Top reasons you should NEVER accept a counteroffer

Many people are offered counteroffers when they hand in their resignation – especially in a tight labor market. Most often, accepting a counteroffer will likely not resolve the issues that drove you to look for something new in the first place. ?Here are a few reasons not to accept one.

An underlying issue isn’t solved by more money

If there are multiple reasons you want to change jobs, money may be one of them, but it’s not the sole reason. A counteroffer with just an increased salary doesn’t resolve the other issues and the?best?thing to do is to reject it. Odds are, you will experience long-term happiness and personal satisfaction at another job that is more suited to you than your current role.

Loyalty will be questioned after a counteroffer & an employer doesn’t know how long you will stay

It does not matter how good your relationship is with your employer, if you are receiving a counter-offer as a response to your resignation, your?loyalty?will be questioned as an employee both then and in the future.?Resigning breaks the initial trust that was once there, and it may hinder future success at the job. Are they offering more money to keep you until they can replace you? ?You are more likely to be viewed as expendable than other employees who have not handed in resignations.?

The job does not meet your long-term goals

People will often hand in resignations or look for jobs when their current position does not fit the picture they had of their ideal life or goals. If you accept a counteroffer, you could be denying yourself your dream job. Your position should meet your long-term goals either now or in the future.

You might not be appreciated as an employee

Handing in your resignation may suggest that you did not feel fully appreciated?in the first place. The counteroffer is proof that they can offer more money, and that they were initially holding out on you.?If it takes you to provide a resignation for the company to pay you competitively, you might want to evaluate the company’s values and overall view of its workforce.?

Some unforeseen repercussions can happen when you accept a counteroffer at your current company. Rather than worrying about the negative impact this may have on your career, it is best to never accept a counteroffer and look forward to your future at a new organization.

Grace joined Precision Recruiting Solutions Group? in 2022. She began her career as an HR Intern for Victorian Finance, then spent time as a Learning and Development Assistant with Levin Furniture. She graduated from Robert Morris University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences while minoring in Human Resource Management. When she is away from work you can find her reading and crocheting as she spends time with her Australian Cattle Dog named Pico. Grace and her fiancé, Brendan, can also be found exploring downtown Pittsburgh, and trying new restaurants.