Let’s not mess around – Don’t be afraid to walk away from a Counter Offer

Yesterday I had an interesting debate and conversation with a friend of mine on why accountancy professionals accept counter offers after being offered a role with a new firm.

For context, my friend owns and runs several very successful businesses but not in the accountancy or finance sectors, so his experiences are unrelated to my area of work. However, he is very knowledgeable about the sector through his businesses during the last 30 years.?Throughout his career, he has never counter offered any employees to stay if they have decided to move on.?

?I want to share a few thoughts and observations from our conversation and he made some interesting points.

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Have you forgotten why you are considering the new role you have been offered?

?Have you forgotten all the positive emotions and positive feelings when you got the call and job offer, giving you the salary and package you wanted? You are the chosen one that got the job offer beating off all the competition.

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Have you forgotten all the answers and statements you told your potential new employer on what you are looking for and not getting from your current firm?

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Have you forgotten all the hours you put in to prepare for the interview process and presentation as you wanted this job?

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Have you forgotten all the words and discussions you had with the recruiter about your sector, your issues, your vision for your career everything that you are NOT getting, and how you feel at your current firm??

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?Ask yourself the question – why is my firm counter offering now?

?It is important to remember that the firm is only doing it for their benefit and not yours.?

How can they magic up another X thousands of pounds today when they couldn’t give you this 3 months ago in your latest review when a promotion and salary increase was mentioned but the firm didn’t deliver?

Why did they not discuss this amazing career plan with you in your last review but can 100% guarantee it now as you want to leave?

Look at the message they are giving you during this period, do you really trust them with your future career and earnings now??

?Let’s pause for a second, before you handed in your notice, your employer valued you less than your new employer and they haven’t seen a day’s work from you. Let’s say that again!

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Self-Reflection - Be honest with yourself

STOP falling into temptation, keep growing, keep learning and adapting.

?Just because it's familiar or comfortable doesn’t mean it’s right to stay and accept it.?

?Your mind will play tricks on you and tell you can't do it, it's hard and stressful resigning. Being dragged through hours of meetings but staying is not the best option, it won’t make you happy and feel good.?

?Having more money thrown at you has a lifespan, the things that irritated and frustrated you in the first place will still be there. And so will those barriers to growth.

You can do it; you can move on and be successful in that new role and get what your career deserves.

?In my experience over the last 20+ years in recruitment, embracing change and stepping out of your comfort zone is the best way to develop your career forward.?

Your career is a journey of continuous growth, counter offers only provide short term benefits for your current Employer and not YOU!

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