You attempt to resign from your current company. Oops! It doesn't go as
smoothly as you planned. Your boss is upset about losing you and presents
you with a counteroffer. A counteroffer is an attempt by your current
company to persuade you to stay.

No doubt about it: change can be scary. Employment changes are like journeys
into the unknown: they can cause feelings of risk, challenge, adventure, and
possibly, fear. It's natural to have anxiety about leaving a comfortable
position "where everyone knows your name". You're familiar with the
strengths and weaknesses of the company, how the office mail system works,
what constitutes a lunch "hour", and where the washrooms are.

Don't let familiarity cloud your judgment. Ask yourself whether the new
position is a positive step toward advancing your career. Will it be better
for you than your current position? If the answer is yes, then proceed with
pursuing the position. Familiarity will follow!

Some companies never make counteroffers. In others, it's a fairly common
practice. Consider what happens when an employee (like you) resigns:

First, morale is likely to suffer, particularly among your closest
coworkers. Management will notice, and your resignation may be perceived as
an unfavorable reflection on your boss. Your absence could jeopardize the
progress of a big project, lead to increased workloads for colleagues who
remain behind, and even mess up vacation schedules! Furthermore, it could be
expensive (in terms of time, energy and money) to replace you.

A cheaper "solution" for the company is to make you a counteroffer. This may
consist of a raise, a promotion, change in title or job description, or a
combination of these factors. It may even be just a promise of change to
come.

Be aware that this "solution" may actually be a stalling technique. By
buying you back, the company has bought itself some time, perhaps to finish
that big project, reorganize other team members, or search for a suitable
replacement for you.

."But you know we're right in the middle of a big project! And you're much
too valuable to the team to desert us now!" . "We didn't want to tell you
until next quarter, but we were just about to give you a raise/promotion to
show you how much we appreciate your work. Why don't we make it effective
immediately instead of having you wait any longer?" ."Why, we had no idea
you were unhappy with anything here. Let's discuss this further before you
make some rash decision. Whatever it is, we can work it out." ."You know we
have great plans for you here! But the company you're going to work for?
What can they do for you?"

Counteroffers can be tempting and ego-inflating. You also may detect an
underlying threat that by not accepting the counteroffer, you'll be throwing
away your entire career, future, life.

A Raise won't permanently cushion thorns in the nest. Mathew Henry, the
17th-century writer said, "Many a dangerous temptation comes to us in fine
gay colours that are but skin deep." The same can be said for counteroffers,
those magnetic enticements designed to lure you back into the nest after
you've decided it's time to fly away.

The litany of horror stories I have come across in my years as an executive
recruiter, consultant and publisher, provides a litmus test that clearly
indicates counteroffers should never be accepted....EVER!

I define a counteroffer simply as an inducement from your current employer
to get you to stay after you've announced your intention to take another
job. We're not talking about those instances when you receive an offer but
don't tell your boss. Nor are we discussing offers that you never intended
to take, yet tell your employer about anyway as a
" they-want-me-but-I'm-staying-with-you" ploy.

These are merely astute positioning tactics you may choose to use to
reinforce your worth by letting your boss know you have other options.
Mention of a true counteroffer, however, carries an actual threat to quit.

Interviews with employers who make counteroffers, and employees who accept
them, have shown that as tempting as they may be, acceptance may cause
career suicide. During the past 20 years, I have seen only isolated
incidents in which an accepted counteroffer has benefited the employee.
Consider the problem in its proper perspective.
What really goes through a boss's mind when someone quits?
."This couldn't be happening at a worse time."
."This is one of my best people. If I let him quit now, it'll wreak havoc on the morale of the department."
."I've already got one opening in my department, I don't need another right now."
."This will probably screw up the entire vacation schedule."
."I'm working as hard as I can, and I don't need to do his work, too."
."My review is coming up and this will make me look bad."
."Maybe I can keep him on until I find a suitable replacement."
What will the boss say to keep you in the nest? Some of these comments are common.
."I'm really shocked. I thought you were as happy with us as we are with you. Let's discuss it before you make your final decision."
."Aw, gee, I've been meaning to tell you about the great plans we have for you, but it's been confidential until now."
."The V.P. has you in mind for some exciting and expanding responsibilities."
."Your raise was schedule to go into effect next quarter, but we'll make it effective immediately."
."You're going to work for whom?"

Let's face it. When someone quits, it's a direct reflection on the boss.
Unless you're really incompetent or a destructive thorn in his side, the
boss might look bad by "allowing" you to go. His gut reaction is to do what
has to be done to keep you from leaving until he's ready. That's human nature.
Unfortunately, it's also human nature to want to stay unless your work life
is abject misery. Career changes, like all ventures into the unknown, are
tough. That's why bosses know they can usually keep you around by pressing
the right buttons.

Before you succumb to a tempting counteroffer, consider these universal truths:
Any situation in which an employee is forced to get an outside offer before
the present employer will suggest a raise, promotion or better working
conditions, is suspect.
No matter what the company says when making its counteroffer, you will
always be considered a fidelity risk. Having once demonstrated your lack of
loyalty (for whatever reason), you will lose your status as a "team player"
and your place in the inner circle.
Counteroffers are usually nothing more than stall devices to give your
employer time to replace you.
Your reasons for wanting to leave still exist. Conditions are just made a
bit more tolerable in the short term because of the raise, promotion or
promises made to keep you.
Counteroffers are only made in response to a threat to quit. Will you have
to solicit an offer and threaten to quit every time you deserve better
working conditions?

Decent and well-managed companies don't make counteroffers? EVER! Their
policies are fair and equitable. They will not be subjected to "counteroffer
coercion" or what they perceive as blackmail.
If the urge to accept a counteroffer hits you, keep on cleaning out your
desk as you count your blessings.