Let’s paint the picture that you have nailed that interview. The company in question has been sold on you. They make you that offer that you wanted. It ticks all the boxes, well done.
Fast forward and you have just handed in your resignation, and low and behold they offer you more money to stay! Should you accept the money?

It’s important to first understand why companies make counter offers.
The undelaying reason is that it is a 100% commercial decision. It will cost them less to give you a few more thousand than it will to advertise, recruit, train and manage the drop in productivity. It’s very rarely about you or your welfare or career.

If the job is a job and it just provides you with money that you need and want, then take the counteroffer. If you are a career person or take a longer view of working life then do consider the following:

Reasons not to take a counter offer

1. What kind of company are they if you have to threaten to leave before they pay you what you are worth?
2. Where is the money coming from to pay you the counteroffer? Most companies work to strict budgets when it comes to salaries, it’s probably your next five years salary increases…
3. Your loyalty is in question now; they are likely to start looking for your replacement on a lower salary.
4. When promotion comes around employers remember key things.
5. If tough times come along any cut downs could well be selected on loyalty first.
6. The reasons that you want to move will almost certainly reappear
7. 70% of people who resign then retract resignation leave anyway within six months.
8. People who accept counter offers often feel bought as opposed to rewarded for their work.
9. Once word gets out about a counter offer acceptance what will your co-workers think?

These are just some of the reasons why counter offers don’t work. We see counter offers all the time, and in the vast majority of cases people who accept those counter offers are back looking at new opportunities within six months. The money only covers up the reasons why you are looking at new jobs, they will reappear.