How to handle a counteroffer

Professionals are increasingly career oriented. If their current employer no longer matches their ambitions and dreams, they usually resign. Either they believe they have found something better elsewhere that fits their personal career plan, or they are simply looking for a completely new challenge.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a lot of professionals taking the time to reflect on their job and their ambitions. The uncertainty about the labour market is gone, making it easier for employees to move on to a new job. But sometimes it takes a little more effort. When managers don’t easily want to let go of their employees, for example. He or she makes a counteroffer, offering a higher salary or better working conditions. But what do you do when you receive a counteroffer after resigning? Is it a clever idea to accept it? Before accepting, it’s important to reflect on these 4 questions.

Will the counteroffer bring a long-term solution?

It’s important to keep in mind how this decision will affect your career on the long run. Maybe you resigned because you were approached by another organization. But if you were initially looking for a new challenge yourself, there’s a good chance that you are no longer satisfied with your current job. A recent survey by international recruitment specialist Walters People revealed that 1 in 3 professionals who received a counteroffer and accepted it, quits after one year anyway.

A higher salary might extend your time in the organisation a little bit, but it should not be a deciding factor. If you no longer enjoy your work, you will eventually look for a better job. In other words: in the long run, the opportunity to learn new things offers more advantages than simply accepting a salary increase.

Has the trust between you and your employer been damaged?

When your employer knows that you had plans to leave the organisation, it can influence your working relationship. Your employer might see you as less reliable, particularly if he or she knows that you have been actively looking for a new job yourself. Therefore, think carefully before accepting your manager's counteroffer, because you don't want to end up in a situation where he or she doesn't trust you to do anything anymore.

Who is more interested in keeping you on board? You or your manager?

Retaining staff, even if it means giving them a salary increase or a bonus, is cheaper than recruiting new people. Hence, an employer will probably try to convince you to stay.

Your manager clearly has an interest in you staying. Check if the perks you are offered are as important as the benefits your employer gets from your extended stay. If not, it is better not to accept the counteroffer.

Did you feel valued before you resigned?

It is important not only to thoroughly consider the benefits of the counteroffer, but also to ask yourself whether your work was appreciated before you resigned. A counteroffer is only made when your boss is afraid of losing you. This raises the question: Do I want to work for an organisation where my performance is not automatically valued, but only when I consider leaving?

Only when you have considered all these things properly, can you make a well-thought-out decision. Do you decide to leave anyway? Find out how to resign in a professional manner.