Some job-hunters realize great success working with these firms. Many more experience mediocre results. And a small percentage end up suing for refunds, asserting that they received shoddy assistance in return for their money and that they were promised many things that weren't delivered. Should you decide that you want to find a firm or individual to help you with your job search, your challenge will be to identify the right organization or person to work with.
Retail outplacement firms provide the following services, although very few offer this complete range: testing to identify a client's strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personality traits; establishing job and career goals; providing a list of employers and recruiters to contact; preparing resumes, cover letters, and broadcast letters, including handling their mass mailing; tailoring letters in response to job advertisements; assisting in interviewing techniques, sometimes including videotaped sessions; counseling on how to get the types of interviews desired (the focus often being a resume-mailing or letter-writing campaign, networking, and cold-calling on the telephone); providing consultation after each interview to evaluate the meeting as well as plan the next step to take; negotiating salary and benefits; and offering a telephone answering service and/or a temporary office. Some firms also contract to work with a client for several years after the new position has been found. Here, they'll offer assistance in matters such as salary reviews, performance appraisals, and evaluating future job offers.
It's important to understand that a retail outplacement firm unlike an employment agency and an executive search firm will not arrange interviews for you with prospective employers. It will show you how to do this yourself. In addition, the firm will charge you a fee that can range from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000, depending on the scope of services you sign up for and what your income level is. Some firms will require the fee to be paid in advance. Others will allow you to pay in stages as the firm performs additional work for you; however, you will have first signed a contract obligating you to pay the future installments. Additionally, this fee will not be contingent on successful results. The firm will be charging you for its time and knowledge of the employment field. If the word "guarantee" is ever used, make sure you understand exactly what's being promised and that this promise is in writing. Never rely on anything that is said orally.
If you want to work with a retail outplacement firm, here are important matters to consider for making a sound decision concerning which organization to use:
First, determine what kind of assistance you need and want and how much money you're willing to spend.
Second, check out a firm before you become a client. Although there are many competent firms in this field, there are also those that have limited knowledge and ability as well as little interest in helping you. Many firms have been known to close up shop shortly after commencing business. Others have been forced to cease operations due to a flood of client complaints, litigation, and the resultant bad publicity.
Always find out how long a firm has been in business. In addition, it's a good idea to check with the local Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, and the consumer protection division of the State Attorney General's Office to see if any complaints have been filed.
In your search for top-flight assistance, also try to find people who have been clients of the firm you're considering and get their opinions as to its capability. Calling references provided by the firm will be less reliable.
Another measure to take is to find a firm that's a member of a professional association in the retail outplacement industry. Two groups that are widely known are the International Association of Counseling Services and the International Association of Career Consulting Firms. If you write these organizations, they'll send you a list of member firms in your geographic area. Understand, however, that some of the best outplacement firms don't belong to an industry organization and some of the most competent individuals providing these services work independently and out of their own homes.
To identify retail outplacement firms, you can also order a copy of The Directory of Outplacement Firms. In addition, these organizations appear in the Yellow Pages under "Outplacement Consultants" and "Personnel Consultants." Some may also list themselves under "Career & Vocational Counseling."
When assessing a firm, always meet with the actual individual who will be working with you. It's very possible that the initial person you speak with is just a salesman, whose responsibility is to present the firm in glowing terms and sign you up as a client. Always ask what his function is. When you're meeting with the people who will be assisting you, make sure that the chemistry is right that you feel comfortable with them and have an excellent rapport and that they have the qualifications you're looking for. Find out how long they've been doing this type of work and what their educational and work backgrounds are. Also ask what their success rate has been, how long they think it will take you to find the position you want, and what their projection is based on.
Be sure you understand the specific work the firm will do for you and what work you will have to do yourself. For example, will the firm provide a list of employers to contact, including name and title of the proper individual, along with company address and telephone number, or will the firm just give you a list of companies in the industry of your choice or show you how to obtain this type of company information at the library? What kind of counseling will you be given and will it be on an individual basis or in a group setting? Will the firm handle a mass mailing of your resume or a letter-writing campaign, or will you have to do this work yourself? Use the list of services stated earlier as a guideline for questions to ask about what services you'll be receiving.
Last, have the firm put in writing exactly what it's going to do for you, what the timetable is for these services, how long a period of time they'll be available to you, the business hours that the firm's personnel will be available to you, and what the total cost of the program will be. Again, don't rely on anything you're told that's not in writing.
