Randstad RiseSmart is the best fit if you want a large, tech-enabled outplacement partner that pairs AI/job-matching and platforms with personalized coaching. For enterprise-scale transformation consider Right Management or LHH; for virtual-first, tailored coaching consider Careerminds or Challenger.
2LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison)LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison) — best for organizations wanting an established global outplacement provider offering coaching and career transition at scale; listed among major providers, though its enterprise focus may be heavier than boutique alternatives.76%
3Right ManagementRight Management — best when you need comprehensive, enterprise-scale career transition programs, including group outplacement, training and coaching; evidence shows strong workforce-transformation capabilities, though it is a large, less boutique option.53%
4CareermindsCareerminds — best when you prefer a virtual-first, tech-enabled coaching approach with tailored one-on-one support; cited for virtual-first delivery and personalized coaching, but may lack the breadth of global HR firms.50%
Companies undergoing layoffs typically hire outplacement service providers to help affected employees transition to new jobs. These firms provide career coaching, résumé and LinkedIn profile assistance, interview preparation, job-search support, networking resources, and sometimes access to job platforms or career-transition technology.
The services are usually purchased by the employer as part of a layoff or restructuring program, rather than by the employees themselves.
Major companies that provide outplacement services
1. LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison)
Best for large companies and global layoffs
Provides career coaches, résumé and personal-branding assistance, job-transition technology, and support for employees at different career levels.
Best for hands-on career coaching and restructuring support
Provides dedicated career coaches, job-search strategies, résumé writing, interview preparation, and assistance with planning and communicating layoffs.
These are starting points for a shortlist, not a definitive quality ranking.
What does outplacement cost?
Pricing depends on the number of affected employees, their seniority, the length of support, and how much individual coaching is included. Some providers publish packages; others prepare custom quotes. For example, Randstad RiseSmart publishes U.S. packages for smaller programs.
When requesting proposals, ask about:
Per-employee cost and minimum contract size.
Length of service and number of coaching sessions.
Dedicated human coaching versus self-service software.
Support for executives versus frontline employees.
Job-placement outcomes, participant satisfaction, and reporting.
Whether services are available remotely and across all employee locations.
If you're evaluating providers for a company undergoing layoffs, I can narrow this down further. Are you looking for a provider for a small business, a mid-sized company, or a large enterprise?
Outplacement services are specialized career transition solutions provided to companies to help laid-off or transitioning employees find new employment, rebuild resumes, and navigate career changes. These services protect the employer's brand and ease the emotional and professional impact on affected workers.[](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/outplacement-services)
Major global, national, and specialized firms provide these services:
Randstad RiseSmart — career coaching, professional branding, job matching, and reskilling.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas — career transition and outplacement, including executive support.
Right Management (ManpowerGroup) — outplacement and career-management services.
Korn Ferry — career transition/outplacement alongside broader talent consulting.
Careerminds, INTOO, IMPACT Group, Bravanti, and Felix Global — additional providers serving employers of various sizes.
Typically, the employer pays, and laid-off employees receive coaching, résumé assistance, interview preparation, job leads, and sometimes skills training as part of their transition package.
Yes. Outplacement firms are companies that employers hire to help employees who are being laid off transition to new jobs. The employer typically pays for the service, so the laid-off employee receives it at no cost. Services commonly include career coaching, résumé/LinkedIn assistance, interview preparation, job leads, networking, and sometimes skills training.
Some of the major providers in the U.S. are:
LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison) — Large global provider; offers one-on-one coaching, personal branding, job matching, and reskilling.
Right Management — ManpowerGroup's career-management and outplacement business, serving companies undergoing workforce transitions.
Randstad RiseSmart — Provides coaching, professional résumé/branding assistance, curated job leads, and career-transition technology.
Careerminds — Primarily virtual, with career coaching, résumé support, job-search assistance, and transition programs.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas — Long-established outplacement firm, particularly known for hands-on career transition and executive services.
INTOO — Global outplacement and career-transition provider with coaching and technology-supported services.
Mercer — Offers outplacement through its career business, including virtual career centers and coaching.
Career Partners International (CPI) — A network-based provider offering outplacement, executive coaching, and career management.
How it usually works
For example, a company announces a 200-person reduction in force. Instead of simply giving employees severance, HR might contract with an outplacement provider. Each affected employee receives an invitation to register, after which they may get a career coach, résumé help, job-search resources, and access to the provider's employer/recruiter network.
If you're asking because you're looking to sell outplacement services to companies, that's a somewhat different question—the market is essentially B2B HR services, and I can break down who the buyers are, how companies select providers, typical pricing, and how to compete with LHH/RiseSmart/Right Management.
Companies undergoing layoffs often hire outplacement service providers (also called career transition firms) to help departing employees find new work. These firms are typically paid by the employer and provide services such as career coaching, résumé and LinkedIn assistance, interview preparation, job-search strategy, networking support, and sometimes job-matching technology.
Common providers include:
LHH — A large global career transition and talent mobility provider, often used for enterprise layoffs and executive transitions.
Randstad RiseSmart — Provides technology-enabled outplacement, coaching, and career transition support for organizations.
Right Management — Offers outplacement and workforce transition services as part of ManpowerGroup.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas — A long-established provider focused on career transition coaching, including executive support.
Korn Ferry — Provides broader organizational consulting and career transition services for large employers.
Careerminds — Focuses on virtual outplacement programs with coaching and career tools.
INTOO — Provides career transition coaching and employee support programs.
VelvetJobs — Offers digital-first outplacement tools, coaching, and job-search resources.
Companies usually choose among providers based on factors such as:
If you’re asking because you’re an employer planning layoffs, an employee who was laid off, or a vendor looking to enter the outplacement market, the relevant list and selection criteria are different.
Yes. Outplacement providers are third-party firms that companies hire to help employees who are being laid off transition into new jobs. Services commonly include career coaching, résumé/LinkedIn help, interview preparation, job matching, networking, and sometimes direct job-search assistance.
Major outplacement providers
LHH — Formerly Lee Hecht Harrison; one of the largest global providers, particularly suited to large, multinational reductions in force.
Right Management — ManpowerGroup's career-management and outplacement business; strong enterprise/global footprint.
Randstad RiseSmart — Combines one-on-one career coaching, résumé/branding support, job matching and technology; serves companies ranging from mid-market to global enterprises.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas — Long-established provider known for high-touch coaching, including executive transitions.
Careerminds — Technology-forward, virtual-first model with coaching and career-transition support.
INTOO — Provides career transition, coaching and mobility services.
Korn Ferry — Particularly relevant for executive and senior-level transitions.
IMPACT Group — Offers outplacement and broader employee/career transition services.
These are among the providers a U.S. employer would typically encounter when shopping for outplacement services.
How the arrangement usually works
The company pays the outplacement firm, rather than the laid-off employee. HR might tell affected employees, for example, "Your severance includes six months of outplacement services through X." The employee then gets access to a coach, career platform, résumé assistance, job leads, etc.
For example, Randstad RiseSmart currently offers U.S. employer packages with 1:1 coaching, professional branding, AI-assisted job matching and career-planning tools; its published entry package is $899 per employee for three months.
If you're asking because your company is planning layoffs and you're trying to choose a provider, I can also give you a side-by-side comparison of the top 5 providers, including typical pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and which is best for a 10-, 50-, 500-, or 5,000-person layoff.
Randstad RiseSmart : Known for blending human coaching with a powerful tech platform and job-matching algorithms. Excellent for mid-market to enterprise companies wanting streamlined scaling. [](]()]()
Challenger, Gray & Christmas : A historic outplacement and executive coaching firm that pairs traditional counseling with modern job-search strategies. [](]()]()
If you are looking for a provider, let me know:
The number of employees affected
Whether you need global or local coverage
Your preferred balance of high-touch coaching vs. self-service technology
I can help you narrow down which vendor fits your organization's budget and goals.
Companies undergoing layoffs typically hire outplacement service providers (also called career transition firms) to help departing employees find new jobs and to support the employer’s reputation, employee relations, and compliance process. Services usually include career coaching, résumé and LinkedIn support, interview preparation, networking guidance, job-search tools, and sometimes executive transition support.
Some of the major providers include:
Provider
Typical focus
LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison)
Large enterprise layoffs, executive transitions, global workforce changes
Randstad RiseSmart
Mid-size to large employers, career coaching plus digital tools
Right Management
Enterprise workforce transitions and leadership/career services
Challenger, Gray & Christmas
Long-established outplacement firm, especially known for career coaching
INTOO
Technology-supported coaching and global career transition programs
Global network of independent career transition firms
Korn Ferry
Executive-level transitions and broader talent consulting
How companies usually choose a provider
Large multinational layoffs: often use LHH, Right Management, Randstad RiseSmart, Korn Ferry, or INTOO because they can support many employees across regions.
Mid-size companies: often look at Careerminds, RiseSmart, INTOO, or boutique providers for more flexible programs.
Executive departures: frequently use firms with executive coaches and leadership-transition expertise, such as LHH, Korn Ferry, or Challenger.
If you are asking as an HR leader selecting a vendor, the key evaluation criteria are usually employee volume, geographic coverage, coaching model (human coach vs. technology platform), reporting for HR, pricing model, and whether support continues until reemployment or ends after a fixed period.
