It isn’t working out with my current employer and, unfortunately, we are arranging my termination package. One of the things my friends recommend is outplacement services as part of any agreement. What exactly is this service, and is it something worthwhile?

Termination of employment, even when, as in your situation, you are aware it is coming, can be a very difficult time in anyone’s life. It is a loss – emotionally, socially, financially, intellectually, and spiritually – and outplacement services can often be a good idea to ease the transition from your current job to the next stage in your life.

What is outplacement?

Outplacement is a professional service provided by many employers to employees affected by involuntary job loss. It is designed to help the former employee transition from their previous job to their next career or life stage. It is usually offered as part of a severance package or termination agreement, and the employer usually pays all costs. Employers typically provide this service to mitigate the impact of the termination decision on the affected employee, and allow them to move on more quickly to the next stage of their life.

Who provides the service?

Professional outplacement companies and individual practitioners provide expert advice on career planning and job search, including resume and cover letter preparation, interview coaching, and other career services. While the former employer usually pays the costs, all discussions with the counsellor are usually considered to be confidential. Outplacement professionals are not recruiters with a long list of available jobs for the taking; they are there to assist their clients with career planning and the job search process. Many individuals affected by sudden job loss take the opportunity to reevaluate their lives and careers, and can use the transition as a positive catalyst for personal change and reinvigoration.

A history of outplacement in Canada

The outplacement industry in Canada is more than 25 years old, and grew, in large part, to address the reorganization, or “downsizing” trends that began in the 1980s. This was still a time when being terminated was equivalent to becoming a social outcast, with the stigma of “if their last company fired them, there must be something wrong with them”. The costs for outplacement were high, and were usually offered only to senior level executives. Professionals trained primarily in psychological counselling helped these executives to overcome the loss, and pick up the pieces of their careers. This quickly grew to include support services such as typing, telephone answering, and a physical location from which to start their job search.

Over the past two decades, the combination of breakthroughs in technology, individual concerns surrounding job termination, and social attitudes to sudden job loss have changed the dynamics of the outplacement industry dramatically. Costs for outplacement packages have declined, allowing most employees within organizations to receive some form of assistance when terminated.

Know what you are entitled to

More recently, the economics of the industry has led to much less one-on-one individual attention, and the use of workshops can lead individuals to become frustrated. The Internet has become a very useful tool for the provision of knowledge needed for career advancement, but it should not replace individual advice. Know what you are entitled to receive under the terms of the contract your former employer has with the outplacement provider.

There are thousands of very qualified outplacement professionals in Canada. The goal of your outplacement professional is the same as yours: to get you the job you want as quickly as possible, and they can be a central part of your career plan. If you feel that your counsellor is not giving you the appropriate attention, ask to speak to someone higher up in the outplacement organization, or contact your former employer’s HR department until you are satisfied.

Michael Mayne, M.B.A., CMA, is Managing Partner and a Certified Professional Career Counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a Career Transition, Counselling, and Outplacement firm. Michael has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years, and is currently President of ALS Canada. To contact Michael, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.

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Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.