Counteroffers: Risky Business

When you resign from one company to take a position with another, a counteroffer may be a flattering surprise at first. But accepting a counter offer — and passing up that new opportunity — can be a career-stopping move.

Although many organizations make it a policy never to make counteroffers, other employers produce counteroffers for a variety of reasons. Some reasons are selfish; for example, a direct supervisor who is responsible for retaining valuable employees might be trying to maintain job security by keeping you on board. Your timing might cause a problem for the organization ("Who's going to do the server upgrade now?"). Your superior might be just plain angry, too, when he realizes that he'll have to do interviewing and training to find a replacement. Fear of jeopardizing employee morale through your departure can also cause some employers to quickly swoop in with a counteroffer.

Other reasons behind counteroffers can be more sincere — an employer might truly recognize your value and be attempting to retain you for fair and honest reasons.

Whatever the reason for the attempt, employees should tread carefully. Although it might be tempting to accept an offer of more money to stay put, for instance, employees who accept counteroffers are often silently viewed as inherently disloyal. That view can linger in the minds of superiors, putting employees at high risk for later termination on the organization's terms or limiting their future promotional opportunities.

Once you decide to resign from your current position, take the time to prepare for and handle a counteroffer. After all, you wouldn't have accepted a new position if you really thought you were receiving what you needed at your current job. Plus, you don't want your resignation to appear as an attempt to negotiate a better situation with your current company. Instead, keep in mind the following tips:

• Take command as soon as you determine you're in a counteroffer situation. Have a statement such as "I'd never want it to be inferred from my resignation that I'm trying to force the company into keeping me. I've found a situation that I can't pass up and I'm sure you can respect that."
• Keep your emotions in check. Experienced managers will push emotional buttons to keep employees from leaving, with lines such as, "We've been planning good things for you" or "How much would it take to keep you here?"
• Stay positive, polite and complimentary of your current company. Burning bridges is never a good idea. Even the largest industry can seem quite small when a former co-worker or boss reappears in your life years down the road. Resist the urge to spill pent-up anger or frustrations.

Don't be swayed once you've decided to make a career move. It's important to leave any job in a professional manner, and the best way to do that is by maintaining your integrity through commitment to your new position. If you're in a counteroffer position, contact Sheri Breitstein at 201-537-0030 or sheri@theconnorsgroup.com to learn how The Connors Group can provide guidance.