Your employer has offered outplacement: what it is and what to ask for
6 min read
Outplacement: what it is and what to ask for
Your role is being made redundant, and your employer has offered outplacement as part of the package. Before you start, it helps to know what outplacement is, what a useful package looks like, and what to ask for.
One thing to do first, whatever the package turns out to be: take the free three-minute Career Change Check at changingcareers.com.au/assessment. It shows Australian roles people in your kind of work have moved into. Walking into your first outplacement session with that list gives the session somewhere to go.
What outplacement is
Outplacement is a service your employer pays for to help you find your next job. It is usually delivered by an outside provider that your employer chooses and pays.
Three things follow from that.
- It is not cash. It is a service, not a payment to you.
- It sits alongside your redundancy pay. It does not replace what you are owed under the National Employment Standards, your award or your agreement. Check your entitlements at fairwork.gov.au, and see our redundancy guide.
- The provider works for your employer. Your employer is the client. That does not make the help bad, but it is worth knowing whose contract it is.
Packages vary a lot. Some are genuinely useful. Some are a resume template and one phone call.
What a useful package includes
A useful package usually covers five things.
1. Resume help from a person. A real person reads your resume and gives you specific written feedback, with at least one round of changes. A template on its own is not enough.
2. Interview practice. Practice questions with feedback, plus help talking about the redundancy without it getting awkward.
3. LinkedIn help. A review of your headline, your summary and how your skills are described.
4. Time with an adviser. This is where packages differ most. Ask how many sessions you get, how long each one is, how they are delivered, and when they expire.
5. Help choosing what to aim for. Which roles to target, and why. Generic advice about "networking" is not this.
What outplacement usually does not cover
Retraining is often not included. If you want to move into different work, such as customer success, claims, NDIS coordination, health admin or operations coordination, you may need to arrange training yourself.
Check fee-free and subsidised courses in your state at dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe and compare courses at yourcareer.gov.au before you pay for one.
Many packages are also built around finding the same kind of job again. If you want to change direction, say so in your first session.
Questions to ask before you start
Ask these, and get the answers in writing.
How long does it run? Some packages are short. Others run for several months. Know the end date.
How many adviser sessions are included? Ask for the number, the length, the format and whether unused sessions expire.
Is the resume review done by a person? Ask directly.
Can I choose the provider? Some employers allow a choice. If the provider on offer looks thin, ask whether there is another option.
What happens if I find a job before it ends? Usually the service stops. Confirm it.
Is it separate from my redundancy pay? It should be. If anyone suggests outplacement reduces what you are owed, check with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
If the package is thin
Not every package is worth much. If yours is a template and a single call, you have three options.
Ask for more. Some employers have more than one level of package. The first offer is not always the only one.
Ask whether the value can go elsewhere. Some employers may agree to put the money towards a course or service you choose. It is not guaranteed, but it is a fair question to ask before you sign anything.
Fill the gaps yourself. The Sprint is A$299 for twelve weeks. It includes resumes tailored to the roles you are aiming for, interview practice answered out loud, and up to three reviews from a real Australian career coach on a targeted resume or an application pack, plus unlimited messages to that coach. It is built for people moving into a different kind of work, not just polishing a resume for the same job.
If you are weighing up paying a career coach privately, our post on what the research says about career coaches is worth reading first.
If you are thinking about a different kind of work
A redundancy is a forced pause. For some people it is also the push to try something different.
If you have worked in a call centre, customer service, claims or admin, the skills you use every day carry across to more roles than your job title suggests: handling hard conversations, working inside systems and rules, keeping accurate records, and staying calm when things go wrong. Our pathways pages show where people in that kind of work tend to move.
Start early
Use the service while it is fresh. Start on your resume and your list of target roles in the first weeks, while you still have the routine of work around you, even if that work is winding down.
Our step-by-step plan for after redundancy covers the rest of the first weeks, and our redundancy payout guide covers the money.
Frequently asked questions
Is outplacement the same as redundancy pay?
No. Outplacement is a service your employer pays for, usually delivered by an outside provider. Redundancy pay is money you are owed based on your years of service and your award, agreement or contract. The two are separate, and outplacement should not reduce what you are owed. Check your entitlements at fairwork.gov.au.
What should a good outplacement package include?
Resume feedback from a real person with at least one round of changes, interview practice with feedback, a LinkedIn review, a clear number of adviser sessions, and help choosing which roles to aim for. If the offer is a template and one call, ask whether more is available.
Does outplacement pay for retraining?
Often not. Many packages focus on finding a similar job. If you want to move into a different field, you may need to arrange training yourself. Check fee-free options at dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe and yourcareer.gov.au.
Do I have to use the outplacement my employer offers?
Usually no. It is a service offered to you, not a condition of your redundancy pay. If you are unsure, ask your employer in writing, and check your entitlements with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
When should I start using outplacement?
As early as you can. Start on your resume and your list of target roles in the first weeks, while the routine of work is still fresh, rather than waiting until you feel ready.
This is general information, not professional career, financial, or legal advice. For tailored advice, consult a qualified career counsellor, financial adviser, or relevant Australian professional service.
Find out which parts of your job AI can already do. It is free and takes about three minutes.
Want a hand with what comes next? The 12-week Sprint covers your resume, LinkedIn and interview practice, with up to three coach reviews of a targeted resume or an application from an Australian career coach, for A$299 paid once. Before you decide anything, you can read who we are or send us a question. If you have been made redundant, the redundancy payout calculator could help you check what you may be owed.
Managing a redundancy at your workplace? Read our guides for HR.