Effects of Outplacement

Series Summary

Human resources is a term that many organizations or businesses use to describe the combination of typically administrative personnel functions with performance, employee relations and resource planning. Human resources refers to the individuals within a company, and to the part of the business that deals with hiring, firing, training and other personnel issues. The field of human resources uses concepts that were developed in industrial and organizational psychology. In this free video series, a certified personnel consultant provides information on human resources. Learn about the effects of outplacement, how to negotiate a new job salary and how to give up job satisfaction in exchange for a higher salary. Discover how to find projected employee retirement benefits, the best way to find great employees and find out about the impact of diversity training.

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Pat Goodwin with Pat Goodwin Associates. The topic today is what is the effects of outplacement. First of all let me explain what outplacement is. Companies who are going through a painful lay-off or a plant closure, on office closure, oftentimes more than not today will offer an outplacement program to the separated employees. If you're leaving the company is based on performance, if it's based on retirement or if it's based on them making a decision that you are not a fit anymore, or as I mentioned, it's based on the fact that they need to reduce staff; then most often today they are offering outplacement services. That is an organization, that is, it is there to serve the employee. The fee is paid by the company so the separated employee does not have to worry about any cost. The company that is hired to do this is usually an expert in their field. They will work with the person in an outplacement program; it could be a one-day workshop, a two-day workshop, a three-day workshop. It could be a month of services, three months services, up to a year depending on the level of the person who's leaving. They would then work with that individual on helping them understand their job search strategy, helping them identify what their key strengths and weaknesses are, helping them put together and develop a resume that would screen them in and out. Helping them with interview training. Helping them to maybe possibly tape their interview so they could look for ways that they need to communicate more clearly their answer; having a mock interview. Helping them with their cover letters and their emails, if that would be the case. Specifically, helping them network in the community where they could help connect them with someone in the community who may have a job that they're interested in applying for and then helping them negotiate the offer and giving them the language that when the offer is made, how they can possibly negotiate for an increase in salary. So the outplacement services take their word very seriously. They are highly trained consultants who have worked with numerous people in and whose gone through career transition. I would highly encourage anyone who is being offered outplacement services to take advantage of it; to be able to listen and seek guidance of the consultant who is being hired to help you. Everything is confidential. There is no reporting back to the company about what you say or how you would like to vent or information that you would like to share with them in confidence, that is not shared back with the company. And you need to make sure that you state that very clearly to them so they would have that expectation. But that is a general rule of thumb with all outplacement services, that you become the client, the company pays the fee, but their focus is on you. So thank you and I hope that gives you a better understanding about what outplacement services are."