After weeks or months of searching for a new job, you finally got the job offer for a new job opportunity that is what you had always dreamed about. After careful consideration, you decided to sign on the dotted lines and accept the offer. Now you’re ready to give your current employer your resignation notice. In your mind, you’re slowly preparing yourself for what’s to come and as you have one foot out the door, your employer puts together a counteroffer as a final attempt to have you stay with the team!
This may sound very familiar to some of us and very new territory for others. No matter what situation you find yourself in, it is always best to prepare yourself for this possibility so that you know exactly how to react when this situation happens to you.
Here are a few points to consider when faced with a counteroffer after you have already accepted a new job offer and decided to leave your current company:
1) What were your reasons to look for a new job in the first place
Everyone’s reasons for finding a new job is different. It could be one dominant reason or a combination of a variety of both tangible and intangible reasons including: career advancement, compensation, location, work environment, responsibilities, respect, etc. Remind yourself the underlying reasons you wanted a change and how the new job that you’ve accepted offered what you’ve been looking for.
2) Why were you not made this offer before and why are they making this offer now
You must ask yourself, and your employer, whether the counteroffer was always in the plan or just simply a reaction to your resignation. There is a big difference between the former and the latter. If they are only making you the offer as a reaction, it will lead to more questions like: Is this within the department / company budget? Why are they making this offer now if they didn’t make it before? Are they simply making a counteroffer because they were surprised and need some time to ultimately find a replacement for you? These are just a few questions among many others that you must consider.
3) A Counteroffer may not be the solution to all the problems
A counteroffer can usually satisfy some of the tangible reasons that people have for leaving a company. It could be offering higher salary, more vacation, and sometimes even a promotion to a more senior / higher position. However, when it comes to the intangibles like a long commute to work, or a toxic / negative work environment, or lack of respect, etc., a counteroffer will not eliminate any of those lingering issues no matter what promises are made.
4) What will the relationship with your employer be like if you stay
Consider this, if you were to accept a counteroffer and stay with your current employer, you will now be facing a situation where your immediate manager / boss knows that you have looked at leaving the company. What effects does it have on your relationship? If your colleagues had known about your departure and now, you’re staying, how does that affect your relationship with the team? There is no doubt that there will some changes overall and the effects of it may not materialize immediately, but when it does, it can be rooted back to this decision.
5) Burning the bridge with your new employer
By accepting a counteroffer after you have accepted a new job with another company, you may be burning the bridge with that company for any future considerations. Companies invest time and money to finding new employees and they take the process seriously. To them, there will always be a question mark of whether you had interviewed and accepted a position with them only to leverage against your current employer for a raise or promotion. Furthermore, they will be worried that it may happen again if they were to consider you again for another position. They will be proceeding with caution with you going forward.
6) Rational decision or emotional decision
Sometimes when you’re not expecting a counteroffer, you may be faced with making an emotional decision because you’re surprised in the moment. Furthermore, your current employer may present you with the counteroffer with your immediate and upper manager(s) present to convince you to stay. This immense pressure can cause someone to act emotionally because they are overwhelmed with the situation. It is important to give yourself the time and space to rethink your reasons for searching and accepting a new job.
These are just a few points to consider when faced with a counteroffer so that you are mentally prepared for it and you are not caught off guard when you are presented one to make a rational decision.
Contact us today to speak with one of our Recruitment Specialists and let us help you find new opportunities for the next step in your career!