What’s the History of Outplacement Support?

January 19, 2012

Outplacement Support has its roots at the end of the Second World War when returning American GIs were provided with support to help them find new jobs and integrate back into society.

From this starting point in the 1940s, there have been numerous milestones marking the growth and development of Outplacement Support primarily in the USA where the origins can be clearly traced and defined. However, it was in the 1960s before Corporations used this service to any great extent especially to move on senior managers and executives with the 1970s showing substantial growth in this unique service. As the years progressed, more and more companies offered this support primarily through their HR Division and it was during the 1980s that the needs of the company and latterly the employee which began to effect changes in the types of support provided. Over a period of time, various professional bodies were formed to provide regulation because by the 1990s, Outplacement Support was a standard part of the HR function.

As the need for this type of support reached a plateau in the USA around this time, the suppliers of Outplacement Support turned their attention to other countries, mainly in Europe. Like the USA, the major players initially dominated the market place but more and more smaller service providers such as The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO),using a more personal service, began to make inroads. The end result being more competition, more choice, and more importantly, the tailoring of the service to the needs of the individual.

Outplacement Support has come a long way since its concept in the 1940s but statistics show that people looking for a new position find work twice as fast through TCMO compared to those with no support. History will show TCMO as Scotland’s most innovative Career Management and Outplacement Company offering career advice to all sectors from the shop floor to the board room, from graduates to chief executives. Success is a journey, not a destination. History is the past, become part of the future and start your interactive career journey now with TCMO.

The Top Questions to ask when selecting an Outplacement Company

January 5, 2012

Career Advice comes in many different ways. Advice on choosing a reputable Outplacement Company falls into the same category. So how can you be sure that the Outplacement Company you opt for will meet your needs and career aspirations ?

Before even comparing the companies in the market place, identify precisely what you require from the service provider. The ability of the organisation to meet your needs is the priority. Having identified your key needs, now compare and contrast what is available. Ask around to see if a friend or colleague has used the services of an outplacement company. Approach a professional organisation such as the CIPD for career advice and guidance.

Outplacement and Career Management are all about people. The quality of the coaches is of paramount importance. This is a people business unless you opt for an on line facility with no personal involvement. Determining how important this service is to you will quickly make you realise that personal face to face coaching is a number one priority.

Transparency of the process, content and fees is essential from day one. You must ensure that there are no hidden extras. A reputable Outplacement Company such as The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO) will offer at least two free, no obligation consultations at the front end to explain in detail what is involved as well as inviting you to meet the coaches involved. Initial career advice should be free.

At the end of the process, you as the client, must receive value for money. You must be totally satisfied if not delighted by the outcome. This is where guarantees come into play. Some Outplacement Companies will offer a service over a period of time but not all clients will achieve their next move during that time. TCMO offer life time career support as part of their portfolio of services, an in built insurance policy in respect of your career.

So, what are the top questions you need to ask when selecting an Outplacement Company ?

1. Do they meet your needs ?
2. Are they transparent in respect of the process, content and fees?
3. Quality of their coaches – can you meet with them before commitment?
4. Are they members of a professional organisation such as the CIPD ?
5. What guarantees are offered ?
6. Are they innovative – compare their services to others.
7. Can you visit their offices to get a feel for the operation and see the set up.

Retaining an Outplacement Company represents an “investment in your career”
This is a golden opportunity to start on a journey to success in your career – unfortunately many people quit looking for a career when they find a job.

Career Advice for Return to work Mums

January 5, 2012

Being a mother is the most wonderful job a woman can ever have. Although stressful and demanding being responsible for your own little person, it’s a lifetime of joy and happiness watching them grow into a mature adult. According to the last annual report, the average cost of raising a child to the age of 21 is now over £200,000; that’s an average of over £9,500 per year which see’s most mums return to work within 12 months of giving birth.

As female Career Managers, we understand the emotional and political challenges you face when you return to work. We understand that Career Progression and Success shouldn’t be put to one side now you’re a mum which is why we provide Career Advice to return to work Mums every day.

Consider the following points as food for thought when seeking Career Advice:

Personal Budgets – what level of income do you need to support your family and regular outgoings? Knowing the bottom line figure will help dictate whether you can afford to return to work on a full or part time basis.

Childcare – Do you have a good support system in place from family and friends who can help care for your baby whilst you return to work or will you have to pay for childcare? This will help you decide the location and salary you are looking for.

Level of Responsibility – At what level should you pitch yourself at with your current or prospective employer? If you are returning to the same role you left before maternity leave, can your circumstances allow you the same flexibility?

These are just some of the points we discuss on a daily basis with individuals like you every day to map out their priorities and what they want to achieve from their Career. With the right Career Management strategy in place, you can take ownership of your Career and achieve the right work / life balance to suit you and your family. Get more Career Advice by visiting www.tcmo.co.uk or call 0800 009 3141, to find out how our experienced Career Managers can help you with professional and realistic career advice.

Career Management: – How do I know I need it?

January 5, 2012

“I need a new computer!”; “I need to move house!” “I need a haircut!” “I need a holiday!!”

So many ‘needs’ – and in almost every case they are blindingly obvious: your computer will have ceased to function properly; your neighbours are annoying; you’ve just noticed yourself in the mirror; you have ceased to function properly. So why is it that so many people fail to recognise in themselves a need for Career Management?

As with so many ‘givens’ in life, we tend to manage those aspects which, traditionally, we know will come under the general heading of “Life Management”: managing your finances; managing your household; managing your children’s education. But when it comes to managing your career (career management), actually very few see this as something which is just as important as all the others. If not more so.

We tend to ‘muddle through’ and of course we all know those ‘lucky’ people who, when asked, will say that they have the best job in the world – “…and I’m actually being paid to do it!”. But how much of that is luck, and how much good judgement? The famous golfer, Gary Player, was once asked how much luck played a part in his success, to which he responded with the classic line: “Well I don’t know, but it seems the more I practice, the luckier I get.”

Very few people can say they have the best job in the world, but with help and guidance, they will almost certainly be able to improve their situation and achieve a role which is more satisfying, rewarding, and with better long-term prospects. And just as all the top sportsmen or women in the world (even Gary!) will have taken tuition and mentoring from the very best coaches to improve not only their skills, but their mental outlook, so those who genuinely wish to enhance their career should seek guidance from those who are professionally qualified to provide it. And do it well.

The question was simple: “How do I know I need it?” The answer is equally simple: unless you can say, honestly, that your career is following exactly the track you envisaged when you first started, that you really do enjoy your work, are being paid what you had originally hoped for and that your future prospects are excellent, then it stands to reason that you will benefit (possibly hugely) from career management, provided by the professionals at TCMO. We will always take a genuine interest in you as an individual and offer precisely the guidance to help you to make that very important career move.

So, like Gary Player, don’t depend on luck; take control of your game – and achieve!

Career Management just might be the right thing for you.

Career Management – What is it?

January 5, 2012

To many people the concept of Career Management is something of a mystery, or else they have only a rough idea of what it’s all about. If you were to ask a total stranger what they thought it was, you can guarantee that they would say: “Yes, it’s really just re-writing your CV and telling you who to approach and stuff like that.” Which is rather like saying the internet is “…just a sort of communications thing”.

The key word here is Management and, in every sense, management of an individual’s needs – not a ‘catch-all’ solution delivered by seminar (which, despite the quality of the presenter, will always leave specific questions in the mind of each participant). So whereas the contents of the CV will be pivotal in forming any career management programme, it is still only a fraction of what that whole programme will entail; there is much more to it than that.

Of course there are those who do provide a CV writing service, which, on its own, can be useful to someone who is looking for nothing further. However career management, as the name suggests , addresses the entire process of how you can enhance your career substantially, and thereby take control of your future. It’s a complete career enhancing package.

So what does it cover?

Career Management is available: to those in work who: want to improve their situation; who want to transfer their skills into another sector; or are even facing redundancy, and is a means to cover not only the (highly important) CV, but, through one-to-one consultation with professionals, will identify the key skills, experience and capabilities that will appeal to a prospective employer.

The skills of our professionals will not only identify opportunities within areas that, using your transferable skills, you had not even thought of, but also will show you how to get in front of the key people. And then how to make an impact.

Many people have an issue with interviews, and so interview briefing becomes an integral part of the management programme. Effective networking (not wine & cheese card-swapping soirees!) and telephone skills are all included, as are self-marketing, negotiation skills and strategy – and more; and so the whole becomes a comprehensive course of Career Management.

Career Management is meant for those who want more than a fancy CV; it’s for those who want to take control of their career – and move it forward.

TCMO provide exactly that. Contact us now and get your career management journey off to a great start

What people say about us…..

January 5, 2012

Before you decide to engage any of services you will be given the opportunity to speak directly to TCMO clients who have used our services and who are happy to answer any questions you have about our succesful programmes.

You can view some of our client’s comments below to check out all of our recommendations online click this link  http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tcmogroup or contact Raymond Currie on 0131 201 0180 to discuss in more detail

“Having been in steady employment for 35 years, it came as a great shock to be told my position as Quality Manager was being made redundant, after 17 years in this particular role.
 My initial feelings at no longer having a job were frustration, anger, self pity and a degree of resentment and sadness with my former employer.
 Industry had changed so much since I was last out or work, and so I was totally out of touch with appropriate marketing strategies and methods for promoting my skills and preparing for
 interviews in today’s extremely competitive employment market.
 In short, I was not optimistic about my career prospects or sure of my approach to find alternative employment. 
 
 However, as part of my redundancy package and an aid to help get me back into employment, my former employer had enlisted the use of The Career Management Organisation (TCMO) who are 
 an Edinburgh based company. I was initially a bit sceptical of this organisation thinking “what can they do to help me” but after my first meeting with one of their consultants, they made me realise
 that having an open and positive attitude were going to be vital factors in my job quest.
 They got me to evaluate my achievements and think inwardly about where I saw myself presently and where I wanted to be in the future. They got me to assess my strengths 
 and weaknesses, they helped build my self esteem and confidence. They helped me to restructure my CV and pushed me out with my comfort zone, which proved invaluable when I started to get 
 called for interviews again.
 
“ After 5 months of unemployment, not only have I found work again, but it is a promotion in the industry I wanted to remain in.
 I owe this good luck completely to TCMO for their pushing, mentoring and coaching, as it was they who brought a structured and pragmatic approach to how I tackled my job search.
 Without them, I would still be chasing that elusive next position, so to TCMO…….. thank you again!” Jan 2012 – Jim Clark

“I highly recommend TCMO and Rob in particular. I immediately felt at ease in his company and developed a good rapport with him. His expertise, advice, support and encouragement were very much appreciated. Most importantly for me however, was that his contacts in the recruitment industry meant that my (revamped) CV was seen by a key recruiter and I very quickly was back on a much improved career ladder. His support continued into my new employment and he kept in touch during the key first few weeks which was very much appreciated.” January 4, 2012 – Debbie Donnet

“Rob and the entire TCMO Team have been truly fantastic in their guidance and support since I was made redundant in 2010. They have been a source of great encouragement during dark days and have always provided first-class, personal, tailored advice matching my requirements precisely. Rob’s in-depth knowledge and experience means he is able to coach individuals and prepare them to go out and get that dream job. I cannot recommend Rob and TCMO enough – if you want to stand out from the crowd in today’s tough employment market, these guys will help you get there.”  – Colin Ure

“From my very first meeting with Rob I felt like I was in safe hands. Redundancy is an unpleasant experience and shakes your confidence. Rob and the team at TCMO helped me rebuild that and, perhaps more importantly, gave me the courage and impetus to re-evaluate where I was and where I wanted to go in my career path. I have no doubt that without his expertise and support It would have taken me a lot longer to solve my employment problems.” – Caroline Vevers

“I was priveledged to be introduced to Rob while being taking part on the STV Hour Programme in January called NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW JOB. I’m a mature lady who had been unemployed for 2 years when I first met him and he helped me redesign my CV and give me new input for it. This seemed to help and I’m very grateful to Rob. I’m now back into full-time IT contract employment helping to shape up a new project team. I would recommend Rob to anyone who is in my situation as he really does know his work.” – Moira Thomson

“I was first introduced to TCMO in November 2010. I had left the Army after 22 years and found myself in a never ending cycle of applications and rejections for work. From the onset TCMO provided a totally sympathetic and yet professional approach to my situation and I totally believe that, that is the case for any client. From start to walking in to my place of employment Support was always available and the great gift is it is for life. All the staff I have come across from TCMO are extreemely professional, friendly, with a vast expanse of experiance in their role. If you are in a career rut I would certainly recommend you get in touch with TCMO as the service you get is literally 1 to 1 and nothing is to much for the staff.  Highly recommended.” – Gavin Carston

“Rob is a very personable guy but nobodys fool and has a constant supply of solutions. I first met Rob when I was at a career or maybe even life crossroads and was impressed by Rob’s tenancity, positive attitude and just his ability to just “get it”! As a result of my career coaching form Rob and his team I found the courage to set up on my own as a Global Consultant – something I would never have thought possible 12 months ago.” – Gillian Bell

“TCMO began their work with me early in 2010 and their enthusiasm, ideas and professionalism has been great. I would recommend the services of TCMO widely.” – Dale A Haigh

“Rob and all at TCMO delivered on their promises and every decision relating to work and my career were directly and indirectly infuenced by Rob. Always available for advice I would frequently contact Rob for an update or insight into numerous sectors and organisations. Always affable his knowledge and integrity are beyond reproach.” – Iain Mackenzie

“Having worked with TCMO for the past couple of months, I could not recommend them highly enough for their help, professionalism and enthusiasm. A worthwhile investment not only for now but the future as well.”  Craig Innes

“I appeared on STV’s show “The Hour” in which Rob provided myself, and 3 other job seekers from different backgrounds and circumstances, with excellent advice and assistance in identifying where to look for the right job / career, how to apply and succeed in communicating effectively with potential employers. Rob’s input into my job search, as a graduate, was priceless and I would like to thank him for all his time and effort he put into myself and the others during the shows.” – Ryan Hunter

“I engaged the services of TCMO at a transitional period of my working life, having decided to seek a new challenge after 23 years with the same employer. Although, i had been given structured career guidance and advice by my employer, albeit on a group basis, i felt that a more bespoke service was required to give me the edge in a hugely competitive job market. From the original consultation with Raymond Currie, the team at TCMO clearly understood where my skills and experience could be integrated, and how best to advertise this to prospective employers. A concurrent range of activities focused on producing a quality CV, a target list of companies and how to be successful at interview. The latter proved to be hugely beneficial, and i was fortunate enough to be offered both positions after attending interviews with 2 separate companies. I have no doubt that the preparation delivered by TCMO played a significant part in this. Overall, the support and advice offered by Rob Moore, Andrew Gray and the whole TCMO team was first-rate and i would recommend their services to anyone who is planning on pursuing a change in career.” – David Maxwell

“I met TCMO when I was facing redundancy and was unsure which direction I wanted to take my career in. I found the staff at TCMO very helpful, supportive and innovative in their advice. The advice I recieved definitely helped me through an uncertain time and I am now looking forward to a new career in a new sector which I recently joined. I would have no hesitation in recommending TCMO to anyone in a similar situation. It was one of the best moves I made when changing my career.” – Tom McManus

“Rob acted as my Project Manager when I was faced with finding a new career. He was able to assist me with looking at new ways to progress my job search, enabling me to contact prospective agencies. I now am looking forward to taking up a new postion.” – Edward Gough

“When I employed Rob and TCMO I was facing redundancy and keen to find a new job asap. After two meetings with him and Raymond, I was confident that TCMO was the right investment. And indeed it was: Rob and Raymond were working very hard in the background providing me with lists of companies that would be interesting for me, forwarding me job adverts they came across, using their own personal network to promote me and generally supported me in many other, individual regards. Meanwhile, Teresa Robertson, one of TCMO’s career advisors was extraordinarily helpful in 1-to-1’s when finding the right words and formulations for cover letters and my CV. Likewise, she did very helpful interview preparation and improved job-hunting strategies. I’m sure that without Rob and other TCMO staff I wouldn’t have found my current job that rapidly. And I’m very happy that I can rely on their ‘lifelong’ support in whatever situations throughout my future career.” – Thomas Mathar

“Facing a personal transition in my career, TCMO have helped and supported me through this period, proving at all times to be a source of inspiration and aspiration. With a dedicated team at my disposal and a personal career coach, even now with a new career in front of me they have committed to supporting and coaching me reach my potential in the new role and beyond. An absolute pleasure to deal with I wholly recommend Rob, Raymond, Sarah and the whole team.” – Steve Pigott

“I employed TCMO to assist my career progression following redundancy and I found everyone involved to be friendly, professional people who understood the industry and provided a top rate level of service in interview training, CV construction and marketing research and support. Rob managed my account and I would not hesitate to recommend his services to anyone. Because of the training and support he and TCMO provided I was able to find a perfect position and returned to employment. I now look forward to working with Rob utilising TCMO’s lifetime career service.” – Richard Tebbutt

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Rob for a number of years. What’s clear when you meet Rob is that he’s a driven individual who is a man of his word. After learning that Rob was behind Scotland’s newest and most innovative career management and outplacement services consultancy I instantly started referring potential business to TCMO. If you’re looking for a long standing consultative partnership then please call Rob!” – Jason Dawes, Pilotlight Scotland

“Rob and the other team members at TCMO are at all times professional and go the extra mile to ensure that their clients and customers get the results that they are looking for. Clients I have referred to Rob have nothing but praise for this friendly, trustworthy and approachable man and I have no hesitation in recommending him and his colleagues to anyone who reads this.” – Martin Bennett

“The service which TCMO provides is true professionalism in the field of providing career coaching, guidance, advice and direction. I have no hesitation in recommending TCMO  to a wider audience. Excellent business which will continue to grow and succeed in the market place.” – David Doherty

One of our clients has shared their full experience with us below

Her Story – “Like many other people I found myself unexpectedly at a crossroads in my career. I was ‘pigeon –holed’ into a career I didn’t really enjoy. The opportunity of redundancy gave me the chance to consider what I really wanted from my working life. However, as the days and weeks went by, I found myself going around in circles. As time passed my self-esteem lessened and I was becoming increasingly anxious about finding my ideal career. Regularly searching recruitment pages and websites further increased my despondency until one day my curiosity led me to contact TCMO. Having been employed within a global organisation for 17 years, I was astute enough to realise I was inexperienced about the external job markets and the protocols involved in job hunting. I emailed several organisations including TCMO. All responded very quickly but only TCMO did so with the level of reassurance and professionalism I was seeking.

It was a relief to meet Raymond and explain the circumstances that led me to contact TCMO. There was a genuine desire to support and encourage me to fulfil my potential. I respected Raymond and his colleagues’ careful analysis of my background, skills and personality. It was like building the blocks of my confidence slowly back together. With the knowledge they ascertained they matched me to the ideal career coach. Over the sessions, tailored to suit my needs, my CV; covering letters and preparation for interview evolved. Significantly, the contract I signed with TCMO offering on-going career support for life is true. This is a quality of the organisation that should not be overlooked. To have the reassurance of knowing the team at TCMO are there for support has bolstered my confidence.

TCMO provided me with the opportunity to take control of my life. No monetary figure should stop you grasping this chance. Whether you have the courage to make the leap of faith depends on how much you want to change your life. I have absolute no hesitation in saying, it was worth the investment. TCMO isn’t about finding a job or even a career. It’s about finding a quality of life.”