A lot of companies don’t feel that the services provided by an outplacement agency are a necessary investment. That is until they are required to make employment cuts throughout different departments and have the unfortunate task of laying off a few of their loyal workers.
No company enjoys firing people or making cuts throughout the workplace but sometimes it is just something that needs to happen. The process doesn’t have to be so terrible though and can be alleviated with the help of outplacement services.
Outplacement agencies provide services to companies in the instance of firings or layoffs in order to help their employees find new work opportunities as quickly as possible. There are plenty of agencies that provide these services but not all of them are as successful as the next. When investing in outplacement always look for these key features and services.
At least 30 days of support
It isn’t enough to just give your ex-employees one day or one week of support in finding a new job. Finding employment takes time so you should only invest in an outplacement agency that offers at least one month of support. This should give someone plenty of time to find a job or at least land a few interviews.
The best outplacement services offer 45+ days of support. Keep in mind that the more you pay for outplacement the longer the support period tends to be. If you invest some money into an outplacement program there is a good chance that there will be up to 90 days of support provided.
One-on-one interview coaching sessions
Interviewing is an important aspect of the job hunting process. Even if your resume is flawless and you have the appropriate skills and qualifications, the real test is during an interview. Outplacement can help you feel fully prepared for the interview process by offering one-on-one coaching sessions.
During these sessions you’ll practice how to answer questions that are likely to be asked by the interviewer. Questions about strengths and weaknesses, educational background, and previous work experience aren’t always easy so having a coaching session beforehand can make all the difference.
Modern job search coaching
You would think that with so many search engines in 2019 that the prospect of finding a job would be simple. Unfortunately this is not always the case, especially if you don’t know how to use search engines like Indeed or Monster in the right way.
LinkedIn profile optimization
A lot of hiring companies expect you to have a LinkedIn profile and if you don’t you might not be considered for the position at all. Outplacement services can help you update your existing profile or create a new one from scratch. These professionals know the ins and outs of LinkedIn and know what hiring companies are looking for in these profiles.
Complete resume writing and supporting documents
This is the priority service offered by outplacement agencies everywhere. If you have worked in the same place for 15+ years there’s a good chance that you haven’t even looked at your resume in a while. Outplacement can help you perfect your resume in order to showcase your skills in the best way possible.