Outplacement Provider Comparison · 2026
Relevante is a dedicated outplacement provider offering one-on-one certified career coaching with no setup fees, no minimums, and coaching that continues until every displaced employee lands a job — with 80% placed within three months. Korn Ferry is a global executive search and organizational consulting firm that offers outplacement through its Career Transition practice, with connections to talent teams at 10,000+ companies. For most US-based companies, Relevante delivers faster onboarding, more personal coaching, and significantly lower cost. Korn Ferry’s advantage is its global employer network and its integration with broader organizational consulting.
At a glance
A side-by-side summary of how Relevante and Korn Ferry compare on the criteria that matter most to HR leaders and People teams managing workforce transitions.
Full side-by-side comparison
An in-depth comparison of Relevante and Korn Ferry across pricing, coaching, service scope, and employer support — based on publicly available information as of 2025.
| Feature | ★ Relevante | Korn Ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Company Profile | ||
| Primary business | Outplacement & direct hire recruiting — 100% focus | Executive search & org consulting — outplacement is one division |
| Founded | Established, Philadelphia-based | Founded 1969, Los Angeles |
| Global footprint | All 50 US states + international (US-based employers) | 50+ countries, 10,000+ experts globally |
| Pricing & Contracts | ||
| Setup fee | ✓ No setup fee — ever | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost structure | ✓ Pay only when employee is onboarded and accepts services | Enterprise program pricing; negotiated by account |
| Minimum commitment | ✓ No minimum — one employee or one thousand | Structured for enterprise volume |
| Ongoing maintenance fee | ✓ None — agreement stays active at zero cost | Platform and program licensing likely applies |
| Pricing transparency | ✓ Clear model: no fees until services accepted | Quote-based; contact sales required |
| Speed & Onboarding | ||
| Time to first coaching session | ✓ 24–48 hours after DocuSign agreement | Enterprise account configuration required |
| Agreement process | ✓ DocuSign — no procurement cycle needed | Enterprise contracting process |
| Coaching Model | ||
| Coaching approach | ✓ Pure 1-on-1 human coaching — no platform intermediary | Career coaching + platform tools + employer network access |
| Coach credentials | ✓ Certified Career Coaches matched by industry and level | Experienced coaches, recruiters, and HR professionals |
| Coach matching | ✓ Matched by industry, job level, and career goals | Platform-based assignment |
| Session frequency | ✓ Weekly at first; adjusted by progress and preference | Program-dependent |
| Employer network access | Proprietary talent network + recruiting tools | ✓ Talent teams at 10,000+ companies globally |
| Duration & Outcomes | ||
| Service duration | ✓ Until the employee lands a job — no expiration date | Fixed-term program (term varies by tier) |
| Placement benchmark | ✓ 80% placed within 3 months (time-bounded, published) | 90%+ land equal or better role (cumulative historical claim) |
| Post-program support | ✓ Coaching continues until placement — no drop-off | Ends when program term expires |
| Services Included | ||
| Resume writing | ✓ Crafted for both humans and ATS systems | Included in programs |
| LinkedIn optimization | ✓ Full profile overhaul | Available in programs |
| Interview preparation | ✓ Mock interviews + personalized feedback | Included |
| Offer negotiation | ✓ Active coaching through offer and negotiation | Available in select tiers |
| Upskilling & reskilling | Career coaching focus; not a course library | ✓ 3,000+ courses via Korn Ferry online platform |
| Redeployment options | Available for employers via recruiting practice | ✓ Formal redeployment / retainment program offered |
| Networking support | Coaching on networking strategy and approach | ✓ Direct access to Korn Ferry’s employer network |
| Employer Support | ||
| Company size suitability | ✓ All sizes — one employee to enterprise RIF | Primarily mid-to-large enterprise |
| Employer brand protection | ✓ High-touch process; employees exit with dignity | Supported; enterprise reporting available |
| Unemployment cost impact | ✓ Faster placement reduces unemployment reserve draws | Similar benefit; program duration affects timing |
| Industry specialization | ✓ Finance, Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and more | All industries at enterprise scale |
Where Relevante outperforms
Six structural advantages that make Relevante the stronger choice for most US companies weighing outplacement options.
Outplacement is what we do — not a side practice
Korn Ferry built its reputation in executive search and organizational consulting. Outplacement is one of many lines of business. Relevante exists solely to help displaced employees land their next role — every coach, every process, and every resource is built around that single mission.
No fees until your employee says yes
Relevante charges nothing to establish an agreement — no setup fees, no minimums, no ongoing costs. You pay only when a displaced employee is onboarded and accepts the service. Korn Ferry’s pricing is negotiated at the enterprise level and not publicly disclosed, but is positioned for large organizational budgets.
80% placed in 3 months — with no end date
Relevante publishes a clear, time-bounded placement benchmark: 80% of participants land a job within three months. And coaching continues for everyone else until they do. Korn Ferry states that 90%+ of employees land roles equal to or better than their previous positions — a strong cumulative claim, but without a time-bound benchmark or an open-ended commitment.
Employees start in 24–48 hours, not weeks
From signed agreement to first coaching session in under 48 hours. Timing is everything after a layoff — the first week sets the emotional and practical tone for an employee’s job search. Korn Ferry’s enterprise onboarding involves account setup and program configuration that introduces delays most HR leaders can’t afford.
Truly human — no platform standing between coach and employee
Every Relevante participant works directly with a certified career coach matched to their industry, level, and goals. Sessions are one-on-one by video or phone. Korn Ferry’s model layers platform tools, career resources, and coaching — which can mean the human coaching relationship is secondary or limited depending on the program tier.
Built for companies of every size
Relevante has no minimum employee requirement. You can engage Relevante for a single sensitive termination or a 500-person reduction in force, under the same agreement and at the same service standard. Korn Ferry’s model is optimized for enterprise volume — smaller-scale transitions are rarely cost-effective under their pricing structure.
Where Korn Ferry has a genuine edge
In the interest of a balanced comparison: Korn Ferry’s most distinctive advantage is its global employer network — connections to talent teams at 10,000+ companies across 50+ countries. For multinational organizations managing large-scale transitions where internal job matching and redeployment at a global level is a strategic priority, Korn Ferry’s integrated consulting capabilities and employer relationships are meaningful. They also offer a deeper upskilling and reskilling library (3,000+ courses) that can be relevant for workforce transformation programs beyond standard outplacement. For those specific enterprise use cases, their offering is genuinely differentiated.
Who is each provider best suited for?
Both Relevante and Korn Ferry serve legitimate needs. The right choice comes down to your organization’s scale, budget, and what your departing employees actually need from their support.
Choose Relevante if…
- You need employees in coaching within 24–48 hours of a layoff
- You want no financial commitment until services are accepted
- You’re managing a single termination or a multi-hundred-person RIF — with the same service quality
- You want each employee to have a consistent, dedicated coach who knows their story
- Your employees are in Finance, Technology, Healthcare, or Industrial roles
- You want coaching to continue until the job is secured — not until a program term expires
- You’re a small or mid-size company without an enterprise procurement timeline
- You value transparent, time-bounded placement outcomes
Korn Ferry may fit better if…
- You’re a large multinational managing transitions across 10+ countries simultaneously
- You need formal redeployment and internal mobility programs integrated with outplacement
- Your departing employees would benefit significantly from access to 3,000+ upskilling courses
- You want Korn Ferry’s employer network to actively surface job opportunities for employees
- Your procurement team requires an established enterprise vendor with a long market history
- You’re already engaged with Korn Ferry for executive search or organizational consulting
Our assessment
A direct, honest summary of how these two providers compare for the majority of US employers navigating workforce transitions.
Bottom line
For most US companies, Relevante delivers more focused support, faster, at lower cost — and doesn’t stop until every employee lands.
The case for Relevante
Korn Ferry is one of the world’s most respected organizational consulting firms. Its global employer network is a real asset, and for multinational enterprises managing transitions at scale with redeployment needs, it can be the right partner.
But for the majority of US employers — and especially those who care deeply about what each individual employee experiences during one of the hardest professional moments of their life — Relevante’s model wins: no financial risk to start, faster onboarding, a dedicated human coach, and a commitment that lasts until every person is placed. Not until the program expires.
The key differentiator
Korn Ferry’s outplacement exists within a large consulting firm. Relevante’s outplacement is the firm.
That difference shapes everything: coach attention, flexibility, pricing, speed, and a results promise — 80% placed in 3 months — that Korn Ferry does not match with a comparable time-bounded benchmark. For HR leaders who need to move fast, protect their employer brand, and actually get their former employees hired, Relevante is the more committed partner.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions HR leaders ask when comparing Relevante and Korn Ferry outplacement services.
What is the main difference between Relevante and Korn Ferry outplacement?
Relevante is a dedicated outplacement provider — 100% focused on career transition. It offers one-on-one certified career coaching with no setup fees, no minimums, and no time limit on support. Korn Ferry is primarily an executive search and organizational consulting firm; outplacement is one practice within a large global business. The practical difference is that every Relevante coach, process, and resource exists for this one purpose: getting displaced employees hired. At Korn Ferry, outplacement sits alongside many other service lines.
How does Korn Ferry’s employer network compare to Relevante’s recruiting capabilities?
Korn Ferry’s most distinctive advantage is its network: connections to talent teams at more than 10,000 companies globally. For employees, this can mean direct access to unadvertised job opportunities. Relevante uses a proprietary talent network and advanced recruiting tools to connect candidates with opportunities, supported by deep expertise in Finance and Technology placement. For most US job seekers, a skilled coach who knows how to work the hidden job market will drive more placements than network access alone — but for executive-level transitions where Korn Ferry’s relationships are directly relevant, that network is a real differentiator.
Is Korn Ferry outplacement only for executives?
Korn Ferry’s career transition services span multiple employee levels, though the firm is best known for senior-level executive search and consulting. Their outplacement programs include coaching, career resources, and access to their employer network across levels. Relevante explicitly supports employees from entry-level to executive leadership, with coaches matched by industry, seniority, and career goals — and the same no-fees, until-placed commitment applies regardless of employee level.
What placement rate does Korn Ferry report compared to Relevante?
Korn Ferry states that more than 90% of the displaced employees they have worked with have landed jobs equal to or better than their previous roles. This is a cumulative historical claim across all employees and program types. Relevante reports that 80% of outplacement participants secure a new position within three months — a time-bounded benchmark. Relevante also continues coaching every employee until they land, with no program expiration. Both figures reflect strong outcomes; the key distinction is that Relevante publishes a time-bounded rate and commits to continued support past any program end date.
Can a small company use Relevante instead of Korn Ferry?
Yes — and this is one of Relevante’s clearest advantages. Relevante serves companies of all sizes with no minimum employee referral requirement. A small business managing one or two terminations can access the same certified coaching, resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, and interview support as a large enterprise. Korn Ferry’s enterprise pricing model and program structure make it generally impractical for smaller-scale transitions.
Is Korn Ferry outplacement the same as their executive search?
No. Korn Ferry’s executive search practice helps organizations find and recruit senior leaders. Their Career Transition and Outplacement practice helps displaced employees navigate their own job searches. While there is overlap in network and relationships, they are separate service lines serving opposite sides of the hiring equation. One potential benefit: Korn Ferry’s outplacement clients may have access to relationships with the firm’s executive search clients — though this benefit is more relevant for senior-level employees than for general workforce transitions.
How do I get started with Relevante outplacement?
Schedule an introductory meeting with Relevante. There are no setup fees and no commitment required for the initial conversation. Once you execute a Services Agreement via DocuSign — at no cost — Relevante can begin onboarding displaced employees within 24 to 48 hours. There are no minimums, no ongoing fees, and no financial obligation until an employee is onboarded and accepts services.
Get started with Relevante
Support your departing employees the right way.
No setup fees. No minimums. Employees begin within 24–48 hours — and we work with them until they land.
No setup fees · No minimums · No ongoing costs · Pay only when an employee is onboarded
