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Editor in Chief:
Joan Caruso
Writer:
Catherine Carlozzi
Designer:
Camille Regis
If you have questions or
comments on this
month's issue, send your
feedback to: joan.caruso@ayers.com
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The Career Transition Difference
Customized, Caring Service
by Terry Ebert
During the frenzy of corporate downsizing activity we’ve witnessed in the past year, an extraordinary number of people have found themselves without jobs. Many are fortunate enough to receive outplacement services as part of a separation support package from their employers; many are not. We’ve gotten to know hundreds of the former group. Each person reminds us why providing personalized outplacement services is so important and that we can – and do – make a difference in their lives at a difficult time.
Effective career transition support is customized, not commoditized. Laying off employees and losing a job are traumatic events, and the companies and people involved need real, individualized support. That’s why we tailor our services to the needs of each corporate client and to the candidates entrusted to us.
Each candidate is assigned to one of our experienced consultants, who stays with and helps that individual come to terms with the situation, as needed, and develop and implement a plan for moving forward. Our comprehensive program elements include personal assessments, strategy development, interactive resumé building, job-search skill honing, interview preparation, and job offer/compensation negotiation consulting.
People have different needs at different points in their careers and lives. We work with candidates based on where they (and their families) are as they approach this significant transition. Our new Active Life Planning (ALP) Program , for example, helps those who are contemplating retirement or taking an early retirement package figure out how to alter the work-life balance in favor of life as they make decisions about how to spend life’s next chapter. For C-suite executives in transition, we realized that the most appropriate approach is a highly-customized program focused on individualized coaching. As a result, we now offer Platinum Services through our OEC Group.
High-tech is good; high-touch is better. Our Internet-based seminars and research tools – including our CPI Career Portal – are proprietary and available exclusively to our candidates. We also provide access to subscription-based on-line services. But the greatest value isn’t in these online tools; it’s in the one-on-one, face-to-face interaction with our experienced, caring consultants. Our candidate-to-consultant ratio is the lowest in the industry so that we can invest time in accordance with each candidate’s needs.
The emphasis of our programs is on frequent contact: weekly or biweekly meetings and telecons. We offer activities geared toward bringing candidates into our offices to enhance contact across our entire team of consultants. Peak Performance Teams provide effective peer-level networking and support across industries. More than a dozen different seminar offerings go beyond job-search skills to cover financial awareness and alternative career paths, such as consulting and franchising. One of our newest seminars has helped mid- and senior-level candidates apply for and land attractive positions at federal regulatory agencies, emerging as some of the most active hirers in the financial services industry.
Support shouldn’t end when the program does. Our Flying Solo seminar is designed to help candidates sustain the momentum they built during their time with us. They also leave with ongoing access to the CPI Career Portal and to their consultants for advice on how to work through a crisis or an opportunity. This access is provided until our candidates land.
The proof of our commitment and success is in the unsolicited comments we get from our candidates. Here is a small sampling.
“The completely thorough and professional help I received was stellar in every respect, and both the quantity and quality of the information provided was exceptional. You are one of those unusual individuals who happens to be both creative and organized – and who is also a top-notch resumé expert and marketing professional. I especially appreciated the forward-looking assistance planning for the first 90 days with my new employer. I know I've gained significant strategic advantages.”
“I knew I needed to brush up on resumé-building, networking, and interviewing skills while staying focused under the pressure and stress of losing my job. The Ayers Group was a great partner in this process. I was quickly impressed with the vast market knowledge, resourcefulness, and career transition methods employed by the organization. It was this approach and my counselor’s mentorship that helped me stay focused, find ways to combat all barriers presented along the way, and ultimately get the job I wanted."
My consultant "was very helpful in areas where I needed assistance – in particular, networking with colleagues I'd lost touch with. Additionally, he always had a positive spin on situations and a gift for making me feel good about whatever obstacle I faced. This was particularly helpful since I have never in my 30-year career been unemployed without having another position lined up. He went as far as to give me his home and cell phone numbers when I was close to getting an offer. He went above and beyond his responsibilities."
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS CONSULTING
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