The Role of an Outplacement Consultant in Your Job Search

If you are an employee displaced by a lay off or restructuring of your company, one of the best things your employer can do for you is offer you outplacement services and support. For some companies this is a standard practice, while at others it may be something you can negotiate for as part of your separation benefits. They can make your career transition easier and provide you with tools and information not easily found or available elsewhere.

The kinds of services you may receive typically vary by job level in your company, but they can range from resume assistance or interviewing skill assessment to seminars or "webinars" on how to effectively network. For more senior or executive level positions, you may be eligible for one-on-one career transition coaching.

Ann Wolfe, managing consultant for Drake Beam Morin (DBM), compared her role to that of a coach or personal trainer. In each professional coaching situation, the client has the responsibility of setting his or her goals. Just like a physical trainer would ask a client if his goal was to lose weight or improve strength, an outplacement consultant would want to know what the client wanted to accomplish in his or her career. It might be pursuing a job with more responsibilities, achieving a certain level of compensation, or making a change in direction and pursuing a different industry or job function.

Wolfe believes the consultant can be instrumental in helping create a plan of action and a timeline for the job seeker. She can suggest successful tools, techniques and methods. "Keep in mind, however, that outplacement counselors do not write resumes or introduce you to search firms or recruiters. These are the responsibility of the job seeker," noted Wolfe. The consultant will help facilitate the process by helping you focus on a strategy. And, unlike family members or friends, a good consultant has an easier time of being objective about what is working for you and what possible hurdles you need to overcome to move forward.

To help candidates stay focused, Wolfe encourages job seekers to maintain regular contact with their counselor, be it face-to-face, by phone or even by email. This contact keeps clients from getting derailed or losing sight of their goals and targeted timelines. Wolfe noted that she likes to help clients establish a framework or structure so they can assess their own progress. Some use checklists to chart their achievements. Journaling and utilizing a weekly planner can also help you stay on course.

If you're still not convinced to take advantage of the outplacement services offered to you, consider that the process, resources and individualized approach available to you from an experienced career transition service will help ensure that you make the best possible career decision. And they'll help you to do it with the least amount of stress, in the least amount of time, and with the greatest chance of satisfying your professional and financial goals.

You have probably heard the saying "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for life." Think of an outplacement consultant as essential to your continued achievement of career success and satisfaction. The skills you will learn from a career counselor will help you to grow and reach new heights in your career – even after this transition.

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