Outplacement Services Houston (A Quick 5-STEP Buyer’s Guide)

When companies go through reductions in force (RIF), layoffs or other downsizing events, it’s important that they include outplacement services alongside their severance packages. For far too long, outplacement services in Houston and other places have been dominated by single companies, though, leaving options limited.

The good news is that as technology has improved dramatically over the last couple of years, outplacement services have evolved alongside it, allowing more providers to offer service throughout the country, making localized outplacement a thing of the past.

With many new options available, companies now have to figure out what provider to go with. To help, here’s everything you need to know about outplacement services Houston based or in other areas of the country that have been dominated by traditional firms in the past.

1) Outplacement Services Houston: What to Look For From a Provider

First off, why Houston?

Well, outplacement services in Houston mirror those in other markets across the US that haven’t made the switch from traditional to next-gen, leading many Houston-based businesses to stick with that they see physically around them instead of looking for the more nuanced, technologically-driven companies that can work with them virtually. Not only do traditional outplacement services cost more than virtual, they also don’t work as well.

Now, that that’s out of the way. Let’s get down to business.

When you start shopping around for outplacement service, you’ll quickly find that there are some core differences between many of the providers. Here are the main ones you need to be aware of:

2) Do They Have a Time Limit?

When your employee is searching for a new job, it’s borderline impossible to figure out just how long it will take them to be placed. Despite that fact, many traditional outplacement service providers in Houston and other cities have time limits built into their services.

What does that mean? Basically, that if your employee doesn’t get placed in X amount of days, the service is canceled, leaving them out on the street.

A proper outplacement provider doesn’t use time limits. Instead, they work with clients until they are placed no matter how long that process might take. Not only does this drastically help your employee because they know they are going to have help until the problem is solved, it also shows that the firm is confident in their services.

Would you pay for any other service that wasn’t guaranteed to work? Probably not. So, why do it for outplacement?

3) Are Their Locations Limited?

Houston outplacement services, alongside other city-based firms, usually make clients physically go to meetings and coaching sessions. Not only can this be problematic for your employees who have to travel for the service, it also limits what providers you can choose from, which is never a good thing.

So what’s the answer? Well, the good news is that the internet and other technologies have made it increasingly easier for providers to work with clients remotely. Outplacement services in Houston and other cities haven’t fully merged with today’s digital world, though, and that’s something you need to be aware of.

At Careerminds, our next-gen outplacement service harnesses the the power of the internet to connect clients with coaches from all around the country, allowing them to search for jobs and receive coaching from the comfort of their homes.

This is vital in today’s technologically-driven world where job searches are conducted primarily online. What’s the point of having to choose a provider that is nearby when you can get a better service without the added stress?

4) Does Their Overall Outplacement Process Make Sense?

When it comes to outplacement services Houston based or elsewhere, it’s important to look at their process and ensure it makes logical sense to you. After all, you’re the one paying for it.

That seems obvious, but there are a lot of providers out there, meaning there are a lot of subtle differences to look for. You can read a complete list of questions to ask yourself here.

You want to find a provider that will utilize all of the technologies available. Make sure they are engaging you often, are flexible, personalized for your employee’s needs, and that they have metrics to back up their successes.

One of the most important points is to make sure they have the potential to be a strategic partner in the future.

What’s that mean? In short, you should look for a firm that you can use again whenever other downsizing events take place. It doesn’t make sense to shop every single time you need to provide outplacement. Instead, find one you can trust and that will help you again later on.

5) Outplacement Services Houston: The Conclusion

Let’s wrap all of this up with simple summary.

When you shop for outplacement services in Houston or other cities that have been cornered by traditional firms, it’s important to know that virtual options exist and actually perform better for your employees.

Things to look for:

You want an outplacement service provider that doesn’t have a time limit because it opens the door to the possibility that the employee won’t be placed. You also want a provider that is flexible about location. There’s no point in having clients meet in person if that ends up not working for the client.

Finally, you need to understand the firm’s outplacement process to know how their services will work for your company. Are they flexible, personalized, technology-driven, and engaging? If not, they aren’t for you or your employee.

Want to find out more about Careerminds’ outplacement services? Schedule a demo today.

Josh Hrala

Josh is an HR journalist and ghostwriter who's been covering outplacement and offboarding for over six years. Before pivoting to the HR world, he was a science journalist whose work can be found in Popular Science, ScienceAlert, The Huffington Post, Cracked, Modern Notion, and more.