The short answer
VelvetJobs starts at $500 per person and has the strongest public review record of the outplacement providers we checked. FirstSourceTeam publishes a price and the coaching hours for every level ($349 to $2,249 per person; 3, 6, 10, 15 hours). Both support participants until they find a job.
FirstSourceTeam and VelvetJobs, side by side
| VelvetJobs | FirstSourceTeam | |
|---|---|---|
| Published price | "Starting at $500 per person"; level and length not stated | $349 to $2,249 per person, published by level |
| Pricing model | Foundation, Professional and Executive packages, plus custom packages | Four per-person packages by level; billed only for people who start |
| Program length | "Until Job Placement Guarantee"; premium access "until professionals find a new job" | 3, 6, 12 months of coaching by level; AI tools and the platform until the person is placed |
| Coaching | "Dedicated 1:1 expert career coaching"; the Foundation package lists no coaching; hours not published | 3, 6, 10, 15 hours of 1:1 coaching by level, published up front, with a named coach |
| Technology | The VelvetJobs platform with curated job matching; no AI tool named | CareerIQ AI career tools (résumé, applications, job matching, interview practice); HR can read program status from Claude, ChatGPT or Copilot through its MCP server |
| Launch | Not stated | Programs running within 48 hours |
| Participant ratings | Trustpilot 4.9 (339 reviews); G2 4.9 (71 reviews); Gartner Peer Insights 4.7 (16 ratings) | 4.9 on Google |
| Ownership | Founded by Pavel Krapivin, based in Los Angeles; investors not stated | Independent and family-owned, founded in 2006, Minneapolis |
VelvetJobs figures are from its own site and review profiles, checked November 5, 2026: VelvetJobs outplacement, about, Trustpilot, G2, Gartner Peer Insights. FirstSourceTeam's are from its pricing page.
VelvetJobs's strengths
VelvetJobs has the strongest public review record of the outplacement providers we checked: 4.9 on Trustpilot from 339 reviews and 4.9 on G2 from 71. Its $500 starting price is among the lowest published, and its support continues until people find a job. Those are good reasons it appears on independent lists such as SelectSoftware Reviews'.
Where FirstSourceTeam and VelvetJobs differ
What the price buys. VelvetJobs publishes one figure, a starting price, without the level or program it applies to, and its entry Foundation package lists job matching and résumé help but no coaching. Every FirstSourceTeam package includes one-to-one coaching with a named coach, from $349 for hourly and entry-level staff, and the price for each level is published.
Hours in writing.FirstSourceTeam states the coaching hours in each package. VelvetJobs doesn't publish hours, so ask how many sessions a typical participant at each level gets.
HR's view of the program.FirstSourceTeam's employer portal shows each participant's status as the program runs, and HR can ask Claude, ChatGPT or Copilot about it through FirstSourceTeam's MCP server. VelvetJobs' site doesn't describe employer reporting; ask for a sample report.
Launch.FirstSourceTeam programs can be running within 48 hours. VelvetJobs doesn't state a launch time.
Choosing between them
VelvetJobs fits when the lowest starting price matters most, or when you want the provider with the largest base of public participant reviews.
FirstSourceTeam fits when you want coaching included at every level with the hours in writing, a published price for each level, live reporting HR can query from its own AI assistant, and a program running within 48 hours.
Whichever you shortlist, send both the same questions: evaluating outplacement providers has the ten to ask. Published prices for every level are in the FirstSourceTeam Outplacement Price Index, and the wider field is in the best outplacement providers.
Questions buyers ask
Is VelvetJobs cheaper than FirstSourceTeam?
VelvetJobs starts at $500 per person but doesn't say which level or program that buys. FirstSourceTeam's packages run $349 to $2,249 per person, starting at $349 with coaching included. Compare quotes for the same people at each level.
Are VelvetJobs reviews good?
Yes. As of November 5, 2026 it was rated 4.9 on Trustpilot from 339 reviews, 4.9 on G2 from 71 reviews and 4.7 on Gartner Peer Insights from 16 ratings. FirstSourceTeam is rated 4.9 on Google.
Do both support people until they land a job?
Yes. VelvetJobs describes support until participants find a new job. FirstSourceTeam's coaching hours are published up front, and its AI tools, platform and weekly webinar continue until the participant is placed.
