10 Reasons Why You Should Never Accept a Counteroffer

For the IT employee, there are no reasons to accept them. Ever! Once you get a counteroffer to stay, you can bank on the fact that your employer is already undertaking the search for your replacement. After all, they know your loyalty is gone.

So if, as an IT professional, you do receive a counteroffer, what is going on in the head of the employer? Here are a few motivating factors they might be responding to:

"This is a bad time for this to be happening. This person has in-depth knowledge of our system, and replacing the person will set us back on deadlines."

"This could ruin our budget!"

"This is one of our best people. Others may leave too."

"If I keep losing people, the company will fire me!"

"How do I shift the workload? A consultant could ruin my budget."

"Maybe I can keep him/her until I find a replacement."

Consider some typical comments from employers on the issue. Your current employer knows all the right "Hot Buttons" to push.

"Your manager has some exciting plans for you. We were waiting for the right time to initiate this."
"We can give you a review earlier than you expect. Why wait until next quarter? You deserve the raise now!"
"Let's meet later with your manager before you make a final decision. You need all the facts and plans before you go ahead with a firm you don't even know."
"You've been with us for years. You know what we're about. What do you know about that firm?"
"Why would you leave us in this bad shape? I thought you liked it here?"

There are very few instances when an accepted counteroffer will work to your benefit. Remember, by resigning, you have broken your commitment to your employer. And statistics show that 85% of those who take counteroffers are no longer at their firm one year later, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

There are at least 10 reasons not to accept a counteroffer

1. You have made your employer aware of your dissatisfaction. From this day on, your loyalty will be in question.
2. When promotions are considered, your employer will take your lack of loyalty into account.
3. Once the word gets out, your relationship with your co-workers will never be the same.
4. There could be a strong impact later on your sense of pride. You could feel like you've been bought.
5. When times get tough, your employer will begin the cutbacks with you.
6. Your company is likely to begin looking - immediately - for your replacement.
7. Statistics show that 85% of those who accept a counteroffer end up leaving - voluntarily or involuntarily - within one year.
8. You will probably wonder where the extra money is suddenly coming from. Is it just an advance on a raise you would have got anyway?
9. A counteroffer raises doubts about the type of company you work for. Why should you have to threaten to resign before they give you what you're worth?
10. The same circumstances that caused you to consider leaving will likely recur in the future.