Should I accept a counter offer?

Imagine this scenario

You are dissatisfied at work and you see an advertisement for a position that very much interests you and or you were approached by a recruiter in relation to a particular vacancy.You decide to go through the application and interview/informal chat and you receive a verbal offer.  You’re pleased and excited as not only does the offer contain a higher salary, but also the opportunity to work with a new team, new clients and with a well-respected firm.

You tell your family – they’re thrilled. It’s congratulations all around, and a few days later the written offer arrives. Now the situation becomes real and serious and you’ll you have to take some careful steps.

Your firm’s dilemma

Once you have told your surprised partners at your current firm of your intentions to leave, it is quite likely the partners will discuss making you a counter-offer. After all, there are serious implications to your leaving. You may be going to a direct competitor and there’s the inconvenience, disruption and cost of replacing you. Imagine, however, they do decide to counter-offer with a matching or better salary, a position advancement, and perhaps even a partnership.

Your dilemma

Now you are in a quandary. What should you do? Accept the counter-offer or leave to work with the new firm?

Your decision

Your decision should lean towards leaving your present firm.

The rationale here is that money or status are not the only reasons for wanting to make a move. Situations such as limited career opportunities, poor relationships with colleagues or lack of recognition or appreciation can also cause you to look elsewhere. If you are indeed happy with all of these factors, you should not have been attending an interview or informal chat in the first place. Instead, you should have been raising your concerns responsibly with the partners at your firm.

A second part of this rationale is to bear in mind once you have informed your firm, any decision to accept the counter-offer and stay on may result in relief on their part but turn out only to be a marginal or temporary solution for you.  As a result, a polite, clean break is likely the best action.