Posted December 4 2023
By Mary Munoz
When you’re looking for a new job or on the verge of accepting an offer from potential new employers, there is every chance that your current company might make you a counter offer. Right now, businesses are very keen to hold on to high performing colleagues.
A counter offer will usually involve matching the offer that your potential new company has made, in terms of wages, and maybe a bit more in the way of responsibility or title.
If your heart is set on leaving, then there’s no reason why any counter offer (no matter how good) could sway you to stay. After all, something must have made you consider leaving in the first place …
Any counter offers should always be handled politely and from an objective perspective. Focus on what is best for you and your career – and that doesn’t always mean more money.
Here are my top tips for how to handle a counter offer:
Your relationship with your employer
Now that you’ve presented your boss with the offer from a competitor, they know that you have been job hunting. Do you think that will change their perspective of you? Of course, it shouldn’t, but it may sting them a little to think that you have been looking elsewhere. You may have to work at mending your relationship, should you accept their counter.
Will anything really change?
Think beyond the salary. What was it about your current role that motivated you to look elsewhere? Will any of that change if you accept the counter? What else might be up for negotiation? Your hours, your title, your career path, your benefits? If nothing is likely to evolve if you stay, you really have to consider why that might be.
Will you be motivated?
You were already looking elsewhere – for whatever reason. Maybe it was just to get your name out in your market or maybe it was because there were real problems in your current position. So, if you accept a counter offer from your current employer, will you be motivated to go the extra mile for them from now on? Especially now that you know that other employers are interested.
Be objective
Consider everything that is on offer. If it helps, write a list of the exact package that each employer has proposed to you and include things like the company culture and working environment. It’s really important to think things through as objective as you possibly can – ask a trusted colleague, friend or partner to help you, if you need it. Or, further still, speak to your recruiter.
Don’t burn your bridges
It is also essential that, throughout the process, you are open and honest with your recruiter. You don’t want to burn any bridges with the employer that has made you a new offer or your existing one. You should remain polite and respectful throughout – you never know when you may come across your peers in future.
HRC Recruitment build great careers across Scotland. If you’re looking for a job in any of our market sectors, you’ll find a full list of current opportunities (both permanent and contract) on our website. Or you can email hello@hrcrecruitment.co.uk for more information.