Beware! Dangers of Accepting a Counter Offer

You’ve reached a critical point in your job search: You have an offer and a new job on the horizon. But your current employer has come back with a counter offer, in an attempt to keep you right where you are. Maybe it’s a salary hike, a new title, a promotion, better benefits – or all of the above.

Now what?

If you’re a solid performer, it’s generally easier for your employer to keep you on board, at least for the time being. And while there are situations where accepting a counter offer is the best thing to do, give it some serious thought before you decide.

Think First

When an employer makes a counter offer, they may truly value your contribution, but the cat is out of the bag: They know you’ve sought – and secured – an opportunity elsewhere. So although they’ve sweetened the pot in asking you to stay, it may not be for all the right reasons. Hiring someone to replace you will be expensive and time consuming, so they may simply be trying to avoid that situation.

Here are some other possibilities to consider:

  • You may be considered disloyal or a flight risk. Be prepared to defend the reasons you were job hunting in the first place. Your employer will not forget this experience. The assumption may be that you will stay on only until another, better job offer comes along.
  • Relations with your peers could suffer. Word will get out – and the end results can include jealousy, bitterness and hard feelings.
  • It may not solve the real problem. If your counter offer doesn’t address the underlying issues that made you seek work elsewhere, then it will be nothing more than a Band Aid. Statistics show that the average employee stays with his or her employer less than a year after accepting a counter offer.
  • You’ll burn bridges. Accepting a counter offer hurts your relationship with the new company that has offered you a position, and potentially with other employers, as word gets out via industry grapevines. It gives you a reputation of being fickle, unreliable and capable of being “bought.”

Look Out for Number One

It’s your career and your life, so make a final decision based on what best fits your personal and professional goals.

  • List the pros and cons of both positions. Discuss them with your loved ones. Make an informed decision whether or not to make a job change.
  • Identify the “motivation points” that led you to seek out a new job. Did you need a bigger paycheck, more flexibility, a change of pace, or increased responsibility? Meet with your current boss and discuss possible changes that could increase your current satisfaction level. Make sure you’re completely satisfied with the response.

Partner With a Pro

Regardless of your decision, it can be helpful to work with a professional recruiter as you pursue and work through career transitions.  Each one is a step to your overall success and satisfaction, so working with a trained professional can help you clearly understand your career path.

If you are looking for a hospitality recruitment firm, contact Horizon Hospitality today.

 

 

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