Why you should NEVER accept a counter offer.
Its not rocket science, when you approach a recruiter or you contact a company for a potential new career opportunity, there is a reason why. That reason is almost always that you are unhappy with your existing employer.
The reasons could be some of the following:
- Relationship with your boss
- Bored & unchallenged by your work load
- Relationships with coworkers
- Opportunities to use skills and abilities
- The opportunity to progress within your career - and how quickly it will happen
- Company culture
- Work/life balance
As a recruiter I hear it all, these are just a few of the main reasons people look to leave their existing employer. And lets be honest everyone has days where they hate their job, they have enough of their boss, a row with a client or a co-worker. It happens to the best of us. If you have gone past that stage updated your cv, sat down with a potential employer and been offered a new position, well that's a whole new kettle of fish.
This is not something you would of taken lightly, you would of laid in bed at night unable to sleep asking yourself could this change? will this change? if I approach my boss will she/he do anything to change the way I feel. 9/10 the answer is no, you have got to this point in your career for a reason, and you haven't just started feeling like this over night. More often than not its taken months for you to feel this miserable.
So what happens.... You interview with a company that offers you all the things your existing employer doesn't give you:
- Job satisfaction
- Exciting workload
- A team of supported people
- Career progression
- Competitive salary
THEY OFFER YOU THE JOB
You cant wait to start, you gear yourself up to hand in your notice to you boss - you are adamant this is it, you are on your way to a new career.
You type up your resignation letter sit down with your boss - you are so ready to say "Goodbye, I am moving on to bigger and better thing" and BOOM.... COUNTER OFFER!!
STEP AWAY FROM THE COUNTEROFFER!!
You stepped into that office head strong, ready to tell him/her your leaving. Your boss asks why? you tell them the reasons and they overcome every single one of your objections. They promise you the world and twist your arm to stay! BUT remember, when it comes to considering whether or not to accept a counteroffer, it only works out positively in a fraction of the cases. Is it worth the risk? I have known people who accepted counteroffers and in the vast majority of situations they regretted it. 9 out of 10, 3-6 months down the line, you will be calling that recruiter again, or kicking yourself you have now burnt bridges with that employer and wont get a second chance!!
CAREER SUICIDE
Accepting a counteroffer can be career suicide on a number of levels. A counteroffer may be tempting, flattering, and very appealing to a candidate who isn’t truly committed to leaving his job. After all, who doesn’t get an ego boost when, upon giving notice, the employer offers more money or a promotion to stay? I can tell you from experience the vast majority of candidates that accept a counter offer, almost always come back 6 months down the line seriously regretting their decision.
And remember that company that just offered you your dream job? that's it - Burnt your bridges, its highly unlikely after letting them down they will EVER consider you for a position with them again,
SO IN SUMMARY..... If you do get the urge to accept a counteroffer, just be prepared for the consequences whenever they do show up!!!