Outplacement is a career assistance service that helps employees who have been laid off or terminated find new jobs or careers. It is an employer-sponsored benefit typically provided as part of a severance package. Outplacement services focus on improving the skills needed for re-employment, such as writing resumes and cover letters, navigating job boards, interviewing, networking, and negotiating salaries. Outplacement services can be provided in a one-on-one or group setting, in person, online, or via phone. Outplacement firms are organizations that specialize in helping employees who are terminated or laid off find new jobs or careers.
Employers offer outplacement services to help exiting workers find new jobs, ease the transition, and maintain their brand reputation when layoffs or terminations become unavoidable. Businesses that offer outplacement may also find that it improves their reputation and reduces the cost of unemployment claims. Outplacement services can reduce stress and turmoil for transitioning employees and mitigate risk for the employer. Outplacement services can be beneficial for all parties monetarily, professionally, and emotionally and, more often than not, ensure a peaceful end to a working relationship.
Outplacement services can include a variety of services, such as career coaching, interview training, job search advice, resume writing, and more. Outplacement firms that offer flexible options, such as group meetings, individual sessions, in-person instruction, online resources, video conferences, etc., allow individuals to participate on their own schedule and in a way that is most comfortable for them. Outplacement services can teach employees new skills that they can take forward when applying for any new job.
The cost of an outplacement firm ranges from a few hundred dollars for basic services to upwards of $20,000 for executive services. Charges are based per employee, but employers are only billed for those who actually use the service. In addition, outplacement fees may be fixe...
