The HR Guide To Executive Outplacement

Executive Outplacement: A Service Offering to Support Your Hiring Initiatives

Executive Outplacement: A Service Offering to Support Your Hiring Initiatives

Navigating the uncertainty that comes with transitioning from one position to another is daunting, regardless of the person’s experience level. In some instances, it can be even more challenging for senior-level executives and managers to accept the reality of the situation they find themselves in. That is where executive outplacement programs and services can help.

In this post, we will take a look at executive outplacement and the value it can add to your organization. In addition, we will take an in-depth look at our process at Kinsley Sarn when working with executives transitioning into new roles.

What is Executive Outplacement?

Executive outplacement is a service that supports upper-level management and executives who have recently been let go as they search for a new position. Through career transition services, executives have access to career coaches and mentors who can provide expert guidance and know the best way to proceed effectively in the given situation.

An executive outplacement service outside of your organization can provide a neutral, unbiased experience that can be extremely helpful to diffuse tension and navigate difficult emotions, as well as manage expectations in a positive way.

The Challenges

Unemployment is as much a personal mental battle as it is about their abilities. No matter what the reason for being let go is, rejection will likely have a negative psychological impact on the executive –– leaving them feeling confused, angry, stressed, and with little confidence in their abilities as a leader. In some cases, executives have been in their roles for such an extended period of time that they have forgotten what it’s like to be active on the job market looking for a new position. Fortunately, these challenges can be overcome with the support and guidance of trained career coaches during the executive outplacement process.

The Value of Executive Outplacement Services

Investing in executive outplacement services will add long-term value to your organization. As a first step, offering these services shows how much you care about your employees. So, as your employees progress within the company, they will be able to appreciate the opportunities they have at their disposal. This is especially true if the time comes when they are in need of the assistance of trained professionals to handle their career situations. Furthermore, your commitment to your employee’s welfare will continue to positively develop your employer brand and how future employees and business partners perceive your organization.

When professional services are offered, it gives your team a better chance of keeping the relationship civil and possibly having them return in the future if the opportunity presents itself. In some cases, executive outplacement services simplify the severance payments and legal fees, helping to reduce the direct costs associated with this change in management.  

Our Process, Explained

At Kinsley Sarn, we believe that the only way to truly succeed in providing quality executive outplacement services is to custom-tailor each experience to the individual needs of the executive. That is why we created the Executives in Transition program, designed to move executives along our seven-step process in a way that builds their confidence and helps them discover what they want out of their next professional leadership role.

1. Framing The Assignment

First, we meet with the client to outline specific requirements, including assessment criteria, reporting and feedback protocols, confidentiality policies, and timelines. We then meet with the executive to discuss their specific needs and explain the process to them. Once both sides have been briefed and prepared on the process, we begin with the assessment phase.

2. Evaluation and Assessment

Consisting of four parts: evaluation, an in-depth interview, predictive profile, and 360º feedback interviews. This complete assessment process provides a comprehensive understanding of the executive’s work history, experience, and training, along with the impacts of the transition, and their aspirations for the future.  

 

3. Feedback

Once we have feedback from the four assessments, we sit down with the executive to discuss the results. This includes our findings, recommendations, and priorities during the development phase. With this information, we can create a clear and customized plan for their exact needs.  

4. Coaching and Career Counseling

Because many executives may have been detached from the job market for long periods of time, coaching and counseling help prepare them as they begin to search for a new position. By identifying areas of interest, outlining their goals, and improving their marketability.

5. Job Interviews

In order to prepare the executives for the interview process, we guide them through the fundamentals of communication and conduct mock interviews all to strengthen their interviewing skills. By going through an extensive list of potential questions, our executives are well prepared for any job interview.  

6. Resume Preparation

As we prepare resumes for application, we look at different styles and formats to maximize results. We then sit down with the executive to develop an up-to-date resume, executive summary, and referral sources to strategically apply for their desired positions.

7. Follow-up and Refinement

Throughout the interview process, we provide feedback for their continual improvement until securing a new position. Once the new executive is starting in their new role, we provide transition support in order to help assimilate and succeed.

Throughout this process, we focus on helping executives find the right fit in their new role, one that aligns with their new career goals and interests. As your partner, our team will prepare them to successfully deliver results in their new role.


To learn more about our proprietary process and service offering, visit our Executive Outplacement page, here.

We keep all of our meetings confidential to respect the privacy of our clients. One of the key benefits of our process is the assessment portion, where we perform in-depth interviews, validated psychometric profiling, and provide 360-degree feedback. Through this, we are able to understand the situation holistically and provide coaching to overcome the challenges that often accompany outplacement.  

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of working with us to provide executive outplacement services, or simply how to further develop your executive hiring and recruitment efforts, contact our team by clicking the button below.

Other Blogs You May Like

Actionable insights, market trends, and strategic thinking from our team of search and assessment experts.

How to benchmark leadership talent before you hire: a framework for private equity

9/22/2025

No items found.
Read More
How Successful Leaders Stay Flexible and Focused

No items found.
Read More
Overcoming Leadership Challenges in a Hybrid Work Environment

No items found.
Read More
The Journey to Leading with Intention

No items found.
Read More
Creating Followership: The Power of Relationship-Driven Leadership

No items found.
Read More
Reinventing Employee Experience: A Strategic Advantage in Executive Search

No items found.
Read More
Transforming Talent Acquisition: The Power of Skill-Based Hiring Strategies

No items found.
Read More
The Future of Executive Search: Key Trends to Watch in 2025

No items found.
Read More
Navigating Leadership Transitions: Ensuring Continuity During C-Suite Turnover

No items found.
Read More
How to Maximize Artificial Intelligence's Potential for Your Organization

No items found.
Read More
The Quiet Edge: Exploring Unique Leadership Styles

No items found.
Read More
Strategic Growth Strategies for Executive Leadership

No items found.
Read More
The Power of Organizational Culture in the Workplace

No items found.
Read More
Maximizing the Power of Reverse Mentoring in Modern Organizations

No items found.
Read More
Leadership Insights: Conquering the Imposter Within

No items found.
Read More
Reframing the Way We Think About Conflict

No items found.
Read More
Gen Z In The Workplace: A Guide to Recruiting a Multigenerational Workforce

No items found.
Read More
8 Expert Tips for Recruiting Executive Team Members

No items found.
Read More
Elevate Your Team: 7 Key Recruitment Trends in 2024

No items found.
Read More
Beyond Traditional Recruitment: Deriving Greater Value from Your Interview Process

No items found.
Read More
Stop Playing it Safe with Your Talent Recruitment

No items found.
Read More
Beyond the Resume: Evaluating Short Tenure in Potential Hires

No items found.
Read More
Unprepared and Unqualified: The Consequences of Leaders Who Aren't Ready to Lead

No items found.
Read More
Overcoming the Negative Effects of Remote Work on Innovation and Creativity

No items found.
Read More
Maximizing Efficiency: The Importance of Workforce Planning in Business

No items found.
Read More
Unlocking the Power of Executive Mentorship

No items found.
Read More
The Pitfalls of Automated Interviews: Why Human Interaction is Still Essential

No items found.
Read More
The Future of Hiring Lies in Internal Mobility

No items found.
Read More
The Benefits and Drawbacks of a Short-term Executive Hire

No items found.
Read More
The Onboarding Process for Executives

No items found.
Read More
Future of Work: Unstructured Workdays and Work-Life Balance

No items found.
Read More
Top Etiquette Rules for Better Working Relationships

No items found.
Read More
Are Your Employees "Quiet Quitting"?

No items found.
Read More
Key Strategies to Retain Talent in Any Market

No items found.
Read More
The Treasure of True Grit

No items found.
Read More
Business Insights: Our Words Matter

No items found.
Read More
Business Insights: Turning the Grind into the Goal

No items found.
Read More
Leadership Insights: Become the Diamond

No items found.
Read More
Effective 'Stay Conversation' Strategies to Reduce Employee Turnover

No items found.
Read More
The Future of Leadership: An Era of Authenticity

No items found.
Read More
Hiring Insights: Who Thanks Whom?

No items found.
Read More
The Leaders of Tomorrow: How to Develop Your Employees to Make an Impact in Your Organization

No items found.
Read More
5 Strategies to Win Over Your Top Candidates

No items found.
Read More
How To Effectively Manage Hybrid Teams

No items found.
Read More
Hiring in a Candidate Driven Market

No items found.
Read More
What Are The Steps of the Executive Search Process?

No items found.
Read More
Hiring Critical Talent in Manufacturing

No items found.
Read More
Executive Search to Find Key Leaders in the Technology Sector

No items found.
Read More
Is Online Job Posting Enough To Find The Best Candidate?

No items found.
Read More
7 Qualities to Identify Exceptional Candidates in an Interview

No items found.
Read More
Employer Branding: Telling Your Company Story to Attract Talent

No items found.
Read More
Taking DEI to the Next Level in Your Company Culture

No items found.
Read More
How to Help Your Employees Achieve Flow in Their Work

No items found.
Read More
Are Your Employees Burnt Out? 7 Signs of Workplace Burnout

No items found.
Read More
Workplace Wellness: Promoting Mental Health Initiatives in Your Organization

No items found.
Read More
Talent Isn’t Getting Harder To Find, You Just Have To Know Where To Look

No items found.
Read More
7 Hiring and Executive Recruitment Trends for 2021

No items found.
Read More
How To Build Trust With Your Top Candidates

No items found.
Read More
Embracing the New Reality of Talent Assessment

No items found.
Read More
How An Executive Search Partner Impacts Your Bottom Line

No items found.
Read More
How Company Culture Promotes Employee Engagement

No items found.
Read More
Dig Deeper With Experiential Interviews

No items found.
Read More
Crafting an Engaging Candidate Profile

No items found.
Read More
Leading Through Uncertainty and Fear

No items found.
Read More
How to Successfully Onboard a New Executive

No items found.
Read More
Why A Healthy Workplace Is Vital To Employee Success

No items found.
Read More
9 Ways to Cultivate a Positive Workplace Culture

No items found.
Read More
The Value Different Generations Bring To The Workplace

No items found.
Read More
Women Reentering The Workforce: An Undervalued Talent Pool

No items found.
Read More
The Ripple Effects of an Uprooted Executive Hire

No items found.
Read More
Success Indicators: Candidate Qualities That Equate To A Successful Executive Hire

No items found.
Read More
How Executive Search Takes AI To The Next Level

No items found.
Read More
The Missing Piece in Executive Search

No items found.
Read More
5 Top Resume Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

No items found.
Read More
The Value of HR as a Strategic Partner

No items found.
Read More
Gaining an Advantage in the War for Talent

No items found.
Read More
Holding Executive Recruiters To A Higher Standard

No items found.
Read More
Executive Search: A Valuable Partnership

No items found.
Read More
The Negative Impact of Dysfunctional Leaders

No items found.
Read More
Why the Right Process Matters More Than Industry Expertise in Executive Search

Sarah Davis

10/5/2023

No items found.
Read More
What partners should know before partnering with a search firm

Michael Brown

10/4/2023

No items found.
Read More
CMS vs Static Websites: A Comparison

Emily Johnson

10/3/2023

No items found.
Read More
The Benefits of Using a CMS

Jane Smith

10/2/2023

No items found.
Read More
Understanding Content Management Systems

John Doe

10/1/2023

No items found.
Read More

Let’s Build the Team
You Deserve

Start a conversation with our search specialists. No fluff. No jargon. Just clear, experienced guidance.