Have you ever resigned from your employer after accepting another job elsewhere and your current employer tries to keep you by offering you more money, a better job, more benefits, more vacation, or the like? In other words, has someone tried to buy you in the past?
Recruiters hate when a person accepts a new job with their client and then change their mind and accept a counter offer. When a recruiter has to go to their client and let them know that the new employee they just hired has changed their mind and that their search for a new employee has to start over again, you have pretty much guaranteed this recruiter will not work with you again.
You will soon find that accepting a counter offer is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make during your career. Here are Ten REALLY GOOD reasons you should not go to dark side by accepting a counter offer:
- Your boss has most likely sweetened the deal, but keep in mind that they're likely making a counter offer much more for their benefit than yours. What type of company do you work for and why did they wait until you resigned before they give you what you are worth?
- Where is the money for the counter offer coming from? Your next raise, just early? Remember to think beyond the bucks, and consider the lingering feelings after the deal is done.
- Your company will immediately start looking for a new person at a cheaper price.
- You've now made your employer aware that you're unhappy. From now on, your loyalty is in question.
- When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember who was loyal and who wasn't.
- When times get tough, your employer will begin the cutback with you.
- The same circumstances that now cause you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future, even if you accept a counter offer.
- Statistics compiled by the National Employment Association confirm the fact that over 80% of people who elected to accept a counter offer end up voluntarily leaving in six months or being let go. (AND REMEMBER: It's not easy searching for a job when you are in "panic mode" or when the economy is poor. Think of that long and hard.)
- Accepting a counter offer is a bribe, an insult to your intelligence and a blow to your personal pride. You have been bought.
- Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers will never be the same. You will lose the personal satisfaction of peer group acceptance.
When giving your notice, avoid expressing resignation regret. This will give your employer ammunition to pressure you into staying. Before you accept a counter offer, take a step back and think things through completely. Look at the job offer letter you have received and ensure it contains everything you were told it would contain.
While considering the job offer letter and its contents, remind yourself why you decided to look for a new job (and accept it) and what your career goals are. Accepting a counter offer might look good in the short term but it generally will turn out to be a mistake in your career that could cost you your future, professional growth and money.