Should You Consider a Counter Offer?

Is a counter offer in your best interest?

HOW A COUNTER OFFER WORKS

Toward the end of your job search, your efforts are finally rewarded: you receive an offer.

If you are employed while searching for a job, you will most likely inform your current employer of this offer of employment as you give notice. Either your employer will accept your decision with regret, or will do whatever possible to persuade you to stay.

• They have spent a lot of time and money hiring and training you.
• They are accustomed to your work habits and abilities, and know how you work with your peers.
• You may have achieved some significant accomplishments during your tenure there.
• To find your replacement at this juncture would be costly.

Your company will most likely attempt to retain you with a counter-offer.

A counter-offer represents the company’s monetary sense of what it’s going to take to retain you as an employee. It will be fashioned as an offer difficult to refuse, and include an increase in your compensation along with whatever other perks are deemed necessary to win you back.

What should you do?

SHOULD YOU ACCEPT A COUNTER OFFER?

The answer can be found in the reason you went looking elsewhere in the first place.

If you accept the counter-offer, you will make more money, but in every other respect, your situation will remain the same. You need to ask yourself if the added income and perks will let you overcome whatever it was that caused you to search for another position in the first place.

Temporarily, things may work out, but you most likely will reach a point where eventually you will want to seek a new position.

While it may be difficult to turn down a counter-offer, it may be your best option. The sooner you find yourself in a more fulfilling position, the more creative and happier you will be.

Feel free to share any questions about counter offers in the comments below or contact me to book a free call!