Counter Offer’s can typically be a no brainer to accept.
Ask yourself: What made me initially decide that “I am going to look for a new role” ? Go back to that place in your mind when you were having a conversation with yourself.You have gone through the time to update your resume, work with recruiters who could introduce you to other opportunities, you took time off and attended the interviews with the position you were keen on.
You get the offer …yeahhhhh!!! your happy, you hand in your resignation (which was super scary!) and then a day later your employer tries to convince you to stay!
There are plenty of stats out there… which all state that a huge percentage of employees that accept a counteroffer leave within 6 months!
In court, (and I am not a judge!) a counter offer is defined as “an offer given in response to an offer”. It implies rejection of the original offer and puts the ball back in the court of the original offerer who has three options: to (1) accept it, expressly (by replying) or by implication (by not replying), (2) issue another (counter-counter) offer, or (3) reject it expressly”. In the below will look into the possible outcomes of a counter offer.
Loss of trust:
- Leaving a job is like leaving a relationship. Once you’ve expressed your desire to leave, this may affect your relationship with your employer and therefore your performance on the job. Therefore, you would need to prove your commitment and loyalty if you decided to stay.
- If you decide to accept the counter offer your current employer made, you may also lose the trust of the new company. It shows you were not determined or passionate enough for them. Therefore, if you are planning on joining this organization in the future, you might need to think twice.
The gain of power:
- The fact that you have two different offers, gives you power. It gives you the power of choosing. Your current boss does not have any better alternatives; otherwise, why would they make the counter offer in the first place? When you have this power in your hands, you have to use it wisely. Don’t get all hyper from the extra pounds that may end up in your pocket, focus.
Focus on the things that made you consider the new company/role, go back to that place again on WHY you decided to look outside your current company
Motives:
- What are your motives for leaving?
If what makes you happy can be satisfied by the counter offer, accept it. But think twice before you do. Are your employers trustworthy enough for you to believe those things will change? If not, move on. If you want to give it another shot, get the offer in writing. You will be able to reference back on that if things do not change.
- What are their motives for making a counter offer?
Why is it being offered now? If you were feeling underappreciated, why are they appreciating you now? Is it just a trick to keep you within the company until the currently running projects finish? The counter offer may be true. You might get that company car or extra money per month. No one can guarantee you though that you will not get fired a month or two after they find your replacement (who they will be paying your old salary).
In any case, someone else wants to hire you, someone else appreciated your work. Ask them why. What are the reasons that made them choose you over other candidates? Is it for the things your current employer is failing to recognize? If yes, don’t give this a second thought.
If you decide to counter offer on the counter offer, you must do so in a good manner. The fact that you may have some power in your hands does not give you the right to be aggressive about it. The counter-counter offer can be made in both your current and/or your new manager. It needs to be realistic and representative of your work and abilities. You need to be aware of the current market rates and salaries before you approach the manager. There is nothing worse than going back and forth with offers.
The third option is to reject the offer. The reasons why you’ve chosen a new employer are clear to you and you should not feel bad for leaving your current role. Although, leaving in good terms is important as you will need referencing from your current boss. Depending on the relationship you have with your boss, you should explain the reasons behind you leaving, the reasons that made you consider the new employer. This will not only be appreciated (hopefully) by your boss, it will also help future employees.
You should consider your options seriously, but more importantly, your long-term personal career development. More money in the short-run will not necessarily help you prosper in the future, is your current employer offering you new experiences?
Take a closer look into your reasoning. If you or someone you know is in a similar situation, feel free to contact us at lets_talk@marcusdonald.com.
