What Is Outplacement and How Does It Work?

According to the Office for National Statistics, around 35,000 people are made redundant in the UK every month. That’s a staggering figure, especially if you consider that many of those who are let go are left entirely to their own devices to find new employment.

Until recently, Outplacement services mostly only existed in the form of redundancy counselling, which focused almost exclusively on the emotional fall-out from job loss. There was a rudimentary amount of job-hunting support, but it rarely took someone into new employment – and it rarely did so quickly.

Today, things are very different and Outplacement is now far more practical, generative and results oriented. But not only does Outplacement look different, it feels and performs differently too.

What is Outplacement?

Today, Outplacement offers a suite of services aimed at helping staff who have been made redundant to move on and find appropriate new work roles and positions either within the organisation they currently work or for a new company. The purpose of Outplacement is firmly focused on aiding staff in making smooth transitions from one role to another.

This is why well-designed and executed Outplacement services offer both practical and emotional support in order to support someone in finding a new role. And, possibly even more importantly, it’s about helping that person move on to a new role positively so they get an appropriate job that continues to develop their career.

Due to many companies taking on time-limited project work and needing greater staff flexibility, there are far fewer jobs for life and that means Outplacement services are more in demand and relevant than ever before. As more people than ever before are likely to be made redundant at some point during their career, understanding and learning the skills needed to find and secure a new position are critical.

For that reason, good Outplacement services are set to become a prime differentiator between companies and are likely to have a substantial impact on whether the best people decide to work for one company rather than another. So, offering Outplacement services that help to support and guide an individual through the challenging job-search period not only benefits that person but the company as well.

Outplacement typically offers a range of services, including:

• Career coaching.
• Career planning.
• CV Writing.
• Practice with interviews.
• Help with making job applications.

What can be achieved through good Outplacement services is often the difference between a member of staff moving on positively or not, which can have a huge impact on the reputation and hiring power of that organisation. This makes good Outplacement an essential part of the redundancy package, turning a potentially negative experience into a positive one.

How has Outplacement Changed?

In the past, Outplacement was focused on providing emotional support resembling counselling rather than career guidance. The goal appeared to be to offer help to an individual so they could manage their stress and other emotions around loss and change rather than helping them find a new role.

This response is no longer seen as appropriate or relevant as helping to deal with emotions does not help the individual secure appropriate employment quickly. As the practical implications of job loss are often the key source of anxiety and stress, new Outplacement services focus far more on solving the practical problem instead of dealing with the emotional fall-out of job loss.

That’s why the emphasis is on helping someone identify their next career move, review their CV and identify where and how to locate positions they want to go for. Of course, not everyone who is made redundant decides to find a new job. Some choose to travel, study or even start their own business. Even so, the coaching included as part of the Outplacement services can be instrumental in helping someone decide to make a different kind of change in their life.

How does it work?

Outplacement now comes in the form of packages that include a range of support materials and options. This is usually available for a period of time and includes a specific number of personal sessions as well as support via email and phone. It means that someone who has been made redundant can get started with their job-search as soon as they are ready to do so.

While many Outplacement services are delivered from plush city offices and offer group as well as individual support, offsite and remote services are becoming increasingly popular as they offer greater flexibility and are more accessible.

Online and remote do not, however, mean that someone is left to their own devices. Instead, it means they have the joint benefit of unrestricted access to digital resources and e-learning alongside personal one-to-one expertise and guidance. This means someone can enjoy all the benefits of outsourcing without being tied to a specific location or having to travel to face-to-face meetings, with all the inconvenience that this entails.

If you have worked with an Outplacement provider for a long period or continued with a contract set up by a previous HR team you may have a service that no longer fits the needs of your company and its employees. Even if you aren’t expecting to make any redundancies soon, now could be a great time to review the service you are offering to check that it is fit not only for your own purpose but that of your staff as well.

Contact London Outplacement Services now to arrange a review of your Outplacement services and find out how our bespoke remote services could help your staff and organisation manage redundancy better in the future.