Question

Ahmed was one of the valuable employees of Fine Bottling Plant LLC. Changes in management, company reorganization, closure of one of the plants and the economic hardship that the company was facing led to Ahmed's loss of job. Ahmed's HR Manager who has always adhered to good work practices, offers outplacement assistance services to help Ahmed.

Identify any six services that apply to outplacement assistance that can benefit Ahmed in this case.

Answer 1

Outplacement Assistance is a service to provide job opportunities in other organizations to laid-off employees. The organization and HR department helps the employees in finding and getting new jobs in other organization when the current organization is downsizing its workforce or doing single layoff. By providing outplacement assistance, the organization protect its reputation and help the employees in finding and getting new jobs, that will have a less negative impact on the organization. Outplacement assistance is a service that helps employees in transitioning to a new career. Outplacement Assistance can consist of many activities such as resume update, job search, conducting interviews, and job coaching.

The employer or HR department can offer the in house outplacement assistance or can hire a third party to assist the employees to be ready for the next job.

There are different services provided to employees by the HR team that can benefit Ahmed in this case, below is the list of these services,

a. Resume Writing and Review: This is the first step and document that an employer will look at when assessing a new candidate. At the time of employment, the employee will not update their resumes, the outplacement agency will help in updating the resume as per the current skills and achievements that an employee achieved in the current organization.

b. Job Search Training: Right job search is a challenging task and when employees are not in track in job search during employment, it would be tougher for employees in job searching. Outplacement service agency will help the employees to help employees in searching for a job in the same industry or in different industries as per their skills and achievements at the current job.

c. Personalized Coaching: Outplacement services include personalized coaching to employees to improve their skills as per the current trend in the industry. Employees need to improve their personality, attitude towards a new industry and job.

d. Interview Training: Interview cracking is the main task that an employee needs to finish before getting a job. During the employment for many years, the employee could lose the techniques and skills of cracking the interview. The outplacement service agency will help employees to train for cracking the interview, will guide employees on how to answers particular questions.

e. Career Assessment and Guidance: Outplacement services include career assessment and guidance to employees who might be losing focus on their career due to the loss of the job. Employees will get focus and training to start again and think about their career as soon as possible.  

f. Networking Advice: Networking is very essential in business and career advancement. It is a key component of getting a new job. An employee need to leverage its networking and find the suitable job and company as per his skills and talent. Outplacement services will guide and will teach the most effective networking strategies.