Would YOU Want Commoditized Outplacement Services?
In good times when jobs abounded, people could often land in new roles with little more than a resume service and a brush-up on interviewing skills. Outplacement services became commoditized in the last decade as a result. However, in the dramatically changed business environment of the 21st century, those tactics aren’t effective. Commoditized programs do little to achieve employers’ outplacement intent – to preserve reputation, remain an employer of choice and demonstrate an unwritten, ethical employee covenant. Other benefits, such as a reduction in unemployment benefit payouts and employee litigation, also evaporate with commoditized services.
Why Commoditized Services Don’t Work in the 21st Century
Offshoring and outsourcing, small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities have been expanding as “core” jobs are contracting. Many workers’ savings have been decimated at the same time jobs have become scarce for all but those fully prepared for the future of work. Numerous careers no longer exist, or are so materially changed, that they are no longer an option for transitioning employees. Learning must be, now and forever, lifelong. Personal development is, increasingly, a critical component of transitional needs.
The churn will continue. Things will never be the way they were. All nations struggle to understand and manage the implications of a global economy. “Standard” approaches are suddenly failing, and dramatic changes abound in every industry. Within individual countries, tensions and change are on the rise between public and private sectors. In the U.S., private sector salaries have shown decline during the past decade while in the public sector, they (along with benefits) have risen. (See chart.) In the UK, HR professionals will be pressed to develop new tactics because of public/private sector dynamics. For more information, see Bridging the Gap (The Grapevine, July 2010) with comments by Michael Moran of London-based CPI firm Fairplace. Flexibility, new ways to work, and innovative application of skills are the winning tactics of the 21st century career game. Commoditized outplacement services simply won’t work; services must be customized to produce results.
How Can You Determine What Good Outplacement Services Are?
On the surface, comparison of programs is not easy. Even commoditized services can be made to look good on paper. Consider locally respected outplacement firms, and be sure that the firm has a strong, seamless delivery network nationally and internationally, offering consistent but localized program support to candidates who choose to relocate. The chart below can help you discern attributes that truly make a difference in producing the results your organization intends.
Evaluating Numbers and What People Say…
Comparing statistical results among outplacement programs is difficult. Personalized transition programs are customized to the industry, the local/regional market and more; that makes “apples-to-apples” comparisons nearly impossible. Nevertheless, the facts and statistics surrounding individual programs can be quite telling, as demonstrated in this example. References from those in a position to know firsthand can also be very telling. HR representative Gaylene Webb herself became a participant in an outplacement program delivered by CPI Houston, and had this comment to offer:
My previous company decided to purchase outplacement services through a major national outplacement firm. While some resources were similar to CPI’s, their approach was more generic – in fact, it is like comparing a Chevy to a Cadillac! Although the training was helpful, their services are not nearly at the level of excellence that I experienced with Career Partners International – Houston, both as an HR professional and as an individual participant.
Ask yourself what kind of services YOU would want if you found yourself in her shoes.
If possible, always evaluate how outplacement services differ before you have an urgent need. Understand your program customization options. Ask CPI Twin Cities to help you understand in greater detail why there truly IS a difference in CPI outplacement services.
