How does Outplacement Work?
Immediately following the retrenchment, the former staff members are invited to a meeting at our offices. At this meeting they will meet our team of highly skilled Counsellors, Psychologists and Financial Advisors.
We take our delegates through the Programme Content and Timing and they will have the opportunity to meet on a one-on-one basis with our team. They will meet with key members of our team during the course of this week to undergo various assessments and will work with our Financial Advisor to develop a plan that takes into account their diminished financial situation.
During the course of the first week, following redundancy, we invite them and their life partners to a second meeting. An abbreviated presentation of the Programme is presented to their Partners to ensure they understand what their partners will be doing over the course of the next three months. This process does a great deal to ensure that they have the support of their life partners in the coming months. This support is essential in helping them balance the emotional roller coaster that they will experience whilst they re-establish their careers.
The objectives of the work we do with them in the first week are:
- Managing the anger and loss of self-esteem associated with job loss
- Reducing the likelihood of rash and panic decisions
- Helping them understand that it is not they who are redundant, but their jobs
- Ensuring that they understand that they will have a plan of action to work on that is proactive, innovative and that they will secure a new role
- That they have their life partner’s support
- That they understand that it is OK to talk to their families, friends and network about their situation.
Weeks 2-5
They will come into our offices every day, as if they were going to work. In fact, they do have a crucial job to perform – that of finding suitable new employment for themselves. This fact alone starts the process of building self-esteem and giving them a purpose in life.
During the four week period that they spend with us, we train them in every aspect of job search. This includes:
- Defining what they really want to do with the rest of their working lives
- Developing a Career Strategic Plan that is supported by detailed Operational plans
- Gaining an understanding of the traditional employment markets and how they work. This includes the development of a highly effective approach to writing CV’s, responding to posted Job Adverts in newspapers, journals and job boards. It also covers which recruitment agencies and search firms they should approach and how to maximise these opportunities
- How to maximise their effectiveness in job related interviews. Not only do we train them in the different types of interview and interviewer they are likely to encounter, but we also take them through a number of simulated interviews
- Understanding the “Hidden Job Market” and how to access this market through the power of networking. They will, in addition, learn how to use social networks to access key decision makers
- The development of a Personal Marketing Plan and writing Proposals to create opportunities for themselves where none previously existed
- Planning and allocating their time to maximise their effectiveness
- Negotiating equitable remuneration packages
- Evaluating job offers
Having completed this initial training, they are now equipped to tackle the job market.
Weeks 6-12
During this period they will meet with a designated counsellor on a regular basis. At each meeting, we review their progress against their plan, review the plan for the following week and the material they have produced.
- We provide constructive criticism, new ideas and ongoing support.
- They will during this period continue with the buddy system we encourage and will receive and give support from and to their allocated buddies.
- We will continue to provide them with reading material and articles that are pertinent to their specific job search.
The formal Programme ends at the end of three months. We will, however, continue to provide informal support to those who require additional assistance, until such time as they secure new employment. |
