Acceptance of a Counter Offer may cause Career Suicide
Addressing Resignation Letters and Counter Offers:
After you have accepted an offer for new employment, you will need to prepare to resign from your
current job. Your employer may be surprised by your announcement and he/she may attempt to entice
you to stay by counter offering more money or perks. Change is always challenging in the beginning.
Keep in mind why you began your search
What really goes through a boss's mind when someone quits?
- This couldn't be happening at a worse time.
- I'm working as hard as I can, and I don't need to do his work too.
- If I lose another good employee, the company might decide to lose me too.
- My review is coming up and this will make me look bad.
- Maybe I can keep him on until I find a suitable replacement.
Let's face it. When someone quits, it's a direct reflection on the boss. Unless you're really
incompetent or a destructive thorn in his side, the boss might look bad by "allowing" you to go.
His gut reaction is to do what has to be done to keep you from leaving until he's ready.
That's human nature.
Unfortunately, it's also human nature to want to stay unless your work life is abject misery.
Career changes, like all ventures into the unknown are tough. That's why bosses know they can
keep you around by pressing the right buttons.
Before you succumb to a tempting counteroffer, consider these universal truths:
- Decent and well-managed companies don't make counteroffers. Their policies are fair and equitable.
- Any situation in which an employee is force to get an outside offer before the present employer
will suggest a raise, promotion or better working conditions, is suspect. You may ask yourself why
you had to resign in order to receive a pay increase.
- No matter what the company says when making its' counteroffer, you will always be considered a
fidelity risk. Having once demonstrated your lack of loyalty (for whatever reason) you will lose
your status as a team player and your place in the inner circle.
Counteroffers are only made in response to a threat to quit.
Once you have interviewed and accepted an offer to move on in your career, write a brief and
positive resignation letter. If you need help formulating your letter, we can direct you to
some sample letters.
Ref: by National Business Employment Weekly.
