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Korn Ferry is an outplacement provider that also offers executive search, leadership development, and organizational consulting. Its outplacement services are backed by a large employer network built through its work with organizations worldwide.
That network can help connect displaced employees with hiring teams and job opportunities beyond traditional job boards. It is a key advantage that many smaller outplacement providers cannot match.
This review explores what Korn Ferry's outplacement service includes, how much it costs, what clients say about their experience, and where an alternative provider may be a better fit for your organization
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry was founded in 1969 in Los Angeles by Lester Korn and Richard Ferry, two former consultants who started a company focused on executive recruiting. Instead of relying mainly on personal connections, they built a more structured and research-driven hiring process. That approach helped the firm grow quickly and expand into Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia within its first decade.
It was known mainly for executive search, which changed in the 2010s after it acquired Hay Group in 2015. The acquisition expanded the company's services beyond recruiting, allowing it to help organizations with leadership development, organizational design, role planning, and talent management.
Its Career Transition and Outplacement Services sit within this broader consulting structure, which means outplacement clients are, in effect, working with a business unit inside a much larger global advisory.
Korn Ferry Outplacement: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Korn Ferry's main business is executive search, giving it strong relationships with employers worldwide. That network can help outplacement clients connect with hiring managers more directly.
- Korn Ferry's process includes evaluating whether displaced employees can be placed into other roles within the same organization before starting an external search, which can reduce total severance costs for the employer.
- Korn Ferry says employees can reach a career coach in as few as three clicks, making it easy to speak with a real person soon after a layoff.
- All of Korn Ferry's coaching, assessment, and job search tools sit on one platform, which simplifies delivery for employers managing outplacement across multiple offices or countries.
Cons
- Korn Ferry does not list its pricing publicly. Costs depend on the services and level of support needed, so HR teams need to contact the company for a quote.
- Because Korn Ferry works with coaches across many countries, the quality of coaching can vary depending on the coach and location.
- Because outplacement is just one of many services Korn Ferry offers, some clients may prefer a provider that focuses only on career transition.
Korn Ferry's Online Positioning and Customer Reviews
Korn Ferry's outplacement service is mostly reviewed on business software and vendor review platforms rather than consumer review sites. Reviewers describe it as a structured program that includes career coaching, resume support, job search guidance, and interview preparation.
These are seen as key advantages over many outplacement providers. At the same time, smaller specialist firms are often noted for offering faster onboarding, more personalized coaching, and lower costs.
Someone commented on their experience with them as:
"Korn Ferry is one of the professional company worldwide, I have gone through the talent acquisition process and their way of dealing with candidates was outstanding, I have not shortlisted and we’re not informed However its because of individual employees decisions but organisations is well known and trustworthy."
How Much Does Korn Ferry Cost?
Korn Ferry does not publish its outplacement pricing. Costs depend on factors like the number of employees, the level of support needed, the length of the program, and the locations involved. Organizations need to contact the company for a custom quote.
Korn Ferry's Process
Here is how a typical Korn Ferry outplacement engagement generally unfolds, based on how the firm describes its own service delivery:
Step 1: Consultation and Program Design
Korn Ferry first works with the employer to understand the layoff, including the number of employees affected, their roles, and the level of support needed.
Step 2: Internal Redeployment Review
Before starting an external job search, Korn Ferry checks whether affected employees can be moved into other roles within the same organization when possible.
Step 3: Employee Enrollment and Platform Access
Employees get access to Korn Ferry's online platform, where they can find career coaching, resume support, assessments, and job search tools in one place.
Step 4: Coaching and Assessment
Employees are matched with a career coach who helps them identify their strengths, career goals, and target roles. Korn Ferry says coaches can be reached in as few as three clicks.
Step 5: Active Search and Network Access
Korn Ferry uses its employer network to help connect employees with hiring managers, giving them access to opportunities beyond standard job board searches.
Step 6: Ongoing Support and Wellbeing Focus
Coaching continues until the end of the program, with the company reporting that most participants find roles equal to or better than their previous jobs.
Korn Ferry's Team
Korn Ferry delivers its career transition and outplacement services through a global network of coaches. The company has more than 8,000 employees, operates in over 50 countries, and is led by CEO Gary Burnison.
The coaches assigned to each program depend on the employee's location, role, and support needs. This global network works well for multinational companies, but the coaching experience can vary depending on the coach.
Best Korn Ferry Alternative: WeAreCareer
WeAreCareer takes a different approach to outplacement. Instead of offering it as one service within a large consulting business, the company focuses entirely on helping professionals find their next job through hands-on, done-for-you support.
Its B2B outplacement studies can be found here
Here is what WeAreCareer offers as an alternative:
- Execution-Driven: Instead of only providing coaching, WeAreCareer's team applies to relevant jobs on the employee's behalf, customizes resumes for each role, and manages the job application process.
- Direct Recruiter and Hiring Manager Outreach: WeAreCareer also reaches out to recruiters and hiring managers to help employees find more job opportunities, including roles that may not be publicly advertised. This outreach is a standard part of every program.
- Transparent, Published Pricing: WeAreCareer lists its pricing publicly, with plans starting at $1,500 for junior-level employees and higher-tier options for senior and executive roles. This gives HR teams a clear idea of costs before speaking with the sales team.
- Structured Programs With Clear Deliverables: Instead of offering open-ended coaching, WeAreCareer follows a structured process that includes resume optimization, recruiter outreach, and regular job applications, so both employers and employees know what to expect.
- Built for Corporate Professionals: WeAreCareer's outplacement programs are designed for mid- and senior-level professionals who benefit from a hands-on, managed job search instead of handling everything on their own.
- Proven Client Outcomes: WeAreCareer has helped more than 3,000 professionals with their career transitions. Many clients report getting interviews within weeks of joining the program.
WeAreCareer has helped more than 3,000 professionals with their career transitions. Many clients report getting interviews within weeks of joining the program.
Bottom Line: Is Korn Ferry Worth It?
Korn Ferry is a good fit for large organizations managing senior-level or global workforce transitions. It is also a natural choice for companies that already use Korn Ferry for executive search, leadership development, or consulting.
Where the calculation shifts is for HR teams managing mid-to-senior corporate professional transitions who want more pricing transparency and a provider whose entire business is built around active job-search support rather than as a single line within a much larger consulting practice.
For this, WeAreCareer offers a more transparent, hands-on alternative that may deliver stronger, faster outcomes for the specific employees your organization supports.
Book your next appointment with WeAreCareer.
