1. Panic Offer
    • When employers realize that their back is to the wall and they may lose a valuable asset to the company they tend to make their last-ditch panic offer. Be wary of this! Ask yourself: why is my value only now realized? Your employer has had the time to make you an offer comparable to the value you bring, and has only decided to do so once there is a chance you will leave.
  2. Replacement Time
    • A counteroffer may seem like an enticing offer as it means not having to learn a new system, culture, rules and regulations. Don’t let this draw you in, as many employers offer a raise and incentives to buy themselves more time to search for your replacement. For them, offering a “band-aid” solution is much easier than conducting an expensive and time-consuming search; however, now that they know you have been looking, they will be sure to start their search. Why not start to look for someone to replace you when you have already shown you are willing to leave?
  3. Reason For Leaving
    • If you are at the point where you are considering a counteroffer a good place to start is your reason for leaving. It is obvious that if you were searching for a new opportunity there must be something missing in your current role. Why throw away a new and exciting position to stay at a company you aren’t completely interested or don’t enjoy anymore? There is no need for an employee to have to threaten to quit in order for them to earn better working conditions. That’s what you would be looking for in a job hunt: better working conditions, whether it be salary, vacation time, ability to work from home, etc. So, stick to your guns and always keep your reason for leaving in your mind.
  4. Your Effort
    • Let’s stick with that point for a second: before you think about accepting that counteroffer let’s revisit the effort it took to reach a counteroffer. First, you have poured your time, energy and heart into researching and finding a new opportunity that aligns with your goals. That is time that is not to be ignored. Secondly, you spent the time going through, likely, multiple rounds of interviews and prepping for these. Thirdly, you would need to craft a good way to let the company know that you have decided to move on. Each of these steps will take up your energy and time, so make sure to value that and not throw away weeks of effort for a few extra bucks. Remember you put in that effort for a reason!
  5. That Door Might Close
    • Be prepared that if you accept a counteroffer, you may burn bridges with that new company you had been so excited about. Making it all the way through the hiring process and reaching an offer means that a lot of time and effort were put into the deal. The hiring manager and company as a whole were excited to add your skillset to the team, and when you decide to take a counteroffer, it may appear that you weren’t very excited about the company or the opportunity. This is not the impression we want to give, so it is important that you know before starting your job search whether or not you are truly ready to move into a new role!