12 Week Senior Manager Program

The 12 week Senior Manager program is ideally designed for effective and practical outplacement support to middle-level and junior executives affected by organisational change.

Program Highlights:

• Individual orientation meeting;
• Individual professional consulting for 12 weeks, incorporating Adjustment, Self-Assessment, Option Analysis, JobSearch Strategies;
• Financial planning;
• Résumé advice, preparation and production;
• Introductions to relevant agencies and targeted companies;
• Jobsearch technique training – Networking, Ad Response, Accessing the Hidden Job Market;
• Interview Skills training; and
• Review of Offers.

Support Features:

• MSI Researchers;
• Regional telephone and fax usage;
• Campaign-related postage services;
• Secretarial services; and
• Follow up 3 months after program completion/commencement of new job.

8 week Mid-level Manager Program

The 8 week mid-level manager program is ideally designed for effective and practical outplacement support to management executives affected by organisational change.

Program Highlights:

• Individual orientation meeting;
• Individual professional consulting for 8 weeks, incorporating Adjustment, Self-Assessment, Option Analysis, JobSearch Strategies;
• Financial planning;
• Résumé advice, preparation and production;
• Introductions to relevant agencies and targeted companies;
• Jobsearch technique training – Networking, Ad Response, Accessing the Hidden Job Market;
• Interview Skills training; and
• Review of Offers.

Support Features:

• MSI Researchers;
• Regional telephone and fax usage;
• Campaign-related postage services;
• Secretarial services; and
• Follow up 3 months after program completion/commencement of new job.

4 Week Outplacement Program

The 4 week program is ideally designed for effective and practical outplacement support to salaried employees affected by organisational change.

Program Highlights:

• Individual orientation meeting;
• Individual professional consulting for 4 weeks, incorporating Adjustment, Self-Assessment, Option Analysis, JobSearch Strategies;
• Financial planning;
• Résumé advice, preparation and production;
• Introductions to relevant agencies and targeted companies;
• Jobsearch technique training – Networking, Ad Response, Accessing the Hidden Job Market;
• Interview Skills training; and
• Review of Offers.

Support Features:

• Secretarial services; and
• Follow up 3 months after program completion/commencement of new job.

Approach

MSI adopts the following approach to the delivery of the Career Transition Meeting and Outplacement Service. Naturally the level of intervention of each step depends on a number of factors, including the client’s internal resources, the needs of the individual candidate and the program in which the candidate is enrolled.

Step 1 : PrePlanning

This step is required before every retrenchment whether one or a number of individuals are involved. It includes:

• Reviewing the background;
• Confirming the strategy;
• Reviewing the possible impacts – internal and external;
• Checking the severance package;
• Consulting on the separation process;
• Preparing for the exit interview; and
• Facilitating the separation.

Step 2 : The Adjustment Process

This step takes place in the client’s offices immediately following the announcement of the redundancy and is always a one-on-one process. It is then followed up in the MSI offices as soon as practical after the redundancy.

In YOUR offices:

• Immediate support after separation;
• Venting;
• Personal counselling – the family and friends issues;
• Establishing the next step; and
• Making tangible the career transition and setting the next meeting at MSI.

In OUR offices:

• Welcoming and catching up;
• Ongoing venting;
• Checking the stress factor;
• Introducing the team;
• Talking with the spouse/partner;
• Setting a career transition budget;
• Thinking about health and fitness;
• Reviewing career transition;
• Setting personal objectives;
• Review the career transition program, including the online component; and
• Diary planning and time management;

Step 3 : Assisted Self-Assessment

For each retrenched employee it is essential that morale and dignity are maintained whilst self-esteem is re-established. These objectives can often be achieved by providing the individual with an opportunity to identify their transferable skills and competencies whilst also focussing on achievements relating to their previous employment.

At MSI we employ a number of processes to facilitate the self assessment. These include some or all of the following:

• “Business-oriented” psychological appraisal;
• Lifestyle assessment;
• Vocational assessment;
• Preparing preliminary résumé;
• 360° performance appraisal;
• Financial planning and advice;
• Checking the “windows of opportunity”;
• Assessment of skills, values and preferences;
• Short, medium and long-term goal definition;

Step 4: Development of Career Alternatives

At MSI this is one of the most important aspects of the Career Transition Management and Outplacement Program. Without a strategy and direction, the efforts of the individual in job seeking can be random, often focusing on little more than advertised positions with no significant effort to identify employment opportunities in the hidden job market. In the development of career alternatives, considerable efforts are made to direct the individual towards the hidden market whilst also encouraging networking with MSI recruiters and recruiters with other search firms.

Generally the development of career alternatives is a progressive process which follows the course below:

• Identification of career directions;
• Identification of organisations and industry opportunities;
• Identification of individuals in the organisations to be targeted;
• Categorising the targets;
• Identifying personal values, especially those which would be of benefit to each organisation; and
• Targeting each organisation.

In addition consideration is given to alternative options, including self-employment, consulting and contracting.

Step 5: Review and Upgrade of Jobsearch Skills

This step often runs concurrently with other steps in the process. It includes developing and refining the essential skills necessary for a candidate in the employment market. Depending on the program these skills maybe delivered through a one-on-one coaching process, via workshops or in conjunction with face-to-face consulting. The essential skills include

• Understanding and responding to advertisements;
• Letters of application;
• Networking;
• Interview techniques;
• Personal presentation;
• Effective communication; and
• Jobsearch administration.

Step 5 is usually followed by a review of the previous steps and will include:

• Checking the options against lifestyle preferences; and
• Reviewing consulting, contracting and self-employment options.

Step 6: Setting and Implementing the Jobsearch Plan

By this stage in the process the individual will have a clear understanding of their jobsearch strategy and the action required to bring it to fulfillment. For many, the implementation part of the process is the most difficult. During this time MSI ensures that the individual’s efforts are supplemented by ongoing secretarial, facilities and Career Transition Consultant support

The implementation strategies will usually include a mix of:

• Networking;
• Search and selection;
• Selected advertisement response;
• Proactive personal marketing;
• Managing recruitment consultants; and
• Meeting with Recruitment consultants.

Step 7: Successful Transition

Wherever possible successful transition is always recognised by MSI. The processes we encourage in this step include:

• Thank you letters;
• Reviewing the job offers;
• Is negotiation possible?
• Decision assistance; and
• Follow-up and closure.

Step 8: Follow-up

An essential part of MSI quality process is feedback to clients. This feedback is usually carried out during the progress of any assignment and on completion of each outplacement. Unless otherwise arranged feedback during the assignment will occur on a fortnightly basis.

In addition to client feedback, MSI also attempts to maintain contact with candidates. This contact includes:

• Three months review with candidate;
• Dealing with integration problems; and
• Making sure of success and the future.

Where a candidate has completed a designated program and has not gained employment, MSI will also endeavour to remain in contact with the candidate offering ongoing advice and support to maintain the candidate’s self- esteem and spirits.