Layoffs... We Know This Is Hard.
Laying people off is one of the hardest decisions leaders ever make.
It's hard operationally.
It's hard ethically.
And it's especially hard emotionally.
You don't just manage a transition—you carry it.

You carry the conversations.
You carry the uncertainty.
You carry the weight of knowing that real people, with real lives and real responsibilities, are being asked to navigate a sudden disruption.

At The Career Transition Lab, we don't observe that from a distance.
We live it—on both sides of the table.
We sit with leaders making impossible calls.
We walk alongside professionals as they absorb the shock, the fear, and the questions that follow.
We know this moment matters.

That's why The Career Transition Lab exists—not to replace what already works, but to add humanity, clarity, choice, and modern relevance to how people move forward after a layoff.
A Better Way to Support Career Transitions
Workforce transitions are changing.
AI, automation, restructuring, and new operating models are reshaping how work gets done—and how professionals navigate what comes next.
Traditional outplacement remains essential. Résumés, interviews, and job search support still matter.
But today, many experienced professionals are asking bigger questions:
  • Is another full-time role the right next step?
  • What does consulting or fractional work actually look like?
  • How do I make sense of my options without rushing or guessing?
The Voyageur U Career Transition Lab exists to support those questions—responsibly.
What Is The Career Transition Lab?
The Career Transition Lab is a structured, opt-in learning environment designed for experienced professionals navigating career transition.
It operates alongside traditional outplacement or employer transition support, providing a safe, guided space for individuals to explore modern career pathways, including:
  • Fractional leadership
  • Consulting
  • Portfolio careers
  • Project-based independent work
  • Or a return to full-time employment with greater clarity
The Lab does not push participants toward a single outcome. It provides education, structure, and confidence so individuals can make informed decisions during a destabilizing moment.
Why a "Lab"?
We call it a Lab because today's professionals don't need pressure or promises—they need space to think clearly.
A Lab means you are:
  • Learning and adapting in real time
  • Exploring with curiosity and purpose not urgency and panic
  • Using structure, not chaos
Inside the Career Transition Lab, participants can responsibly explore what's possible—without disrupting job search efforts or being forced into a predefined path.
The job world is different now.
  1. Hiring Has Slowed. Companies are adding fewer new roles and being cautious with headcount. That means fewer real openings, even if unemployment looks “stable.”
  1. Competition Is Heavier. More people are chasing fewer jobs, including laid-off senior talent. Each opening now attracts far more qualified applicants.
  1. AI Is a New Gatekeeper. Most resumes are screened by AI before a human ever sees them. If you don’t pass the algorithm, you never enter the conversation.
  1. Hiring Takes Longer. Job searches now stretch months and years, not weeks. Long timelines, multiple rounds, and ghosting are norms, not exceptions.
  1. Entry Paths Are Shrinking. True entry-level roles are disappearing or demanding experience anyway. New and mid-career candidates compete for the same limited jobs.
How the Career Transition Lab Complements Outplacement
Traditional outplacement focuses on how to find the next job.
The Career Transition Lab focuses on how to think clearly about what's next.
Together, they provide a more complete transition experience.
The Lab:
  • Expands options without replacing job search support
  • Reduces anxiety and decision paralysis
  • Helps professionals regain confidence and direction
  • Reinforces your organization's commitment to dignity and care
This is an additive pathway, not a replacement.
What The Career Transition Lab Includes
1
Fractional Masters Program (5 Weeks)
A structured online program covering:
  • Modern work models and where they fit today
  • Self-assessment and market fit
  • Positioning and professional narrative
  • Pricing and service design fundamentals
  • Responsible early client engagement
  • Building momentum without pressure
2
Community
A moderated peer environment that provides:
  • Shared learning and normalization
  • Accountability and encouragement
  • Reduced isolation during transition
3
Fractional Marketplace
Curated resources professionals often lose during transition, including:
  • Benefits and insurance guidance
  • Financial and operational tools
  • Recommended software and partner services
4
Ask John AI
On-demand, AI-powered guidance offering:
  • Practical answers to transition questions
  • Decision support and next-step clarity
  • Reinforcement between live sessions
What the Career Transition Lab Is Not
The Career Transition Lab is not:
  • A placement or recruiting service
  • A guarantee of employment, income, or clients
  • A replacement for traditional outplacement
  • A hustle-driven 'start a business fast' program
It is an educational, stabilizing, and supportive experience designed to help people think clearly and move forward responsibly.
For Employers & HR Leaders
Offering The Career Transition Lab helps you:
  • Support employees with dignity during transition
  • Strengthen employer brand and goodwill
  • Reduce anxiety and uncertainty for impacted staff
  • Provide modern, responsible options without operational burden
The Lab is opt-in, low-lift, and fully delivered by Voyageur U.
For Outplacement & Transition Partners
The Career Transition Lab:
  • Enhances your service portfolio without replacing core offerings
  • Differentiates your brand in a competitive market
  • Responds to growing client demand for modern career pathways
  • Allows you to add value without rebuilding internal programs
Simple to Implement
  1. Identify Participants Select the number of seats and preferred start date.
  1. We Handle Onboarding We manage access, materials, and program delivery.
  1. Ongoing Support Participants receive the full Lab experience. Partners and employers receive high-level updates while confidentiality is maintained.
About Voyageur U
Since 2018, Voyageur University has specialized in helping experienced professionals navigate modern career paths with clarity and confidence.
The Career Transition Lab is led by John Arms, one of the earliest practitioners and educators in the fractional and modern work movement, with deep experience supporting professionals, organizations, and transition partners through workforce change.
Help People Move Forward with Clarity and Dignity
Work is changing.
Transitions are harder.
People deserve more than a résumé update.
The Career Transition Lab helps professionals move forward with clarity, confidence, and dignity.
Contact Us Today
Contact Chris Bland to learn more.
972-660-3200