Dear Abby: I have an offer on the table but my company is doing a HARD PRESS to keep me! I owe it to them to entertain it, right?!
Why Counteroffers Deserve Caution
I could hit on this subject for probably 6 posts but I’ll try and keep it brief (although brevity has never been my strength). I never want to get into a counter offer situation for 2 main reasons:
- I want to make sure the position you get an offer from is one you are so excited for and feel like it is the right match that you aren’t even interested in a counteroffer – you are making an OPPORTUNITY move not just a MONEY move (yes – money is important but it shouldn’t be your only deciding factor).
- If at any point you would entertain a counteroffer, try and have those conversations with your manager before another offer is even on the table. You can do this in a very non-threatening way: “I enjoy working here and am excited for my long-term progression and growth – I really want to get to [pay, responsibilities, job title, etc.], what do you feel I can do to get there and what can we put in place for me to continue my growth here?”
If your employer does something at that point to get you what you want – great! Stay there for a few years and start your search when it makes sense in the future. If they don’t do anything about it – you’ve essentially given them the chance to counter before you have something on the table and you know where you stand. They should do what it takes to keep you there prior to having an offer and not just react because they’re trying to cover themselves from losing you in the position.
Consider the Employer’s Perspective
On a side note – as an employer, if you continuously counter-offer when your team has a different offer, what message are you sending to the rest of the team? Make sure to have the regular conversations with your team, do what you can to provide the right environment for openness, learning and growth and if it’s time for someone to make the move, you know you’ve provided a great home while they’re there!
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