There are major corporations all around the globe that have made an investment into corporate outplacement services. These companies have taken it upon themselves to take care of their loyal employees and provide them with tools to keep them working no matter what – even when it is necessary to make some layoffs.
Wondering why so many leading companies of the world are spending money on outplacement? Here are a few helpful insights provided by companies just like you have added or replaced severance packages with outplacement services.
Choose one that provides a variety of services
This is the main advice to keep in mind when you start your search for a solid outplacement agency. Resume support is a given, but more than just this should be offered. Look for a service that provides one-on-one coaching sessions for interviewing, job search hunting, and career counseling.
They should also have the option for an hour-long mock interview session. Sometimes these services are all-inclusive within the price, but other companies will charge you an additional cost the more services you add.
The support time should be 6 weeks or more
You can’t expect to always find a job immediately, especially when the economy isn’t at its best. Often it takes a least a month to get back into the game, and this is when you are trying your absolute best to get your resume out into the world and lock down interviews. For this reason, you should only invest in outplacement that provides at least 30 to 45 days of support.
The better (yet more expensive) agencies will provide as much as much as 90 days of additional support to your employees. This means that for 3 whole months your employees will have access to the experts and receive help with resumes, cover letters, applications, and preparing for interviews.
Don’t let the cost of coverage deter you
Depending on the agency you choose and the package you opt for, the price of outplacement can vary dramatically. If you want to guarantee that you ex-employees will find work successfully and in a timely manner, don’t be stingy. It might cost you as much as $2000 per employee you want to cover, but this is just a small price to pay when you are forced to put a halt to a paycheck.
There are different forms and levels of outplacement
Outplacement for executives is different than the services provided to entry-level or professional employees. This is because execs are people that hold leadership roles like CEO, CFO, or COO whereas professionals hold positions within departments rather than heading the department. The skills and qualifications to be an executive are much more extensive.
For this reason, execs require a completely different level of outplacement than professionals. For example, an executive resume should include a single-page biography and statistics showing your value in your last position. Professional resumes don’t require as much, although the resume support of outplacement pros will still be extremely beneficial.