2020 brought with it many unique challenges for the world as a whole. Yet, one good thing came from it: we got creative in our approach to working and living. Many companies learned that their employees function better with less oversight generally while outplacement technology grew and evolved to meet the needs of their participants virtually.

Outplacement technology in 2020 and beyond focuses on using technology to bring people together, harnessing the power of the internet to provide participants with one-on-one coaching, eLearning tools, social networking, and much more.

In this blog, we’ll uncover how outplacement technology in 2020 has shifted even more and how Careerminds combines tech and a people-first approach to get displaced workers back to work in new, meaningful roles.

So, without further ado, here’s what’s trending with outplacement technology in 2020:

Outplacement Technology 2020: The Virtual Platform

Just as we’ve evolved from antiquated VHS to digital, outplacement has also moved forward from dusty binders to a virtual approach. Careerminds’ cloud-based approach to outplacement allows us to forget borders or geography and serve anyone, anywhere - and at any time.

The virtual platform is the backbone of any modern-day outplacement program. It’s where participants go to learn about the process, meet other participants, and much more. Let’s take a deeper look at this platform and what tools/features are trending right now.

Outplacement Technology 2020: eLearning Tools

Our e-learning platform helps participants learn the in’s and out’s of searching for a new job or career change so that they can better navigate the world of job search while feeling more confident doing it. But, it’s so much more than just lessons!

We also have a networking platform that links all of our participants together as well as former participants that have used our services and landed great jobs. Making connections in our networking platform extends beyond just Careerminds as all of our profiles are also connected to LinkedIn. Participants can carry over the connections they made with us to their personal networks.

Having a strong network is essential to finding the right job or transitioning to a new career, as explained by Daphne Schechter of Georgia State University. In her research, many interviewees cited professional networking as the most popular way people found a new job and learned more about the companies they were interested in working for.

Outplacement Technology 2020: ‘Perfect Match’

Our participants also have access to a unique tool called Perfect Match, which allows them to compare their resume to different job descriptions.

That’s putting it extremely simply, though. The Perfect Match tool does a lot more - this feature can also suggest keywords that will help an outbound employee get noticed when they apply to a job.

Having the right keywords is essential because many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter out resumes that do not meet certain requirement. This means that many resumes are never even read by a real person. Perfect Match helps defeat this issue.

By selecting the right keywords and tailoring the resume to the specific company, the resume becomes more attractive to ATS systems and will improve chances for the participant.

The tool, essentially, takes out a lot of the guesswork that goes into crafting a keyword-optimized resume. By leveraging this tool, participants can spend less time performing keyword switching and more time apply to jobs.

The Key to Everything Is Career Coaching

In the past, career coaching was a face-to-face ordeal. But, even before the Coronavirus pandemic, Careerminds took a more virtual approach. The evolution of how we as a species communicate has allowed outplacement technology to redefine the way we help people and, we think, it’s better than face-to-face ever was.

While all outplacement services have coaching at their core, our approach focuses on the relationship between the coach and the participant. Every participant gets a dedicated, one-on-one coach who will be with them until they land a new role. In the past, coaching was mainly done by whichever coach was in the office at that whatever given time the participant was scheduled. This led to a revolving door of coaches, a loss in progress, and much more.

Those days are firmly over. Thanks to increases in technology and the needs of 2020, many outplacement providers have gone remote. Careerminds, though, has been there from the start.

Like All Tech, Privacy and Confidentiality are Paramount

When face-to-face was still the go-to with appointments and walk-in offices, providers of all kinds would tailor their offices to the needs of the client and usually, that meant privacy.

In today’s virtual world it can be difficult to get that same experience due to the distractions of working from home. Our coaches prioritize being in a private location so that participants can feel comfortable and confident that they won’t be interrupted by the hustle and bustle of an active household.

Careerminds’ virtual coaches also prioritize being available for virtual calls as well, so a phone call can be a video call in a few clicks. In the office or in the spare bedroom, virtual coaches always put their best foot forward and are ready whenever the participant needs them.

This flexibility allows participants to get the support they need when they need it all while resting assured that they can be open and honest with their coach no matter what their career goals and aspirations are, which brings us to our next point:

Outplacement Technology 2020: Building a Relationship, Virtually

It’s difficult to provide feedback and guide participants if you don’t know them. Our coaches take the time to get to know the people using our services, not just their work experience.

An outplacement service should get to know their participants by asking questions, empathizing with anxieties, and learning more about their life so they can best help them find the perfect job for their situation.

Building this relationship also lets clients be their most authentic selves. Trying to communicate with a virtual coach that doesn’t create a safe space through understanding can lead participants to hold back, which can delay finding the perfect placement.

Finding a job is always a personal matter. After all, most of us spend upwards of 40 hours per week working. That’s a lot of life! This means that coaching goes far beyond simply ‘getting a new job.’ It has to extend to how the participant sees their ideal lifestyle, their personal lives, and much more. Finding a job is one thing. Finding the perfect job is another story, and it’s what we strive to do every day.

Outplacement Technology 2020: Unparalleled Support

The initial meeting with a virtual coach should be over platforms like Zoom or Skype. According to experts anywhere from 60 to 90% of body language is non-verbal, so it’s important that for the initial meeting at least, a virtual coach can sit face to virtual face with the participant.

Once a relationship is established, coaches and participants can work out the best communication strategy. After all, getting on a Zoom meeting every other day isn’t really feasible for many people, but responding to an email or a direct message on Skype is a lot easier.

Email is also a powerful tool for sending content and having a more thorough conversation that the participant may want to refer back to. An added benefit to using a variety of tools to stay connected is that participants who may not have had that exposure will through their virtual coach, which may prove very useful when interviewing with potential employers.

In today’s world, there are so many ways to stay in touch, get support, and grow relationships. It’s not just for outplacement, either. Working, in general, is now a virtual experience for many people, and that’s not likely to change going forward. Years ago, tech limited the efficiency of virtual working and coaching. Now, though, that has all changed with digital tools like Slack, Zoom, Skype, and a plethora of others that have made connection and communication as seamless as ever before.

All of This Back Up Our ‘Until Placement’ Promise

The pandemic and subsequent quarantine periods it has caused resulted in growing pains for a lot of companies when it came to having an outcome-based approach. This essentially boils down to the fact that results are not based on time spent pursuing them. Instead, results are based on outcomes and outcomes only. This is where until placement comes in.

Until placement means that we will work with participants until they land a new role. We do not use term limits that can cut off support to participants midway through their transition. This type of support is results-focused, outcome-based. It’s not about how much time a person needs, it’s about getting them into their next role no matter what.

Until placement also allows participants of all levels, goals, and tenures to receive the support that they need. All job searches are different. A one-size-fits-all approach is a thing of the past.

Outplacement Technology 2020: The Final Say

The world is changing. Every day new innovations change how we work and live while unexpected challenges force us to come up with new ways to do things.

Your outplacement provider should adapt alongside these ever-changing needs by utilizing the most advanced technology available to ensure that your displaced workers land a new, fulfilling role outside of your company.