As a recruiter, I have seen many job seekers turn down potential job opportunities for many reasons. Some of these reasons are well thought out and end up proving to be the “right” choice, but one reason for turning down a job that has proven unsuccessful is accepting a counter offer from your current employer. A counter offer is when your current employer tries to offer you something in order to prevent you from accepting another job offer. As tempting as counter offers may be, they rarely come to fruition. According to a Wall Street Journal article on the danger of accepting counter offers, “A raise won’t permanently cushion thorns in the nest.”
The amount of job seekers who return to the job market shortly after receiving a counter offer from their current employer is astounding. People often agree to stay at their current employer when their boss agrees to give them the raise they have been asking about for years. Other times, a company will suddenly decide the job seeker is ready to take on a management role that they have been working tirelessly for. However, similar to the honeymoon stage of a relationship, this positive relationship with your employer may not last forever.
Below are some questions to ask yourself when considering a counter offer:
What type of company do you work for if you have to threaten to quit or resign before they give you what you are worth?- Where is the money coming from to give you a salary increase? Where was it before? Is this money that you would get in your next raise?
- How do you think your current employer feels knowing that you wanted to leave? Do you think they will start looking for a new employee to fill your spot, since they are aware that you were out in the job market? It’s easy for them to give you what you want in the meantime, so your job doesn’t become vacant, but what about if they replace you? Then you are out of two jobs!
- If cutbacks become necessary, who will they let go first? It is likely that the person who makes more money then his/her colleagues will be the first to go.
Am I saying to never consider a counter offer? Not necessarily….. As a job seeker, you’ll have to evaluate each individual opportunity and situation as it comes, but be wise when considering accepting something of this nature. Oftentimes, the same circumstances that originally caused you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future.
Please feel free to reach out to me directly at jkessler@execu-search.com if you have a specific scenario you would like to speak about.
Jennifer Kessler
Executive Recruiter- Healthcare
