Covid 19 is changing everything about the way we work, and all organisations are having to re-set their business plans as we face a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) future. A major consequence of the pandemic has been large scale employee redundancies. Business leaders have predicted that by the end of 2021 we will have witnessed the largest number of organisational redundancies in history.
However, as Winston Churchill famously said, ‘Never waste a good crisis’ and there are exciting opportunities for agile organisations who are prepared to adapt and think creatively about their strategic direction. For example, a pre-pandemic projected 30% growth in digital technology is now accelerating at an even faster rate.
People are an organisation’s greatest asset and never has it been more important to provide psychological support to promote employee engagement. Research has shown that redundancy has a huge impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of displaced employees and frequently leads to a significant loss of confidence and a crisis of identity. Organisations who are consistently rated employers of choice proactively provide ongoing support for their employees facing redundancy.
Outplacement
An outplacement programme is a key benefit that an organisation can offer to support an employee following redundancy. Outplacement is delivered by a professional career coach who works with a departing employee to help them to obtain a new job or transition to a new career.
Benefits of outplacement to the organisation
· Promotes long term loyalty to the organisation and its brand
· Leaves the door open for re-hiring at a future date
· Demonstrates a duty of care to all employees
· Increased retention of existing staff and therefore lower talent acquisition costs
· Offers practical and tangible support to employees whose roles have been made redundant
Benefits of outplacement to the employee
· Psychological support to re-build self-confidence by focusing on strengths
· Understanding of how to leverage unique skills and experience to attract a potential employer
· Access to reference sources to support a job search
· Identification of career opportunities in the VUCA climate
· Practical support with job applications and recruitment interviews and assessments
Ditton HR Outplacement Programmes
At Ditton HR we are constantly listening to and adapting how we work with our clients to provide a range of outplacement support tailored to different needs and budgets. We therefore offer three different outplacement programmes depending on the needs of the organisation and the individual as follows:
1. Career Jumpstart: The one off in-depth session is for individuals who are clear about what career/next role they are seeking but need practical feedback and support from a professional career coach to develop an effective job search strategy in the volatile job market.
2. Career Transition: The three session programme is for individuals who require support from a professional career coach to identify what they want from their next career move and what action they need to take to make it happen in the volatile job market.
3. Career Transformation: The six session programme is for individuals who want to pause and reflect on their longer-term career aspirations before making their next move. In-depth support is provided from a professional career coach to review who they are, what they want and how to match this with their best fit career options in the volatile job market.
Ditton HR Career Coach
Emma Greggains is our experienced professional career coach. She has a record of successfully supporting clients through challenging career transitions. Emma is a chartered occupational psychologist with twenty-five years of behavioural assessment and development experience gained in the public and private sectors. She takes a strengths-based approach to career coaching and uses a range of psychometric tests and profiling exercises to help our clients identify their best fit next move. Most recently, Emma has been working in the world of elite sport, supporting the behavioural development of the British Olympic Swimming Team.
Testimonials
“I would highly recommend Emma Greggains at Ditton HR for her outplacement services. I was put in touch with her after I was made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was in a panicked sort of state, with my confidence at level zero. I found her help and encouragement invaluable. We went through some evaluations which made me realise that I was at a crossroad and I could take any direction I wanted to fulfil my needs. I also received practical help and advice on how to update my CV and bring it up to date, join various forums and prepare for interviews.
Thank You Emma you have been amazing. I feel totally energised, not only I have a plan A, but I also have a plan B to put into action.’’ Tina
“Emma helped me to regain my confidence and positivity in tackling the job market. She supported me through a process which allowed me to identify opportunities which would match my values and needs. It was an enjoyable and uplifting experience.” Deborah
Career Jumpstart
The Career Jumpstart is for individuals who are clear about what career/next role they are seeking but need practical feedback and support from a professional career coach to develop an effective job search strategy in the volatile job market.
What is included?
1. Introductory call
To explore what job search action the individual has already taken (e.g. CV, LinkedIn profile) and what additional support is required.
Completion of a range of self-assessment exercises tailored to the individual’s needs in preparation for the single in-depth Jumpstart session.
2. Jumpstart session (2.5 hours)
Guided support is provided to highlight what individuals can offer a potential employer:
· Identification of strengths and key transferable skills
· How to effectively leverage work experience
Practical support is offered to develop an effective job search strategy:
· CV and covering letter development and feedback
· Networking strategy
· Navigating the world of online job sites
· Maximising the use of recruitment agencies/headhunters
· Interview skills and techniques
· Preparation for psychometric tests and assessment centres
At the end of the session, individuals will commit to a Career Jumpstart Action Plan.
3. Follow-up call
After one month to review progress on the Career Jumpstart Action Plan.
Total cost: £449 + VAT
Career Transition
The three session Career Transition programme is for individuals who require support from a professional career coach to identify what they want from their next career move and what action they need to take to make it happen in the volatile job market.
What is included?
1. Introductory call
To explore what action the individual has already taken (e.g. CV, LinkedIn profile) and what further support they need to make a career transition.
Completion of a range of self-assessment exercises tailored to the individual’s needs in preparation for the Career Transition programme.
2. Session One (1.5 hours)
An in-depth consultation which includes a biographical review and exploration of an individual’s key strengths, transferable skills and personal values. Guidance is offered on how to manage the career transition process:
· How to lean into your network and informational interviewing
· How to effectively leverage your work experience
3. Session 2 (1 hour)
Guided support to match the individual’s key strengths and work experience with their best fit next career move.
Practical support is offered to develop a job search strategy:
· CV development and feedback
· How to write an effective covering letter
· Navigating the world of online job sites
· Maximising the use of recruitment agencies/headhunters
· Interview practice and feedback
· Preparation for psychometric tests and assessment centres
4. Session 3 (1 hour)
Building on Session 2, individuals will finalise their job search strategy and commit to a Career Transition Action Plan.
Total cost: £749 + VAT
Career Transformation
The six session Career Transformation programme is for individuals who want to pause and reflect on their longer-term career aspirations before making their next move. In-depth support is provided from a professional career coach to review who they are, what they want and how to match this with their best fit career options in the volatile job market.
What is included?
1.Introductory call
To explore what action the individual has already taken (e.g. research into training courses) and what additional support they need to make a career transition.
Completion of a range of self-assessment exercises and psychometric tests (e.g. personality profiling) tailored to the individual’s needs in preparation for the Career Transformation programme.
2. Session One (1.5 hours)
An in-depth consultation which includes a biographical review and an initial exploration of an individual’s key strengths and transferable skills.
3. Sessions Two to Six (1 hour each – total of 5 hours)
Guided assessment to raise awareness of an individual’s unique talents and how to identify a best fit career match. Support on how to manage the career transition process:
· How to lean into your network and informational interviewing
· Establishing your personal brand
· How to effectively leverage previous work experience
Development of a Career Transformation strategy with agreed objectives and timelines.
Practical support is offered as required to manage a new job search:
· CV development and feedback
· How to write an effective covering letter
· Navigating the world of online job sites
· Maximising the use recruitment agencies/headhunters
· Interview practice, skills and techniques
· Preparation for psychometric tests and assessment centres
At the end of the Career Transformation Programme, individuals will have developed and committed to a Career Transformation Action Plan.
Total cost: £1,449 + VAT
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