Beware of the Counter Offer!

srabiee

Yeah, that's a really dirty tactic.

Raisin

I think it depends on the company. Not every employer will hold it against you for trying to leave. If you pay attention to how the company treats your coworkers, you should have a pretty good idea if it's safe to accept a counter offer.

wolfinsheepsclothing

Keroseen wrote: »

Been there... My company resinded the counter offer a weekend after I had accepted it... Fortunately, I hadn't told my future employer yet. What a disaster that would have been if I had.

Wow! I'm assuming the counter wasn't a signed contract?

Shdwmage

At my last job they got wind that I was looking for a job about 2 years before I finally left. They brought me in and gave me a raise and a company car to drive. They didn't want to lose me. I left on good terms, but they've had crap luck finding a replacement for me and its been well over a year since I left now.

I stopped in a couple months ago and the managers were trying to convince me to come back. I told them I'd come back for some ridiculous amount of money I'd never expect them to give up. It was nice to feel wanted though.

GarudaMin

Shdwmage wrote: »

At my last job they got wind that I was looking for a job about 2 years before I finally left. They brought me in and gave me a raise and a company car to drive. They didn't want to lose me. I left on good terms, but they've had crap luck finding a replacement for me and its been well over a year since I left now.

I stopped in a couple months ago and the managers were trying to convince me to come back. I told them I'd come back for some ridiculous amount of money I'd never expect them to give up. It was nice to feel wanted though.

What's considered ridiculous amount of money?

Keroseen

wolfinsheepsclothing wrote: »

Wow! I'm assuming the counter wasn't a signed contract?

No- sadly, it was my first IT job at a local IT consulting firm and forums like this didn't exist back then.

tprice5

Shdwmage wrote: »

I told them I'd come back for some ridiculous amount of money I'd never expect them to give up.

This. I really like playing this game with recruiters who contact me for jobs I'm not interested in or for locations I have no desire to be. Mainly it's for the sake of entertainment but also, on the off chance that one of them bites. I always feel like Dr. Evil, "1 million dollars, muahahaha". I never hit those extremes in my salary requests but I've been known to request double what I would expect them to offer me.

Monkerz wrote: »

and I'll always question his convictions, knowing he can be bought

This made my blood boil. First, we're all already working for money, so in that respect, everyone is being bought. Second, loyalty doesn't pay my bills. The faster we get away from that sentiment the better.

chopsticks

Shdwmage wrote: »

At my last job they got wind that I was looking for a job about 2 years before I finally left. They brought me in and gave me a raise and a company car to drive. They didn't want to lose me. I left on good terms, but they've had crap luck finding a replacement for me and its been well over a year since I left now.

I stopped in a couple months ago and the managers were trying to convince me to come back. I told them I'd come back for some ridiculous amount of money I'd never expect them to give up. It was nice to feel wanted though.

Don't ever go back to your former company. I said this because I learned my lesson.

I left and joined another company and worked my way up to managerial position. I even got compliment letter from my department director for my effort. I was very happy with the progress I made. Then, however, my previous company countered offer me a better overall package that I could not resist, so I decided to join them back, but at a lower position as technical engineer (with the promise I could manage servers/routers/switchs/etc). This is a great grave mistake I made. All did not go well for the few years after my re-join with them. I was given only end-user or client support kind of work that will not help me in my career. I have had expressed a few times to them my strong desire to learn more on the technical side - on servers/routers and switches/others, but all fall on the deaf ears. Now I'm feeling very disappointed and on the lookout for better career opportunities.

So my lesson learned - don't ever accept counter offer from the former company we worked for.

tprice5

chopsticks wrote: »

Then, however, my previous company countered offer me a better overall package that I could not resist, so I decided to join them back, but at a lower position as technical engineer (with the promise I could manage servers/routers/switchs/etc).

I am guessing the compensation package is what you are referring to that you couldn't turn down? Also was the promise that you could touch these things in the future or immediately when you started? Trying to determine if you got bait 'n swithed or just made a poor decision.

Zartanasaurus

GarudaMin wrote: »

It's all easy to say 'no' to a counter offer but what if counter offer was: let's say $25K increase, $50k increase, $75k increase or $100k increase? And you know that the company is reputable and that they won't get you to stay and kick you out later.

What if their offer includes a unicorn?

GarudaMin

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

What if their offer includes a unicorn?

I was serious, wanted to see what others would do when they are counter-offered for the amount of $25k, $50k, or $100k and the company is a good company. Maybe because you haven't been in that situation or worked in a good company that you would make light of the question. I was in a situation where the counter-offer was about 35% salary increase. I declined. Then the counter offer went up to about 60% and I couldn't say no to that. I won't be able to get 60% increase anywhere else and not for another 5-10 years too.

Zartanasaurus

When I'm ready to leave a job, it's regardless of whatever extra money they could throw at me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have to figure +$100K counter offers are pretty rare. You highlighted narrow and unique set of circumstances with counter offers. We're talking about the other 99.99% of the time.

And you'd still have to think about the reasons you're leaving. Just the money? Why is this great company suddenly offering a $100K raise when it's likely they said no to your last request of only a few thousand? I got more than +60% at my last job change anyway.

GarudaMin

Take a look at cable TV providers. They make attractive offers for potential/new customers but once a customer has signed up, his/her rates goes up every year. Providers don't care about existing customers since customers are now locked in to the service.

The same thing with companies. They offer good money to new/potential employees, but once a person has stayed with the companies, they don't keep up with the market rate anymore. So when one leaves for a better paying job, they try to offer money to make you stay. And if they really want to keep you, they offer more.

There may be many reasons why a person want to leave a company but the only thing that a company can do to keep her/him is to pay more than what she/he can get elsewhere. In my case, there were a few reasons why I would move to a new company but when I was offered 60%, the rest of the reasons did not matter anymore. 60% can be a lot of money depending on how much one is making already. If one is making $50k, then 60% would put him/her to $80k. That jump is easier to get. But if one is making $100k, then $160k jump is not easy to get. The more money you are making, the harder it is to get 60% jump anywhere else.

Hence, what would you have done when the counter offer amounts to $25k, $50k, or $100k. I can say no to $25k but it is a bit painful to say no to. I don't think I will be able to say no to a $50k or $100k unless the reason is like a life or death situation, imho.

wolfinsheepsclothing

Bumping this thread to relay what happened to me when I accepted the counteroffer. I intended to leave my company this past September, but decided that their counter offer was too good to pass up (the fact that they even presented a counter offer caught me off guard because I had only been with the company for 6 months at that point). Things went well for a few weeks, but the director (my bosses boss) took my wanting to leave the company personally; any chance he could get, he would yell/scream/threaten to fire me (extremely unprofessional, obviously). Fast forward to today (my last day with the company). I decided that the additional compensation (+$20k) wasn't worth it. He hasn't spoken to me at all since I officially submitted my two weeks notice. Just wanted to provide another tangible example.

cyberguypr

Sorry to hear you had to deal with that. At least you are moving on to better things. As a big advocate of not listening to counteroffers I appreciate the update. Mikes it easier for those non-believers to see the counteroffer hell light.

Mooseboost

As my previous place of employment, a counter offer usually translates to: "We want to keep you here until we can find a good replacement for you".

dave330i

Usually I prefer not to accept a counter offer, but you should at least listen to the offer. Counter offer of more money usually isn't worth it. A counter offer of more money and a promotion/increased responsibility is something worth considering. I had accepted a counter offer few years back (for the first time in my career) and it worked out extremely well for me.

N2IT

I don't believe in absolutes. Every situation is completely different.

wolfinsheepsclothing

Yeah. It's an unfortunate situation; minus the aforementioned director, this has been a dream work environment. At the same time, I'm looking forward to my new position (in addition to a substantial pay raise, I'll be back on site 100%).

dave330i

Nersesian wrote: »

The last three times I've submitted my two weeks notice it was just me sticking my head in my boss's office and saying..."Hey, I'm not going to work here anymore. I'll send you an email."

I hope I don't have the misfortune of working with you.

anhtran35

I accepted a counter offer from one company and I stayed for additional 2 years. No issues. I had and still have a good relationship with my previous Director. It's all about your relationship with people.

philz1982

Disagree did a counter at a company got a large raise and continued to get raises and promotions.

wolfinsheepsclothing

anhtran35 wrote: »

I accepted a counter offer from one company and I stayed for additional 2 years. No issues. I had and still have a good relationship with my previous Director. It's all about your relationship with people.

Believe me, I would have stayed if they simply bounced the director from the project/lab. I wasn't the only person to have a problem; others will likely follow me. My direct management/peers were awesome! This guy was just a walking HR issue. I would have no problem going back to the company in the future (just not for this particular sector).

Chev Chellios

It's a really interesting article that makes some great points but what about the flip side, there must be plenty of folks who stayed and did well? I only say this as I played the game recently, I didn't particularly want to leave but was head hunted and went through the process- the job did look decent for a good company BUT they made a few demands after I accepted the offer and that made me really think alot about both jobs. My current employer made a great counter offer after I handed my notice in as they genuinely seem to value me (no guilt trip attempts or anything). I'd never raised any concerns before as I like it where I am and it's all worked out well with a nice bump in pay, dedictaed study time plus flexible hours which is a massive bonus with a child to look after.

Like some people have mentioned you have to look after number one and go with what you want to do though, just consider everything on the table!

RHDS2K

Love this article. I forsee this situation coming in my near future since I have been interviewing. I'm only leaving for a competitive salary (i got a lowball offer and took it for experience), and i was considering staying if they match a new offer since i do enjoy my job. After reading this i'm having second thoughts about staying if i do get a salary match. I definitely think it will leave a bad environment between the boss and other co-workers if they all know i get a raise. I think that will be typical anywhere. The average co worker will think "Well so and so got a raise because they were going to resign, I'm loyal to the company, why shouldn't I get one"
++ for sticky

wolfinsheepsclothing

RHDS2K wrote: »

Love this article. I forsee this situation coming in my near future since I have been interviewing. I'm only leaving for a competitive salary (i got a lowball offer and took it for experience), and i was considering staying if they match a new offer since i do enjoy my job. After reading this i'm having second thoughts about staying if i do get a salary match. I definitely think it will leave a bad environment between the boss and other co-workers if they all know i get a raise. I think that will be typical anywhere. The average co worker will think "Well so and so got a raise because they were going to resign, I'm loyal to the company, why shouldn't I get one"
++ for sticky

For what it's worth, discussing the terms of your counter offer is typically frowned upon (if not an outright violation); my coworkers were not aware of the terms of my (re)negotiated salary.

Gorby

I've never taken a counter offer myself, but I can see how it's depending on the situation on why your leaving. If it's just about money but you like everything else I could see why you'd consider it. But if you were looking for experience or had a toxic relationship with a manager I can also see why no counter offer would make you stay.

Smilies

that was very informative. thanks for the read!

Danielh22185

Here's something to throw a wrench in the ideas here...

What if...

You leave your current company under good terms, are gone 1-3 years for a new venture, and are sought out by the same previous company to come back for more money / responsibility? Do you take it? I see this as different from the counter offer situation but also see the same possible disloyalty feelings it might present. I think the hiring staff of the previous company are taking a pretty serious gamble as they are more obviously buying back the previous employee just as a counter offer does in possibly a more subtle way. Personally if I were the hiring manager I think I would always be thinking in the back of my mind questioning how long this person will truly stick around as they had done it once in the past already. The same concerns / risks with making a counter offer.

RouteMyPacket

I don't even need to read that, if I am leaving I am leaving for a reason and a counter offer means nothing to me.