The task to select an outplacement provider, whether during an annual review of benefits, or in preparation for a reduction in force, can feel overwhelming. So how can you be sure you’re choosing a top outplacement firm? Below, we review the features and benefits that strong programs offer, so that during your evaluation process you can easily compare outplacement companies and find the right benefits for your organization.
Download the Outplacement Vendor ChecklistTop Outplacement Firms: Key Considerations
The Company
When comparing outplacement vendors, you want to take both a holistic and micro view. Consider each firm’s reputation, its responsiveness to customer needs and requests, and its ability to support your workforce wherever it may be, whether in the U.S. or globally. It may also be important to you that the provider offers cost-effective solutions, and that it can easily scale its solutions quickly to service sudden events. These are just some of the considerations involved with comparing and choosing the right outplacement firm.
| Company | |
| FEATURE | BENEFIT |
| Reputation | Vendor has a strong reputation and has received industry endorsements and awards |
| Ratings | Vendor has high satisfaction ratings from those who received service |
| Focus | Vendor is specialized in outplacement and has established expertise in this sensitive offering |
| Innovation | Vendor prioritizes new technology and program features that advance career coaching support and resources to support the individualized needs of the modern job seeker |
| Results | Vendor demonstrates proven success in helping candidates land faster |
| Cost-effective | Vendor passes along the cost-savings from technology solutions to clients to enable further investment in stabilizing your business |
| Flexible | Vendor has the ability to customize the program for your needs and for employees of all levels—non-exempt to CEO—and to include on-site support, extended service, and more |
| Extended length of service | Vendor provides adequate support that aligns with the average time needed for affected employees to find a new opportunity |
| Global support | Vendor can provide career transition to support your global workforce |
| Scale | Vendor can quickly scale to accommodate sudden workforce changes |
Career Coaching
Career coaches are vital to the success of an outplacement program. When evaluating different providers, you’ll want to consider not only the experience of the coaches, but also the method and approach of delivery. For example, is the coaching personalized? Is it offered only during the week or also on weekends? Can participants get coaching without time or session caps? Having this information will ensure you’re making an accurate comparison. It will also help you to choose a program that offers your employees the greatest benefit to expedite their paths to meaningful new employment. There are many other features to consider when looking at coaching services from different providers, so read the list below.
| Career Coaching | |
| FEATURE | BENEFIT |
| Experience | Career coaches have advanced degrees, extensive experience and accreditations |
| Personalized coaching | Coaches have experience with candidates of all levels, industries and functions, and provide personalized guidance based on each person's individual circumstances and interests |
| On-demand access to career coaches | Participants can initiate live one-on-one sessions with a career coach at their convenience, via video, talk or text chat throughout the entire program, with no session caps |
| Availability 7 days/week | Candidates have access to coaches when they need it |
| Unlimited coaching | No session or program caps to ensure that individuals get the support they need |
| Resume and cover letter writing and critique 7 days/week | Participants have weekend support from coaches on the tasks they need to complete in order to be prepared for every opportunity that comes their way |
| LinkedIn profile writing and critique 7 days/week | Participants have weekend support from coaches for critical job search activities and more |
| Immediate access | Candidates gain immediate access to coaches to help speed the transition — no orientation required for the best candidate experience |
| Executive-level experience | Coaches have proven success in developing strategies to guide executives through the unique challenges they face |
| Interview practice | Vendor offers video interview practice, which candidates can share with a coach, and also allows you to conduct mock interviews with a coach over the phone or video |
| Alumni access | Vendor offers extended access to job seeker resources and coaches beyond the program term |
Online Career Center
A resource-rich technology platform is a component of a full-service outplacement program that bolsters coaching by providing tools employees can use on their own and/or with the help of a coach to enrich their job search and transition experience. From assessments to resume builders, job boards to interview practice tools, and workshops to guides, the right outplacement program will offer an easy-to-navigate center for everything a job seeker needs to support their coaching experience.
| Online Career Center | |
| FEATURE | BENEFIT |
| Resume writing | Career coaches help candidates build, edit and tailor their resumes based on their individual goals, 7 days a week |
| LinkedIn profile writing | Career coaches review and critique candidate's personal branding across professional and social media channels |
| Cover letter writing | In addition to coaches guiding individuals on how to write strong cover letters that help their applications stand out, vendor provides cover letter builders and templates |
| Job board with millions of postings | Participants have access to millions of jobs, with the ability to set up alerts for new postings, helping to ensure they are among the first to apply |
| Innovative interview practice tools | Program offers video interview practice technology, in addition to the ability to conduct mock interviews with coaches via video or phone call |
| Self-assessments | Program offers a variety of assessments covering skill, value, style, preference discovery and more |
| Networking and LinkedIn strategies | Participants can jumpstart their networking activities with the help of the platform's LinkedIn integration by identifying connections at their target companies |
| Access | 24/7 unlimited access to online career center from any device, including mobile |
Implementation
Even the best program won’t be as effective as it could be if impacted employees can’t get started quickly. A worthwhile outplacement provider will have best-in-class account management that ensures you have the support you need where and when you need it. Also check the vendor’s record regarding service outages, and its ability to provide reporting, so that you can be sure you’re getting the right value for your investment.
| Implementation | |
| FEATURE | BENEFIT |
| Packages | Standardized packages offer value at every price point and for all employee levels from non-exempt to CEO, with the ability to further customize as needed |
| On-site support | Coaches can be brought on-site or provide support via webinars to ease day-of communication and education to impacted employees |
| Dedicated account manager | A dedicated account manager provides consultative guidance and schedules quarterly business reviews |
| Reporting | Vendor's technology provides on-demand access to real-time reporting dashboard |
| Platform stability | Vendor uses best-in-class web service provider to ensure candidate access is never interrupted |
Selecting a Top Outplacement Provider
Being armed with a comprehensive list of desirable features will help you choose an outplacement company and programs that best suit your needs and that make the greatest difference for your impacted employees. In turn, that choice will make the selection and implementation process easier for your management team, and offer the best protection for your employer brand.
Additional Resources for Selecting a Top Outplacement Vendor
The Essential Guide to Outplacement
How to Get the Best Results from an Outplacement RFP
INTOO’s outplacement program helps employees transition to new jobs through an unlimited number of hours of one-on-one, on-demand coaching from premier career counselors, resume reviews, and other career services. Learn more about how our outplacement program can benefit your company when you’re transitioning employees.
