The business landscape has faced significant challenges recently. In January 2025, over 52,800 businesses temporarily suspended operations, a 20.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. A report conducted by Manpower Vietnam revealed that 49% of respondents consider a career transition and 72% of individuals who have undergone a career transition believe it has positively impacted their well-being and life satisfaction.
As a business owner, making the decision to lay off employees or downsize is never easy. Such actions not only impact the livelihood and emotion of employees but also affect the overall morale and reputation of the organization. Therefore, many businesses turn to outplacement services to offer crucial support to departing employees, ensuring a smooth transition into new job opportunities.
What is Outplacement service?
Outplacement is an employer-sponsored benefit provided to employees who have been laid off or terminated. It aims to help these workers transition smoothly to new employment opportunities. Instead of just saying goodbye, the company provides tools, resources, and advice to help them land a new job more easily.
For instance, an outplacement program can include:
Resume Writing: Helping employees update or create a professional resume that gets noticed by employers.
Job Search Help: Providing job listings, career advice, and access to job fairs or recruiters to help employees find new opportunities.
Interview Practicing: Offering tips and mock interviews to help employees prepare for their job interviews and feel more confident.
Career Counseling: Giving employees advice on career direction, helping them figure out what job might be a good fit for them next.
Companies often collaborate with HR agencies or professional outplacement firms to create tailored outplacement programs for their employees. The main goal of outplacement services is to support employees as they transition out of an organization, typically during layoffs, mergers, or restructuring events. For businesses, it’s a way to show that they care about their employees, even when they need to part ways.
What types of Outplacement services are there?
When considering outplacement services, it’s crucial to understand the different options available. The level of support provided may vary based on the specific needs of the employees, program duration, and the scale of layoffs. Here’s an overview of the most common types of outplacement services and when they are most appropriate.
Comparing Types of Outplacement Services
Type | Description | Best for |
Individual Outplacement service | A personalized program with a dedicated career coach providing one-on-one assistance tailored to each employee’s unique needs. More intensive and bespoke support. | Companies with fewer employees being laid off or those seeking more customized support. |
Group Outplacement service | Designed to simultaneously support multiple impacted employees, from entry level to senior roles, who share similar needs or characteristics. Often more affordable for large-scale layoffs. | Companies facing large-scale layoffs with a limited budget. |
Executive Outplacement service | Provide transitioning C-suite executives elevated support, such as personal branding, executive networking, and leadership transition coaching. Can satisfy senior managers who have developed an impressive repertoire of skills and knowledge | Companies planning to transition senior management roles like VPs, CEO, CFO, CIO, COO, CMO, CHRO, etc. |
1. Executive Outplacement service
Executive outplacement service aims at senior-level employees such as executives, managers, and high-ranking professionals. These services offer specialized support to help leaders transition into new roles with confidence and success. Executive outplacement typically includes:
Personal Branding: Helping executives craft a strong personal brand that highlights their leadership experience and unique skills.
Networking: Connecting executives with influential industry leaders, recruiters, and decision-makers to expand their professional network.
Leadership Transition Coaching: Providing executives with coaching on how to navigate the complexities of transitioning into new leadership roles or consulting positions.
Offering executive outplacement services ensures that senior leaders leave on positive terms, preserving the company’s reputation and maintaining goodwill with key industry contacts. This service shows a commitment to supporting leadership during a transition, helping executives remain confident in their career path after leaving the organization.
2. Group Outplacement service
Group outplacement service is designed for businesses facing large-scale layoffs where many employees are affected at once. These services typically provide support in a group setting, making them an efficient and cost-effective solution for companies looking to assist multiple employees simultaneously. Services typically offered in a group outplacement program include:
Job Search Resources: Access to job boards, job fairs, and career workshops designed for multiple employees at once.
Group Workshops and Seminars: Sessions focused on resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies, allowing employees to learn from one another and collaborate during their job search.
Career Counseling: Group coaching that addresses common concerns, offering a supportive environment for those facing a similar situation.
Group outplacement service is a budget-friendly way to ensure that employees receive job search assistance and emotional support during layoffs. While less personalized than individual services, group programs can still provide valuable tools and resources to help employees transition to their next career.
3. Individual Outplacement service
Individual outplacement service offers more personalized, one-on-one support for employees. This type of service is ideal for smaller layoffs or employees who require more intensive support. Key offerings in individual outplacement include:
Personalized Job Search Coaching: One-on-one coaching to help employees identify their strengths, target appropriate job opportunities, and develop effective job search strategies.
Custom Resume Writing: Detailed and personalized resume writing services that showcase the employee’s unique skills, experience, and achievements.
Interview Coaching: Individual interview preparation and coaching to help employees confidently present themselves to potential employers.
Career Counseling: Tailored advice on career direction, helping employees make informed decisions about their next career steps.
For businesses, individual outplacement service provides the highest level of support for employees who may require a more focused and personalized approach. This option is often used for key employees or those with specialized roles, ensuring they receive the resources and guidance they need to successfully transition to new opportunities.
Why should businesses use Outplacement services?
Outplacement service provides tangible benefits for both the company and its employees.
Benefits for Employees | Benefits for Employers |
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Outplacement is undeniably a strategic investment that benefits both the employees and the organization. A survey conducted by Manpower revealed that 81% of employees receiving outplacement program by Right Management have a positive image about their former employers.
How to Successfully Implement an Outplacement Program?
Before implementing an outplacement program, it's essential to understand both your business and employee needs. Here are key considering factors to ensure the program's success:
Choosing the Right Provider: Select a reputable outplacement service provider with rich experience and a proven track record in career transitions for businesses in various industries.
Communicating Clearly: Inform employees early about the outplacement support available to reduce uncertainty and ease the transition.
Tailoring the Program: Offer both group and individual outplacement services based on the size of layoffs and the level of personalized support needed.
Monitoring Success: Track key metrics like placement time and employee feedback to evaluate the outplacement program’s effectiveness and improve future efforts.
Success Story: A Company Navigating Downsizing with ManpowerGroup’s Outplacement services
A major North American business with over 350,000 employees faced the daunting challenge of multiple significant downsizing events. With offices spread across the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, and India, the impact was widespread and complex.
Manpower Group's Strategic Intervention:
To support these downsizings, Right Management, a brand of ManpowerGroup, provided the company with Outplacement Programs. Leaders and managers (notifiers) received specialized training to deliver notification messages effectively, ensuring they were equipped to handle potential challenges with best practices.
Right Management’s notification consultants played a pivotal role, offering real-time advice to Human Resources and manager notifiers. This support helped mitigate legal risks and guided affected employees through their transition, encouraging them to focus on their next steps beyond the immediate moment.
By implementing an efficient outplacement program structured by band level, Right Management mitigated downsizing risks and ensured optimal support for former employees. This approach not only safeguarded the client’s interests but also provided a smooth and supportive transition for those impacted.
Transformative Outcomes:
The results speak volumes about the effectiveness of ManpowerGroup's approach:
High Satisfaction: 94% of former employees expressed satisfaction with the services provided.
Positive Perception: 72% of former employees held a positive view of their previous employer.
Enhanced Preparedness: Preparedness for job searching soared from 41% to 90% after receiving Manpower Vietnam support.
Swift Career Transition: On average, former employees secured their next career opportunity in less than 12 weeks.
ManpowerGroup – Your Outplacement Partner for the next employee transition
ManpowerGroup – Your Outplacement Partner for the next employee transition
When downsizing or restructuring, ManpowerGroup's outplacement services can alleviate the challenges for employers during downsizing or restructuring while ensuring your employees are satisfied and smoothly transition to new career path. With over 45 years of global experience in outplacement and 10+ years in Vietnam through Manpower Vietnam, we offer comprehensive support to all impacted employees during transitions, enabling individuals to thrive and companies to grow.
Let Manpower Vietnam guide your employees through a successful transition with professionalism and care by filling in the form below.