Career Development - The Counter Offer

COUNTER OFFER

Resigning from your current position

Imagine this: You have enjoyed your time with your current employer but now you’re ready for a change. You have accepted an excellent offer from another company and now its time for you to resign your current position. What could be simpler?

Your boss may be amazed you don’t see that your goals and aspirations can be met by staying in your current job. By indicating your intention to leave, you will have caused a problem for your boss and you may be left feeling guilty. Be careful, a counter offer is coming and not all is as it may seem!

Counter offers aren’t what they first appear to be

Employers that value their people will not want to lose them. Although many companies have a policy of not bribing people to stay, if you don't get a counter offer could that be an indication of how you are valued by your company?  If you are counter-offered, you will know that it is done under duress, probably as a temporary fix in order to buy time to recruit your replacement.

By accepting a counter offer you may think you are staying long-term but, in the eyes if your employer, you will have become a marked person. Your loyalty in their eyes will no longer exist. Remember, most people who accept a counter offer soon become disenchanted with their company and actively seek new employment within a few months. Their reputation though has now been seriously sullied.

Some questions to ask yourself

Your boss may say he/she was about to give you a substantial pay rise or a promotion anyway. Coincidence? Why did your boss wait until you had secured another job before communicating this? Why are you suddenly so valuable? Will this new offer really change any of the concerns you had about the job anyway? Why did you start exploring the job market in the first place?

If you accept the counter offer, your relationships will gradually change. Can you handle the resentment? Do you really want to lose the job you have already accepted? You won’t get a second chance with this company or those closely associated with it!

Make these commitments

To accept a counter offer will damage your career. Your current job will be in jeopardy! Try this alternative:

• If your current job has problems that you want to try to resolve, do so no later than just after the first interview for the new opportunity. Inform your CNA consultant immediately who will help you manage the situation.
• If you receive a new job offer, consider all aspects before you accept. If you do accept, make a commitment to resign and do not accept a counter offer.
• When you resign, do it decisively. Move to your new career on a positive note. By resigning in a professional manner, you will gain the respect of past and future employers.
• Don’t discuss your new job: it will only cause aggravation. Resign on the basis that this is a new challenge and you need to move on. Thank your boss for the help you have received and the experience you have gained. Make it clear you want to leave and on good terms.

Make the most of your CNA Executive Search Consultant

He/she will be able to help you deal with and assess a potential counter offer.