4 Reasons to Turn Down the Counter Offer
January 19, 2012
You’ve just interviewed with this great company and they’ve made you an awesome offer. Now you go to your boss and tell him that you’re leaving. In a panic, he calls up his boss and HR and they put their heads together to see what measures they can take to keep you on board. Ah yes, here comes the counter offer. In an act of good faith to show you how much you really mean to them, they top your new offer by 5% (or whatever the number may be) and you start to have second thoughts about leaving.
Disregard the counter offer despite how attractive it may seem – just leave!
But why?
1) Image – word will eventually get out and everyone will learn that you were shopping around, thought about leaving but only stayed because you’re getting paid more. Not only will management question your loyalty going forward, but your peers will resent you for your new paycheck.
2) Ruined relationships – not only are you now viewed under a different (and more negative) lens by management and colleagues, but you’re basically black-listed forever by the recruiter who found you the job and the company that made you the offer. You completely wasted their time and they’re not pleased about it.
3) Same problems – while money is important, it’s probably not the only reason you were exploring other opportunities. You might be better paid, but your boss is still an erratic nut-job, the dozens of layers of red tape and bureaucracy are more prevalent now than ever and your company is still on the verge of a restructure. You’ll be looking for something else again in under a year.
4) Self respect – if you take it, you have none. At the end of the day, you were bought. It’s that simple. Chances are the next time you want a promotion or raise, you’re going to have to pull the same stunt and get another offer from some place else.You won’t be rewarded for your hard work and achievements, but for your threat to part ways.