10 Reasons Not to Accept a Counter-Offer

Picture the scene: you've spent many months looking for a new job. Undoubtedly, there is something about your current job which you are not happy with: be it a lack of career progression, poor salary, poor working environment or just plain boredom.

Finally, you have success. Job offer in hand, you approach your boss to break the news: you're leaving for pastures new.

Sometimes, your boss will accept this and allow you to leave without putting you through too much stress. Sometimes though, they'll come back to you with a counter-offer: improved terms offered to convince you to stay. Counter-offers are always tempting: the money's normally good, and then there's the fact you don't need to settle into a new employer and make new friendships.

Ask yourself this -- If you were worth X dollars yesterday, why is your company suddenly willing to now pay you Y dollars today? Accepting a counteroffer can have numerous negative consequences. Consider these top 10 reasons to say "no" to a counteroffer. We're not the only people in the world preaching this (type "reasons not to accpet a counteroffer" into Google if you don't believe us)....

Reason No. 1:What type of company do you work for if you have threatened to resign before they give you what you are worth?

Reason No. 2:Where is the money for the counteroffer coming from? Is it your next raise, early? (Many companies have strict wage and salary guidelines that must be followed).

Reason No. 3:Your company will immediately start looking for a new person at a lower salary.

Reason No. 4:You have now made your employer aware that you are unhappy. From this day on, your loyalty will always be in question.

Reason No. 5:When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember who was loyal and who wasn't. Which list do you think you will be on?

Reason No. 6:When times get tough, your employer will begin the cutback with you.

Reason No. 7:The same circumstances that now cause you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future, even if you accept a counteroffer.

Reason No. 8:Statistics compiled by the National Employment Association confirm the fact that over 80% of those people who elected to accept a counteroffer are not with their company six months later.

Reason No. 9:Accepting a counteroffer is a bribe and a blow to your personal pride. Were you bought?

Reason No. 10:Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers

If you want advice on how to resign, please do get in touch.