Unfortunately thousands of workers have been made redundant in recent times or are about to be. So, what exactly is outplacement support and what should I do about it?
By Eoghan McDermott
Firstly, outplacement is a term used to describe efforts made by a downsizing company to help former employees through the transition to new jobs and help them re-orientate to the job market. A consultancy firm usually provides the outplacement services which are paid for by the former employer and are achieved through practical advice and psychological support.
Outplacement support means several things to several companies. For bad companies, it’s a way of fobbing off the staff (and unions if they’re involved.) It’s something they can announce to make it look like they care. For good companies, it’s proof they care. When used properly, outplacement support can make a huge difference in the lives of the people who have left their jobs.
At its most basic, the outplacement agency should be helping you prepare your CV and should be getting that CV to potential employers. But it should be much more than that. It should turn a difficult and frightening time into an opportunity. And if the service you receive doesn’t do that, then it’s up to you.
That means forgetting the job you now do and start with a blank sheet. What do you enjoy in your job? What has made you happiest in your work? What have you always wanted to do? You need to be wary of focusing on speed and pure survival.
Look at it instead as an unusual freedom. Once you’ve figured out what you would like to do, find out the qualifications and experience you need to do it. If the outplacer is good they’ll do this with you. If they aren’t, hand them your goal as a foregone conclusion. And say ‘help.’
It is then that their task to find the courses, jobs and contacts to help you get what you want. And it’s their job to prepare you to use those contacts and get those jobs.
If you have a question about your job or career that Eoghan could help you with, why not email JOE at shout@joe.ie?
Eoghan McDermott is Head of The Careers Clinic in The Communications Clinic and is the author of The Career Doctor- How to Get and Keep the Job You Want.
Contact Eoghan at eoghan@communicationsclinic.ie
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