Outplacement support means several things to several companies. For bad companies, it’s a sop to the staff (and unions if they’re involved). It’s a thing they can announce to make it look like they care. For good companies, it’s proof they care. When used properly, outplacement support can make a huge difference in the lives of the people who have left their jobs.

At its most basic, the outplacement agency should be helping you prepare your CV and should be getting that CV to potential employers. But it should be much more than that. It should turn a difficult and frightening time into an opportunity. And if the service you receive doesn’t do that, then it’s up to you.

That means forgetting the job you now do and start with a blank sheet. What do you enjoy in your job? What has made you happiest in your work? What have you always wanted to do? You need to be wary of focusing on speed and pure survival. Look at it instead as an unusual freedom. Once you’ve figured what you would like to do, find out the qualifications and experience you need to do it. If the outplacer is good they’ll do this with you, if they aren’t, hand them your goal as a foregone conclusion. And say ‘help.’

It is then their task to find the courses, jobs and contacts to help you get what you want. And their job to prepare you to use those contacts and get those jobs.

Eoghan McDermott is Director of Careers, The Communication Clinic . www.communicationsclinic.ie