Thoughts on Job Counteroffers?

[Stuxnet]

The counter is a lucrative one, a little more lucrative than the new job. I'm not a job-hopper nor did I seek out a job for the purpose of generating leverage with my current employer.

I don't want to get into too many details (sorry), but what are everyone's thoughts on counteroffers in general?

 

[JS80]

1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

FTW

 

[eelw]

But why were you looking for a new job? Unsatisfied with the old place or were you looking for a higher paying position?

 

[EKKC]

without giving away your details. think about why you wanted to leave in the first place.
if you're thinking you want to take the counteroffer, up their counter by another 8-10% and tell them you'd love to work with them but the other offer is still higher.

if you told them the real amount the other company offered you, then sorry it probably won't work.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

Too bad those two factors are greatly outweighed by all the negatives of staying. Such as the fact that the employer will question your loyalty, single you out when layoffs happen due to your increased salary, etc. Other employees will resent you for weaseling more money when they don't make as much to do the same thing. Plus you will always feel like the employer never valued you enough in the first place, and only when you more or less threatened to leave did they show any appreciation.

I can't think of any reason to stay if the counter offer is only a "little" more pay. Less hassle... that affects you for a week at most.

 

[nd]

I've heard that accepting counter-offers is often a bad idea because the company looks at you and treats you differently after the near-leave. I've heard that it's not unusual to be fired/laid off after accepting a counter-offer within a year anyway. But as always, every company/relationship is different so YMMV.

 

[xospec1alk]

i thought conventional wisdom is that you don't accept counter-offers because it makes you look bad, and it burns bridges.

thats what a manager told me once, when he was preparing to counter offer...although that could have been because he thought I had more potential, and i was dying at the old company...

 

[robphelan]

you are never supposed to accept the counteroffer from your current ER.

they will now know that you are interested in money and not loyalty. So, you could easily find another position for more $$ and they would be in the same boat as now.

if you do accept, be prepare to find out that they have been looking to replace you with someone else because they think you will jump ship for more $$.

 

[her209]

Without going into too much details myself, I would leave regardless.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

Too bad those two factors are greatly outweighed by all the negatives of staying. Such as the fact that the employer will question your loyalty, single you out when layoffs happen due to your increased salary, etc. Other employees will resent you for weaseling more money when they don't make as much to do the same thing. Plus you will always feel like the employer never valued you enough in the first place, and only when you more or less threatened to leave did they show any appreciation.

I can't think of any reason to stay if the counter offer is only a "little" more pay. Less hassle... that affects you for a week at most.

Both of these are really pretty valid responses IMO.

Think about why you were leaving, and decide if the "little" extra money is worth it, or if you'll be more happy at the other job.

 

[1sikbITCH]

It's a well known rule in business to "beware the counter-offer".

Now that you've strong-armed your boss into paying you more money (albeit unwittingly), your relationship with them might be strained from here on out. When things come up down the road, they might treat you differently knowing for a fact that you aren't a company man and might be handing in your notice at any time.

With that said, every situation is different, and maybe your company won't hold it against you.

 

[MattCo]

Arent you a little unhappy in your current situation anyway?

-MC

 

[sygyzy]

When you make the decision to quit your job and go to another place, that is final. Do not comprimise your integrity by playing the counteroffer game. 80% of employees that stay due to a counteroffer leave within the first 6-12 months (I think 6 actually).

 

[pontifex]

when i got my new job my boss at the previous job went to the director to see if they could match it or beat it. my new job paid $3k/year more than my current job paid.

they didn't even try to match it.

i was probably one of their best employees too. kinda odd when they don't even try to keep someone. i wouldn't have stayed even if they did match it go better because i hated the job with a passion.

 

[imported_KuJaX]

Very good posts in here. I agree, that if you did go back to the job you have now (accept counter-offer) then your bridges may be burned with your current employer. They will always look at you as not loyal to the company and any chance they may get to interview or bump someone up to your role, they probably will take. It is sad, but true. You'll also be stressed out pshychologically because of this.

 

[Armitage]

Why were you looking to leave to begin with? If it wasn't money, then does more money really fix it?

I wouldn't worry to much about loyalty in either direction. Unless you're working for a small and/or business you're naive if you think your company has any loyalty to you. And your company already assumes you have no loyalty to them - though they may try to play that card anyway.

Also consider that the match they are offering may simply be an advance on your raises for the next few years.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

- company finds a replacement then gets rid of the OP due to disloyalty
= REAL no brainer

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

- company finds a replacement then gets rid of the OP due to disloyalty
= REAL no brainer

It's pretty clear by his post that JS80 either is very young and/or has not entered the workforce yet.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: MattCo
Arent you a little unhappy in your current situation anyway?

-MC

Funny that you bring that up .

The promotion that I asked for (and was denied) is now the counter . One of the things my employer said to me when I handed in my notice was "I wish you would have told me you were thinking about leaving before it escalated to your resignation". I so bad just wanted to sream "I DID TELL YOU! You blew me off!"

Regardless, the promotion that I wanted is now on the table. My gut is that I agree with the whole "you don't take a counter because you're in unchartered territory with your company". I don't believe that because of my company specifically; I've always felt that way. But at the same time, I don't want to miss a good opportunity just because I adhered to conventional wisdom to strictly.

 

[her209]

At the same time, don't let your current employer get away with paying you less than what you are worth. They wouldn't think twice about your loyalty to a company (read: taking it up the a$$ financially) when it comes to hard times.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: her209
At the same time, don't let your current employer get away with paying you less than what you are worth. They wouldn't think twice about your loyalty to a company (read: taking it up the a$$ financially) when it comes to hard times.

Honestly, both salaries are very fair. I can live just fine off either one and the difference between the two is relatively insignificant. My concern going with the new company is simply that it's a new job and there's always an inherent risk with that. My concern with staying with my current employer is the potential for them to think of me as disloyal and treat me accordingly down the road. Despite my rantings on ATOT, my character is very important to me.

If I take the counter, my character is called into question with both the employer and the other prospect.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JS80
1) Less of a hassle to stay at current job
2) More money

1+2=no brainer?

- company finds a replacement then gets rid of the OP due to disloyalty
= REAL no brainer

It's pretty clear by his post that JS80 either is very young and/or has not entered the workforce yet.

He's young, but he has entered the workforce.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: MattCo
Arent you a little unhappy in your current situation anyway?

-MC

Funny that you bring that up .

The promotion that I asked for (and was denied) is now the counter . One of the things my employer said to me when I handed in my notice was "I wish you would have told me you were thinking about leaving before it escalated to your resignation". I so bad just wanted to sream "I DID TELL YOU! You blew me off!"

Regardless, the promotion that I wanted is now on the table. My gut is that I agree with the whole "you don't take a counter because you're in unchartered territory with your company". I don't believe that because of my company specifically; I've always felt that way. But at the same time, I don't want to miss a good opportunity just because I adhered to conventional wisdom to strictly.

Ok, so it's more then just money - good.
What's your gut feel on the jobs? Satisfaction, potential for advancement, career building, etc.?

What field is this in anyway? What's the culture like?

I wouldn't worry *to* much about the character/burning bridges issues as long as you've been honsest & up front about the process and are on good terms. Business is business, and they understand that.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: MattCo
Arent you a little unhappy in your current situation anyway?

-MC

Funny that you bring that up .

The promotion that I asked for (and was denied) is now the counter . One of the things my employer said to me when I handed in my notice was "I wish you would have told me you were thinking about leaving before it escalated to your resignation". I so bad just wanted to sream "I DID TELL YOU! You blew me off!"

Regardless, the promotion that I wanted is now on the table. My gut is that I agree with the whole "you don't take a counter because you're in unchartered territory with your company". I don't believe that because of my company specifically; I've always felt that way. But at the same time, I don't want to miss a good opportunity just because I adhered to conventional wisdom to strictly.

Ok, so it's more then just money - good.
What's your gut feel on the jobs? Satisfaction, potential for advancement, career building, etc.?

What field is this in anyway?

Both jobs offer great career building and advancement, though I'm all but certain that the new one will offer a lot more satisfaction. Honestly, I know deep down that I shouldn't take the counter, and deep down, I know I won't take it.

I guess the real question at this point is how to I most gracefully decline the counter without destroying relationships.