The Counter Offer

Once you have accepted a new position and you are ready to turn in your notice, your recruiter will help you prepare for a counter offer. You've decided to make a change for some specific reasons. You've also invested a great deal of time thinking through your decision. So, this is a time for resolve.

First, review our section on Resigning Gracefully. Candidates who go through the process and accept a new position, then later accept a counter offer from their existing company, typically suffer regrets within a short period of time. Your future career options may also be affected because of the industry professionals you've disappointed.

Reasons why counter offers work against you.

  1. You're now a threat to stability. You've explored other opportunities in the marketplace and talked with other employers.  If you share with employees about what other companies offer you could undermine stability and employee confidence.
  2. Expect a counter offer that plays to your emotional side. You may hear that, "You're incredibly valuable to the company" or, "We're planning to promote you soon so why would you leave now?" Such emotional pleas don't change the reasons why you accepted the new career opportunity.
  3. Accepting a counter offer is an insult to you. Who wants to feel that they must resign in order to be heard? Is this an employer with your best interests at heart? If you must resign before your supervisor recognizes your value then are you working for the right person?
  4. If you're offered more money, how much per month is it really costing them?  Could they simply be buying time to replace you with a new person at a lower cost where loyalty and trust are not in question?
  5. Could they simply be "covering themselves" until they find someone where loyalty and trust is not in question?
  6. Where is the money for the counter offer coming from? All companies have wage and salary guidelines which must be followed. Is it your next raise early?
  7. When promotion time comes around it's natural to consider the most loyal employees. It's normal that your loyalty will be viewed differently.
  8. If staff reductions are necessary due to business trends or reorganization then loyalty weighs-in.
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