You are here: Home / Your Guide to Job Search / L. You & Outplacement

Outplacement – Should I or Shouldn’t I (Hint: Yes!)

December 15, 2008 By Mark

“Yes” is the only answer if you should take Outplacement if offered. 

Outplacement Services provides a number of great services; I found the following the most valuable part of being aligned with Outplacement:

1.       Sense of progress – Each firm provides a good process for running your search (and usually a consultant to help guide you).  Having a process help you feel organized and focused, which really helps keep your emotion in check because you can see your progress.

2.       Access to their alumni – These folks has been through the process, so they understand how you’re feeling and how to help you.

Filed Under: L. You & Outplacement Tagged With: Outplacement

How to Best Use Your Service

December 15, 2008 By Mark

Outplacement is just like the rest of your search, in that you determine the pace.  The outplacement staff can point you in the right direction and offer guidance along the way, but you run the search. 

How to best use the service will vary by person, but I’d encourage you do the following:

a.       Their Process – Get a thorough understanding of their roadmap, so you know how to track your progress

b.      Leveraging their experience

                                                               i.      Ask where candidates typically have the most trouble and how to avoid it

                                                             ii.      Work with your consultant on when its most productive to use their workshops, data resources, etc.

c.       Understand your consultant skills – Where they can help you the most?  What are their best skills (e.g. writing a snappy resume, networking ideas, preparation for interviewing)

d.      Interviewing practice sessions – There is an art to communicating short and information rich responses.   The only way to master this is to speak the words out loud, not just running answers through your head.

Filed Under: L. You & Outplacement Tagged With: How to use Outplacement, Outplacement

Interviewing the Outplacement Consultant

December 15, 2008 By Mark

These are simple “Yes” and “No” questions to ask the person guiding you at the outplacement firm.  If the answer is “No”, then try to get a different consultant or simply set your expectations properly.

1.       Have you been in transition?

2.       Were you in transition more than 6 months?

3.       Did you have over 100 networking meetings?

4.       Did you seek a role at the _____________ level?  (Insert the level you seek)

I don’t mean to offend any consultant, but there’s a big difference between exposure and experience. 

If the person across the table has been through the same as what you are facing, then they are prepared to give you a plan to follow and help you hold yourself accountable to working the plan.  

I always say a happily married divorce lawyer have an idea of what been divorced is like, but does not know what it really is.  Same applies here.

Filed Under: L. You & Outplacement Tagged With: Outplacement