After starting your job search, reviewing and editing your resume, going through several interviews, and getting a job offer that matches what you are looking for in the rest of your career, it seems that most of the work is now behind you. Maybe you've even thought about leaving for a while and this change is shaping up to be a new chapter in your career. But when “D-Day” arrives to file your resignation, your boss makes you an offer that pushes you to question your decision. In such a situation, to leave or to stay?
In order not to be caught off guard if a counteroffer from your current employer comes into play, it is important to be prepared for the eventuality, and to put back on the table the elements that prompted you to start looking for a new job.
Counteroffer Reasons for the counteroffer by the employer
Every business wants to ensure the retention of its best employees. A lot of effort and time has been invested in training you and, over the years, you have established relationships of trust with your colleagues, customers, suppliers and business partners. All of this makes you a resource that is not easily and quickly replaceable. Faced with the announcement of your departure, your boss will find himself confronted with a situation that may be difficult for him to manage, or which will cause at least some headaches.
Indeed, your employer would prefer not to have to start the process from the beginning with a new employee, as your replacement could be very costly in terms of both time and money. In order to avoid all these consequences, your employer may be tempted to present you with a counteroffer in order to keep you on their team.
Main risks for the employee
The counteroffer from your employer may seem very interesting to you: a salary increase, promotion, additional benefits and more stimulating responsibilities will probably be offered to you.
However, if you announce your departure and then reconsider your decision, things will certainly change internally. The bond of trust between you and your employer will be weakened and this could cause tension in your relationships with your superiors and colleagues. This bond of trust is difficult to restore, since your boss will now see you as an unfair employee, and could put you in a more precarious position in the event of a restructuring or internal changes in the organization chart.
In addition, there is no guarantee that the elements that made you dissatisfied in the past will change as a result of the counteroffer, which is why you should think carefully before accepting. If your frustration with your current job was caused by the fact that you did not feel recognized in your tasks, not compensated or valued for your fair value, ask yourself why did you have to resign so that suddenly certain things changed and your situation improved.
Accepting or refusing the counter offer?
Before making a decision, make sure you do it for yourself. Think carefully about the reasons that prompted you to start looking for a job.
Read: The 7 main reasons to leave
Even if the counteroffer is very attractive in terms of salary, it may well be that your dissatisfaction with internal management, limited opportunities for advancement or the lack of recognition from your superiors will not disappear. The counteroffer would therefore be a temporary consolation and your dissatisfactions would take over again a few months later. In these circumstances, it is better to make the leap to a new employer and decline the counteroffer.
If your dissatisfactions were only about salary conditions, the counteroffer could be a good option for you to consider. However, the employer who presented you with an offer will have the impression of wasting time with a candidate who was not really serious in his efforts and the bond of trust with your employer will still have been weakened.
How do you get spotted by a headhunter?
In short, if you are happy at your job, but dissatisfied with your salary conditions, discuss it openly with your current employer before starting the job search process. You might like The importance of written communication in the recruitment process When and how to resume the recruitment process in times of pandemic
