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    What are hearing from senior level professionals regarding the outplacement services they are receiving as part of their severance packages? follow this discussion

    career coaching displaced executives interview outplacement resume transition
    started 5 months ago by

    Have these executives been satisfied with the career services, coaching, and seminars they have been provided, and if not, where do they think improvements can be made? And what is your opinion regarding the pros and cons of traditional outplacement?

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    • 1 point 5 months ago

      Hi Mark!

      I think you already know where I come in on this subject (!), but I have been chatting with a number of very good independent outplacement providers (as opposed to the large OP firms) and they too agree that the big providers are way behind in technology, technique, and approach.  I stronglyl believe that if HR managers knew just how ineffective these services are, they'd migrate to more results-oriented providers.  And I think people who have recruiting/search backgorunds are ideally suited for results-driven outplacement support to disengaged employees.  Smart employers will begin to ask their outplacement providers to offer regular reports, updates, and proven results to get future contracts.  Outplacement is an expensive - but needed - benefit to offer.  Just like other benefits programs, HR leaders should demand quality.

    • 1 point 5 months ago

      Mark -

       

      To be honest, I have seen some of these sad attepts at outplacement and it is a wonder any of these people ever find jobs!  The details are outdated and so out of line (ex. Call the manager 5-7x a day until you finally get through and get the interview).  One of them that I was brought in to help revamp didn't even mention any online job boards - it was written in 1997 and said "job boards are a passing fad and your best bet is to stick with the newspaper and cold calling"...so, so sad.  

      On the resume front - many are still telling people that they MUST do a 1 page resume - regardless of level or experience.  On the interview front - they don't typically have behavioral interview training (In the case of 2 firms that I had been brought in on from a consulting perspective - 1 had never even heard of it) yet are winning LARGE clients outplacement contracts.  

       

      So....  

      my pros - I think it is a desperately needed service for people that are entering the job market for the first time in decades

      my cons - I think most companies that do it hurt more than they help a candidate because the people are out of the loop and untrained on current recruiting practices - which in the end is how you actually land the job.