulated interview situations
  • Pay research
  • Social media help, and much more.

By engaging in personalized outplacement services, individuals can tap into employment opportunities and gain access to tools and resources that are essential for successful job searching and career transition.

Outplacement assistance

With outplacement assistance, they can make sure they find a new job quickly, while also maximizing their potential in future roles.

It is important to note that outplacement services may be offered by employers or third-party companies, giving individuals more options to explore outplacement services that best meet their needs.

With outplacement, professionals are better equipped to find the right job that fits their goals and skill set, so they can continue pursuing their career aspirations despite difficult circumstances.

Do all companies offer outplacement support?

Not all the companies offer outplacement support. It is mainly part of bigger organizations that want to offer this extra service to support their employees and show them that they care for their lives and the next steps of their careers.

How much does outplacement support typically cost for companies?

The cost is calculated around $4k per employee.

Is outplacement worth it?

Outplacement services, like all recruitment and HR-related services, come with a cost, but they offer several benefits both to employees and employers.

For an organization, deciding to terminate a collaboration with an employee (regardless of the reason) is not an easy task and decision. Sometimes though, due to budget restrictions or business risks, it might be inevitable.

However, providing outplacement support for a company is very important both for the social responsibility and for the corporate values and the culture of the company.

Terminating an employee for whatever reason is always a tough decision to make, but providing severance and personalized outplacement services can ease the transition for existing employees.

It’s a harsh reality that no management team or staff member wants to come across, but it’s sometimes inevitable.

Employers, however, can choose to offer extended support to those they terminate as part of their core value and social responsibility through outplacement.

So simply put, outplacement is the support service that organizations provide to help laid-off employees as they transition to new jobs and help re-orient them in the job market.

To check if it is worth, we provide a list of the benefits (both for employers and employees)

How do employers benefit from providing outplacement services?

The benefits for the employers are the following:

Increase the retention and productivity of their employees

With so many competitors out there, showing as a company that you care for your people (by providing an outplacement service) and their career path and how they can change careers is a reason for talented individuals to work and grow inside the company.

Being secure and feeling that even if they don't like this job, their company will provide training and support using their internal (or external) Outplacement services for workforce transitioning.

So overall, showing the staff that they are valued can help a company retain their best talent and increase productivity and

Well... If you keep your people happy, then you eliminate the legal risks and enhance your employer brand, even during a reduction in force. That's in one sentence the case here.

Can be used as a way to negotiate the salary of an employer. Outplacement services and support can be an extra weapon for companies that want to negotiate the salary of their new hires.

Compensation negotiations are not an easy task, and thus having a way to provide extra perks (like cars, meals, and well... outplacement services or outplacement support) is a motivational factor for an employee to join a company.

What is not an outplacement?

Outplacement is not the same as a personal shopper who performs all the legwork. An outplacement coach (or an outplacement service provided by a company) does not find employment, put individuals in positions, or apply for jobs on the jobseeker's behalf.

The coach is knowledgeable about hiring procedures and trends. Coaches assist jobseekers in overcoming difficulties in obtaining new employment.

They could concentrate on developing a better personal brand, interviewing skills, networking habits, or even coping with the emotional impact of job loss.

How does outplacement work?

If you've chosen an outplacement provider, you should be able to launch the program within a few days if the need is urgent.

You will be given a client success manager who will work closely with you and your leadership teams to roll out services to your affected workers effectively and sensitively.

Employees should be able to connect with career advisors right away to begin their Career transition and job hunt. Career coaches will be assigned to each jobseeker for the formulation and implementation of a customized job search strategy.

Traditionally, outplacement services were provided in person. However, finding outplacement providers who are professionals in virtual outplacement delivery for coaching or counseling and jobseeker resources is critical nowadays.

An outplacement firm should also give information to assist you in understanding program ROI.

Can I find a free outplacement program?

Finding an outplacement program in your company or using an external outplacement service is a great way to prepare for the future.

There are a lot of criteria to check to find the right outplacement program for you. Mainly check the price and the details of the outplacement program since different outplacement programs might offer different services.

For example, an outplacement program A might be offering only resume creation while another outplacement program B might be also offering mock interviews and career upskilling. So be careful when you compare outplacement programs with the exact details of what kind of services each program provides.

Are there any executive outplacement services?

Definitely. Executive outplacement services are the most expensive ones since there is a very niche category of jobs and companies looking for executive roles and thus executive outplacement support might be a hard task for companies.

However, several executive outplacement services offer great programs and can help you with the next steps of your career by providing support when creating your resume and when applying online.

What Are Some Outplacement Services?

  • Time off for employees to hunt for employment or attend interviews.
  • A professional CV writing service.
  • Advice and instruction on how to prepare for job interviews.
  • Advice on How to Navigate the Current Job Market
  • Skills tests demonstrate what workers are actually competent at.
  • Advice on how to network at events or where to discover relevant events to attend.
  • Training on how to negotiate pay
  • Career advice, particularly for people who have been out of the labour for a long period.
  • A free hotline number for workers to chat about any difficulties impacting them—including emotional and mental health issues.
  • Help with financial guidance and salary entitlements.
  • Extra face-to-face sessions to discuss the procedure.

Loopcv - to improve outplacement counseling

Loopcv is a platform that helps you get 3x more interviews using automation. Upload your CV, select the type of job you want, and press start. Loopcv will mass apply on your behalf every single day!

Loopcv can help you (as a company to provide great outplacement services but also as a jobseeker to find your next job faster) with CV improvements, career advising, automated applications, and of course with your ideal job matching!

outplacement services support by Loopcv

What are you waiting for?

» FREE TRIAL: Get Started with LoopCV & Send Out 100s of Highly-Targeted Job Applications in <10 Minutes

In summary!

Outplacement services provide essential guidance and support to individuals who have been laid off or out of work for an extended time. Outplacement services help individuals take control of their careers and maximize their potential in future roles.

By utilizing outplacement resources, people can better prepare themselves for the job market and have an increased chance of finding a job that fits their goals, skill set, and needs!

You can also read our article:

Should I mass apply to jobs?
Here are some guidelines for deciding whether it makes sense for you to apply for every job that matches your search criteria or not!
Loopcv blogZoi Kotsou