Career Resources

Career Resources

The Truth About Counter Offers

Posted June 11, 2013 & filed under Interviewing

The Truth About Counter Offers

After careful consideration, you’ve decided to accept a new position and resign from your current employer. Typically, giving your two weeks notice is the hard part. However, with a high demand for talented employees and a shrinking candidate pool, counter offers are becoming increasingly popular making the decision to leave even more difficult.

The truth is, no one wants good employees to take their talents elsewhere. It’s inconvenient and if you’re a valuable resource they will most likely attempt to convince you to stay. Although this ego boost may make you reconsider, there are several factors to take into account.

It is likely that the counter offer is being presented for their own benefit. Very often counter offers provide false hope and many employees will soon be feeling unfulfilled.  It’s rare that employees will consider leaving their current employer solely for money. Does the counter offer resolve the existing issues? Maybe there was no room for growth, or you didn’t care for your boss. Chances are a salary increase won’t amend the main reasons you began searching for a new opportunity.

Regardless of what your current employer says, your loyalty to the company will be questioned. It’s important to realize that a counter offer may only be presented to buy the company time until they find your replacement. A recent study found on careerknowhow.com reveals that only 6 out of 100 employees who accept a counter offer are still with that employer in a year.  This means that people remain unsatisfied after accepting a counter offer, or they are let go shortly after. Either way, this alarming statistic shows that counter offers may just act as a quick fix.

Accepting a new position can be relieving, exciting and often times very scary.  A counter offer may seem tempting but it’s important to remember why you started looking and keep your eye on the prize.

By: Kara Lyons