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When Accepting a Counter Offer From Your Current Employer Makes Sense

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Thank you. Finally a balanced article on counteroffers. Yes, most if not all articles calling a counteroffer "career suicide" are written by thinly disguised executive recruiters.

Alessa of NY 9:03PM March 07, 2013

Good article. Sadly I work at a department in state government where hard work and dedication is rewarded with only two things: more work and responsibilities put on you. When you prove that you are reliable you are often taken for granted and told "well its your job" and extra things you do start to become expected( i.e. getting the mail because the regular courier was on leave now delivery was cut because its assumed you can come and get it) . And to add insult to injury you are expected to be thankful because and I quote "Jobs are tough and we could get someone to do what you do for less money" You are asked to assist with projects that are usually the responsibility of the upper management only to find yourself doing the project and then the person you were doing it for taking the credit. You are held back from any opportunity of advancement within because its in the upper managements best interest(not yours) to keep you where you are because it makes their lives easier(wont have to hire and train someone new and risk falling back into the situation that you were instrumental in pulling them out of) and makes them look good. Usually I would practice discretion in job searching however them finding out that I was interviewing and on a third interview with one company was what got their attention. And now they want to discuss how to better my situation and give me the raise that has been overdue for five years to bring my salary up the level of someone who has twelve total years of meritous service with the state. Its truly unfortunate that the threat of leaving and not the quality of my work was what got their attention however I learned the hard way that here you got to look out for number one (self) because thats who the management is looking out for.

JFedup of GA 9:51AM March 06, 2013

"Your eyes were opened"
I could have never anticipated such a negative reaction to a voluntary move last year ... but fortunately was taken back!
I think employers should invite candidates for a test run in the workplace, not just a conversation.

irwin of DC 1:18PM September 17, 2012

I have sort of the same situation but with some twists. I like where I am (enjoy the job for the most part and love the people) and the work is easy. I am also due for a promotion this year which seems definite (key word being "seems"). But I just got an offer to go do something that seems interesting and not super hard but more work than I am doing now (since I will be heading up the area). The pay is much more than I currently make. with a promotion at the old place I don't know what my pay will look like but it won't reach the new pay - it might be close but I don't know. But I also don't know if they will raise pay at all inthis economy. Maybe they will but not by much. Great to have the title, but... And on the other end, what if I get screwed somehow and don't get promoted!? The new job seems good - minimal hours, great pay, nice boss. But it's also a whole new world and maybe I just haven't seen the ugly underbelly yet. It's not an apples to apples comparison but if I had to distill the decision down, it comes to should I go for the surity of more money or stay for the promotion (maybe) and whatever monies comes with it?

T of NY 11:11AM May 14, 2012

I am in a similar situation as I write this. My new employer is waiting for me to sign the contract. My current employer asked me to give them a day to come up with a signed counter offer agreement. I love my current job, the reason for leaving is all about the money. I asked my boss and explained the situation 3months ago, they told me about procedures to be followed etc. So now that I am resigning they are willing to counteroffer. I want to stay coz the new job is a bit far from home and there I will be required to travel to neighbouring countries. and I have 2 toddlers at home. If they give me the money I will stay.

Kiso 6:32AM May 03, 2012

This is for T of Ohio. I read your situation and I don't know if you already made your decision. In my opinion, I would take the new opportunity.
If your current employer truly likes you and doesn't want you lose you, you can probably go back to them, if the new opportunity doesn't work out. If you stay put and accept the counter offer, you will likely burn a bridge with the new company and your current may lose trust in you. Besides, why would your current company pay you more now? Because you are resigning? You are leaving at a time that is convenient for you, but it is not convenient for them. Move on. Shame on them for not paying you what you are worth.

D of AZ 10:26AM November 21, 2011

I am in this exact situation as we speak, my fear is becoming the target of corporate mentality where I am no longer a valued employee, instead I am the target for replacement. Although they have stated over the last few days that they were at fault and should have given me more money two months ago when I asked for it, I feel like they are just reacting to the situation at this point. The other employer offered me significantly more money without even knowing me, and although for the most part I am very happy at my job, money is very important as I have a child with special needs. My current employer countered with a matched offer and I'm unsure what to do? I know what I have now but taking the other job is less responsibility, less hours, and a family owned company for forty years that is thriving even with a lackluster economy.......help!!!

T of OH 3:10PM November 15, 2011

This is really good advice. I am in a situation where I wanted to leave due to the boss and my insecurities about the future of the company and my position - it wasn't about money at all. So I found another job and turned in my resignation. But my current company counter-offered and it is now hard to say no. Everyone wants me to stay...coworkers, boss, family, friends. But I am the one who wants to leave because I think I would like the work and the new boss better. The one catch is the new job is 40 mintues away and the current job is 10 minutes from home. It is a tough decision to say the least. I appreciate the advice from this article!

Not Sure of HI 9:54AM November 04, 2011

As with Alex, most of the articles you read recommend never accepting a counter-offer. Of course, many of those were written by headhunters, whose worst enemy is the counter-offer.
One thing oft-forgotten in the counter-offer situation -- when one is forthcoming, it means that someone in management
a) recognized your worth but also
b) had to go to the wall for you, to justify the issuance of a counter-offer at all, and
c) someone along the way had to eat humble pie, and may have been called on the carpet to answer "how come you let this happen?" "Well, we've been underpaying him for x years, now we have to pay up. "
People should know -- when you get tender your resignation, one of two things is going to happen. You're either going to be offered a raise, or you're gonna get canned (they accept the resignation). You have to be prepared for either.

Sluggo of NY 2:53PM November 02, 2011