The Case for Virtual Outplacement

June 17, 2014 by Raymond Lee

Layoffs have touched nearly every American household over the last few years according to a recent Rutgers University study. Nearly a quarter of Americans say they were laid off at some point during the recession or afterward. And, nearly eight in 10 say they know someone in their circle of family and friends who has lost a job.

At the same time, working virtually, banking online, paying bills online and even losing weight through online coaching is becoming more popular with Americans.

  • A national study commissioned by WorldCom found that more than two-thirds of American workers work virtually.
  • The Pew Research Center found that 81% of Americans who manage their household finances banked online at least once during 2012.
  • Forrester Research predicts that by the end of the decade, 52% of all online households will pay their bills online.
  • A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research reported that overweight people who used web-based virtual coaches showed more commitment to improving their health than those who did not use them.

Just like these other important services, the case for virtual outplacement is becoming more popular. Here are the top reasons why professionals are choosing virtual outplacement:

Learn at your convenience. Virtual outplacement courses are 100% web based, and are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year.  You cannot beat having instant resources and support delivered to you in the comfort of your home or office.

Customize your training to your needs.  Virtual outplacement training programs allow you to customize your training to your unique needs and goals.  You can learn at your own pace, which means you don’t need wait for an instructor or class to move on with material you are already familiar with, and, you can linger for as long as you want to fully comprehend a concept new to you.  Online courses often include internet resources that let you further explore knowledge areas that are relevant to your particular career.

Learning is fun and interesting.  Virtual outplacement combines readings, graphics, audio/video, interactive exercises, and case studies to keep the learner engaged and interested in course material and meet the needs of multiple learning styles.

Eliminate travel time.  Virtual outplacement means that you don’t have to spend any of your valuable time traveling to a classroom or to meet with a coach. With the rising price of gas prices, that should be music to anyone’s ears!

Eliminates geographical boundaries.  Virtual outplacement allows learners to participate from around the globe.

Obtain vast expertise. Rather than being assigned to the one or two coaches available in a traditional office approach, virtual coaches can come from all parts of the world and have experience in numerous industries.

Privacy. Some clients prefer not to let others know they are engaged in career outplacement coaching. Virtual coaching provides a solution to those who want to keep their career coaching meetings private.

Results-oriented. You can receive virtual career coaching via phone , Skype, or e-mail. Resume writing, resume promoting, LinkedIn optimization, and personality and career assessments and custom coaching guidance are easily delivered through these mediums.

Effective services at an affordable price.  The case for virtual outplacement is better, faster, and a more affordable alternative to many traditional programs.  It eliminates the cost of printed materials and physical offices, as well as the cost of traveling.

Raymond Lee

Raymond Lee

Raymond Lee is the President of Careerminds, a global outplacement company based in Wilmington, Delaware. He has over 20 years of human resource, outplacement, and career consulting experience. He has his bachelor’s in psychology and holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. He is active in SHRM and ATD. Raymond’s been featured on SiriusXM Business Radio, CareerTalk, and the Wall Street Journal and he’s published a book titled, Clocking Out: A Stress-Free Guide to Career Transitions.

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