Top-Rated Outplacement Services in New York

If you’re looking for the top outplacement services in NYC, you’ll find a wide variety of providers offering the full spectrum of these services. The easiest to find are the more traditional firms, however many of the techniques employed by these providers can be outdated or don’t adhere to what the modern day job seeker needs. It’s good to consider other less conventional options as well. 

So what should you look for, and how do you select the perfect one for you? We have you covered.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to conduct your search, compare the different options available, and find the right outplacement service provider in New York for your organization, including:

• What to look for in your outplacement services NYC search 
• Different types of NY outplacement services (traditional, virtual, and executive)
• How much outplacement services cost in NYC
• How to decide which outplacement firm is right for you
• Special layoff considerations in NYC

Let’s start with what criteria you should be looking for in any decent outplacement services in NYC. These are the important elements you want to consider when conducting your search in the New York area. 

• No Retainer Fees: These can add up because they cost you money even when you don’t use the service.
• Next-Gen Platforms: The outplacement provider should use all of the most current technology available to get your staff members back to work in a new, exciting role.
• Support Anywhere, Anytime: Outplacement is now a digital, online process that should be flexible enough to support the client whenever and wherever they need it.
• Goodbye, Brick and Mortar: In-person support has its place. However, it shouldn’t be mandatory for your staff members to physically go into a brick and mortar location in order to meet with a coach. This can be done online, which is also where the job search process lives.
• Until-Placement Support: Instead of using term limits, outplacement is a process that needs time to work and should be offered “until placement.” Your NY outplacement services shouldn’t kick people off of the program if they take a bit longer to find a job.
• Expert Coaching: While outplacement and the job hunt are digitally-driven, outplacement coaches are still the best way for workers to find new jobs. These experts work closely with job seekers to ensure that the process is tailored to their needs.

These are some of the most important things to look for when shopping for a great outplacement provider in New York.

Now what sets all of these firms apart from one another? 

When it comes to searching for outplacement services in NYC or other major metropolitan areas, such as Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, it’s common to come across the same providers over and over again. We call these “traditional” firms because most of them have been doing business the same old way for many years. 

This typically involves using coaches to help employees who were recently laid off find new work outside of the organization they just left. However, many of them do not utilize all of the technology available to them to accomplish this. 

For example, many outplacement services NYC-based or elsewhere require clients to meet at their offices where they work with them for a set amount of time to revamp their resumes and LinkedIn accounts, and then send them on their way to hunt for work without additional online support. 

The traditional firms that dominate the outplacement services in NYC are also fans of term limits. What does that mean?

In short, outplacement providers only offer their services to clients for a set period of time. The industry standard–though it does shift slightly from place to place–is about three months. If the client is unable to land a new job in that amount of time, the service is canceled and the person is then left on their own.

So you can see that term limits can present a pretty big problem. In comparison, severance payments–which are usually about two months’ worth of salary plus any vacation time–can typically last an out-of-work person about two to three months depending on their personal financial needs.

So say a client gets a severance payment with outplacement and fails to find a job in three months. They are now without a job or a support system, which can only worsen an already stressful situation.

Given the cost of living, outplacement services in NYC should get rid of these limits. Sure someone can find a part-time job working for small wages more easily in a large city than in a small town. However, the basic essential costs like rent, food, and utilities are likewise higher in a big city, making the term limit an even greater problem.

The answer to this is simple. Pick a provider that doesn’t have a term limit or one that is more flexible with their standard process.

Right now, Careerminds is the only outplacement firm that doesn’t have a term limit on their services. We work with clients until they are placed, regardless of how long it takes. Not only does this dramatically increase the chances of a client getting placed, but it also shows that we stand by our process.

But whichever local outplacement NY provider you choose to go with, make sure you’ve done your due diligence and researched all the details of their offered outplacement packages, including any term limits. 

These traditional firms seem to skip a lot of the technological advances that make job hunting a lot easier in today’s fast-paced, online world.

There is no need to go into an office building to get help finding a job anymore. Instead, clients can log in to virtual platforms to receive coaching, help with their resumes, social media account building, and interview preparation.

The job hunt is no longer about going door-to-door passing out paper resumes. It’s online, and so outplacement should be as well.

Given all of the changes mentioned above, it stands to reason that outplacement and other HR-driven services should adapt alongside technology to ensure that the services they are providing are as current as possible.

This is where the rise of virtual outplacement comes in.

Think of it this way: we, as a society, have grown increasingly impatient. We don’t even like waiting for our favorite TV shows to air anymore. Instead, we use streaming platforms that allow us to watch what we want, when and where we want.

Outplacement has gone through a similar change. Nowadays, clients can log in to platforms and use e-learning tools to give them the boost they need to find a new, exciting job in the field that they want.

That said, unlike other technologies, HR also requires a human touch. A platform alone will not do anyone much good unless there is also a professional coach there to offer assistance and guidance throughout the daunting process.

When shopping for an outplacement provider in NYC–one of the most ruthless job markets in the country–it’s important to look for one that offers this level of flexibility. After all, your employees may need to work a part-time job just to keep a roof over their heads as they explore their next career move.

Because of this, the outplacement service you choose to go with shouldn’t require them to set up countless meetings or travel to physical locations that will take up large chunks of their valuable time. It should offer a balance of both person-to-person and online resources to give them the best outplacement support possible. 

Beyond the base-level outplacement services offered by both traditional and more modern NYC providers, you can also find some that offer additional services for executive outplacement. This includes career transition support for senior executives such as C-suite, directors, and corporate decision makers. 

If your layoff or reduction event will impact senior level executives in New York, you will want to include this level of service in your outplacement support. This can be very helpful for those senior executives to proactively navigate their next career move in a more challenging and fulfilling way, especially if they wish to transfer their considerable skills and experience outside of the defined niche in which they’ve previously established themselves. 

Outplacement providers like Careerminds can offer these senior executives highly customized guidance through their unique and increasingly arduous job search process.

When considering the cost of hiring outplacement services, it’s important to consider the opportunity cost or how much it will cost your organization if you choose not to offer any outplacement support to employees you are letting go. 

This could incur avoidable costs in litigation or damage to your brand reputation, which could in turn hurt your sales or remaining employee retention. Offering outplacement can also save you money by cutting short the length of time you’ll need to pay out unemployment benefits. 

So there are considerable potential cost savings for your organization that come with hiring outplacement support. But what about the actual cost of the outplacement services themselves? 

This will depend on a few factors, such as which specific services you want included, how long you want to offer these services to your outgoing employees, and how well your chosen outplacement firm utilizes technology to more affordably scale their services. 

It’s common for companies to spend in the neighborhood of three to four percent of base salary on outplacement services. In New York, this can get rather expensive considering the high cost of living index. Of course, this price will vary depending on the factors mentioned above and what type of firm you go with, whether Careerminds or another New York outplacement firm. 

We’ve covered the different types of outplacement service providers you can find in New York, with each of their strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you’ve done your research and found a few possible options for your outplacement services in NYC. 

Now how do you figure out which provider is the right one for you? 

Selecting just the right outplacement provider for your organization can be tricky. After all, there are a lot of traditional providers in New York that incorporate practices and terms which are less ideal in today’s job market.

So to find the right outplacement New York provider, you’ll also want to thoroughly search the company’s website, read their blogs, and look up any reviews of their services. It’s also a good idea to schedule a demo with the outplacement provider(s) you’re considering to see a real example of what they can offer. 

Of course, while there are plenty of great resources to read online, you will still need to talk to human beings at the end of the day if you are seriously considering any outplacement services. Everyone’s situation is different and requires individual discussion to evaluate the best options. By talking to their coaches and representatives, and seeing a demo of their services, you can better gauge their expertise and make sure it’s the right fit.

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Now that you know how to find your ideal outplacement NY provider, let’s talk about the situations in which you’d need to use these outplacement services–meaning when you are conducting any layoffs or other reduction events. 

Remember, holding a mass layoff or plant closing might require that you also comply with regulations set by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, both at the federal and New York state level. 

This includes providing written notice to your affected employees with written notice, as well as to federal and state-level agencies, to ensure that you are treating your employees fairly and avoiding any potential penalties. 

Make sure to read up on the specific New York WARN Act regulations and definitions for companies conducting business and/or impacting employees who are working in the state of New York. 

Now we’ve covered a lot. So let’s review the key things to remember as you search for the top outplacement services in NYC for your organization. 

Outplacement in New York has been dominated by traditional firms with traditional processes for some time. Many of them still require clients to meet in-person, even though there are countless ways to provide outplacement virtually. They also use term limits which can cut off the client’s support group before they are done needing them. 

However, that landscape is changing. There is a rise of virtual outplacement services, which offers more affordable and scalable support. There are also options to provide more customized outplacement support for senior level executives.

The most important part of outplacement is putting the needs of the client first and foremost. This requires flexibility and the willingness to put the service to the test, opting to forego term limits, and combining virtual-based assistance with a human touch.

Ultimately, it comes down to which outplacement NY provider is right for your organization’s specific outplacement needs. So remember to thoroughly research all the available resources, both online and person-to-person, to ensure the best fit for you.

Find out how Careerminds can fulfill all of your outplacement New York needs by scheduling a demo today.

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Rebecca Ahn

Rebecca is a writer, editor, and business consultant with over 10 years of experience launching, managing, and coaching small to midsize companies on their business, marketing, and HR operations. She is a passionate people advocate who believes in building strong people, teams, and companies with empowering culture, content, and communication that facilitates meaningful results at every level and touchpoint. In her spare time, Rebecca is an avid traveler and nomad who also enjoys writing about travel safety and savvy. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.