When you role was made redundant, you may have thought outplacement help wouldn’t be of use to you. Maybe you felt confident in navigating your job search independently or believed that your past experience would be enough to land a new role. However, as your search progresses, you may have started to realise it’s not going as well as you had hoped. This is where outplacement help can make a world of difference, no matter what stage of your job search you’re in.
Outplacement services provide valuable support that goes far beyond the initial weeks after redundancy. Whether you’re struggling to land interviews, facing a long job search, or even negotiating a new job offer, outplacement help is designed to offer guidance and resources that can be life-changing. From coping with change, evaluating career options and refining your resume, to interview preparation and salary negotiation, here are some ways outplacement help can assist you, regardless of when you decide to start using it.
Struggling to get job interviews? You’re not alone
One of the most common challenges job seekers face is the inability to land interviews, even if their skills and experience align with job requirements. We recently heard from two professionals, whose roles had been made redundant a while ago, who initially declined outplacement services and tried to go it alone.
As weeks passed and rejections piled up, they began to feel disheartened and despaired of securing jobs. Eventually, they reached out to us, asking if they could start outplacement help later than planned. The answer was: absolutely. It wasn’t too late to begin accessing the resources and guidance that would help turn their job search around.
Outplacement help is always beneficial – at any stage
While you may gain the most from outplacement if you start soon after redundancy, the truth is that these services can benefit you at any point in your job search. Whether you’re just beginning or several weeks in, outplacement help can provide valuable insights and strategies. Below are 10 reasons why investing your time in outplacement support is always a good idea.
1. Take advantage of free career coaching
If you’ve been offered support to transition to a new role as part of your redundancy package, don’t overlook this free assistance. You may feel you don’t need support coping with redundancy and finding a new job, but really you’ve got nothing to lose – and plenty to gain.
As it’s being paid for by your previous employer, why not benefit from career advice at no cost to you? It’s free, and you get to choose what support will help you most. Career coaching can help you identify your next steps, leverage industry connections and gain insights into market trends. Use your consultant’s career management knowledge and professional, recruitment and training network to find the job you really want.
And the support is entirely confidential, meaning your discussions with your consultant won’t be shared with your former employer.
2. Cope with change
Redundancy is one of the most emotionally challenging experiences, often leading to stress, anxiety and uncertainty. It can take time to come to terms with the change to your circumstances and to begin with you may prefer to focus on other things. However identifying and understanding the emotions you may be feeling can help you better deal with them and come to terms with the situation.
Outplacement help can provide emotional support to navigate these changes. By helping you process your feelings about job loss, outplacement can shift your mindset from one of loss to one of opportunity. This helps you tackle the competitive job market and move into suitable new employment as soon as possible.
3. Assess potential career directions
If it’s been a few weeks since you role was made redundant, maybe you’ve started to realise your previous role wasn’t your dream job. Redundancy presents an unexpected opportunity to rethink your career direction. Outplacement help can assist you in exploring new career paths, industries or even entrepreneurial ventures you may not have considered before.
In-depth assessments, career coaching and industry insights can help you better understand your skills, interests and values, giving you the clarity to pursue a role that truly aligns with your passions. Whether you’re thinking of switching industries, upskilling or even starting your own business, outplacement services can provide the guidance and resources to make informed decisions. From senior executives to administrators, it this analysis can assist you to move forward with confidence.
4. Find a better work/life balance
Perhaps you’ve now discovered that you’re tired of the long hours and high-pressure environment of your previous job. Maybe you no longer want to sacrifice time with friends and family or to deal with a manager’s unrelenting demands.
Outplacement services can help you explore and evaluate alternatives that offer a better balance, like part-time work, consulting, self-employment, studying or even early retirement if you’re financially prepared.
If your redundancy package included severance pay, you may now have the funds and the time to investigate new options and follow up ambitions you previously rejected due to lack of time and money.
5. Learn about new job search methods
The job market evolves rapidly. If it’s been a few years since you last searched for a job, you may not be up to speed on the latest trends and methods. Social media in particular has become popular with employers as a means to recruit new staff. If traditional methods haven’t worked for you so far, outplacement help can introduce you to these new methods and show you to use them effectively when looking for work, from crafting a professional online profile to networking and applying for roles.
For example, although a resume is still a key part of a job search, many recruiters and employers now search for potential candidates through LinkedIn. They use keywords to identify people matching what they are looking for. And as part of a modern job search strategy, you can use LinkedIn to find and apply for job postings, research organisations, identify contacts and so on.
6. Update your resume
If you haven’t been getting job interviews, your resume may not be selling your skills and achievements effectively to employers. Your resume is your first impression in the job market. By working with an outplacement consultant you can create a results-oriented resume that increases its effectiveness.
Outplacement consults are experts in resume writing and can make your resume stand out from the crowd (for all the right reasons). They can transform your resume into a powerful tool that showcases your achievements, challenges you’ve overcome, ideas you’ve introduced or business and awards you have won, impressing the reader with your past experiences and success. This increases your chances of securing job interviews and moving forward in the hiring process.
7. Expand your professional network
Networking is a key part of job searching. But for those of us who are not natural networkers, it can be difficult making connections. This is another area where outplacement can make the task easier if you’ve been struggling with your approach.
An outplacement consultant can guide you on how to build connections and tap into the hidden job market, where many positions are never advertised. Expanding your network can open doors you never knew existed and give you a competitive edge.
8. Improve your interview technique
A strong resume gets you in the door, but a successful interview lands you the job. Are your interview skills preventing you from securing a new role?
A job interview is when you go into greater detail about the experience and abilities you have included in your resume. It’s not enough to recite a list of skills. Employers want you to provide examples of how you have used those skills and what you achieved.
Outplacement consultants know what interviewers want to hear. They can provide interview coaching that helps you refine your technique, articulate your strengths and build confidence. Whether you struggle with nerves or need help answering tough questions, interview coaching can make a significant difference so that you come across as engaging, articulate and likeable while still being yourself.
9. Strengthen your negotiation skills
If you’ve made it to the offer stage, you’re in a great position. Even if you don’t access outplacement help until this stage, negotiation coaching can help you to increase the salary package and benefits on offer.
Negotiating a job offer can be intimidating, especially if you’re unsure of your market value or uncomfortable asking for more money. People don’t want to seem rude or greedy asking for a higher salary that what’s offered by a potential employer. Outplacement help provides proactive solutions to the challenge, giving you the skills to articulate your value proposition, advocate for yourself and secure a salary package that reflects your worth.
10. Future-proof your job search
Even if you have a job lined up already, career transition support can still be beneficial. Outplacement help doesn’t just help you secure your next role. It equips you with skills you can use throughout your career. Whether it’s learning to navigate job searches more effectively or building a strong professional network, the tools you gain through career coaching are investments in your long-term career success.
It’s never too late to benefit from outplacement help
It doesn’t matter whether you start outplacement help immediately after your redundancy or weeks down the line. The important thing is that you recognise the value of professional guidance in your job search, career direction or professional development. Career transition support is designed to help you navigate every step, from coping with job loss to negotiating your next role. Even if you already have an offer on the table, outplacement services can help ensure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Take the next step
Investing in yourself through outplacement help can make all the difference to your career, whether you’re just starting to explore new opportunities or nearing the end of your job search. Outplacement consultants provide the knowledge, tools and emotional support you need to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
Accepting outplacement help isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a smart move that will increase your chances of finding a fulfilling new role and advancing your career.