The Trap Door

Trap doors are dangerous! You never know where you will end up. Counter offers are the job market's version of trap doors and could lead you into some messy situations. Many people will tell you that all veteran recruiters, like myself, will guide you away from counter offers simply to make a commission off your new placement. Not true! I have witnessed too many unhappy endings based on these last minute attempts to retain an employee.

Think about it for a moment. you have been a highly regarded member of your organization for a number years, received a lot of praise, and perhaps a few awards. What you have not received are raises and promotions commensurate with your performance. Someone else comes along and offers you a 12% increase, a higher level position, more vacation time, and a decent environment. When you inform your current employer of this, they get upset and beg you to stay. They offer you a promotion, 14% raise, and agree to add a week's vacation. Wow! What a great deal! Who could refuse this? YOU CAN REFUSE IT AND SHOULD REFUSE IT!

I used to work for a firm that behaved exactly like this. As soon as the president thought you were leaving, she rolled out the red carpet. All went well for a month or so then she would add someone new to the team and, a few months later, the recipient of the counter offer was gone! I hear similar stories from candidates all the time. I recently placed someone with a firm doing scientific research. He called me two days ahead of the start date to tell me his employer made a counter offer he could not refuse. I tried to rationalize with him and explained that it made no sense that he, all of a sudden, became that much more valuable and irreplaceable. He did not listen and stayed put. Six months later, he sent me his resume after being fired because the employer did not feel his job justified what he was being paid.

Think long and hard before you trap yourself with a counter offer!!

P.S. Happy Valentines Day!