I've heard it's a bad thing to do at any company and at any level. If you get an offer from another company and you tell your boss you're leaving, then your current boss comes back with a counter offer...do you take it. What would make you change your mind either way?

A friend said he had a friend who took a counter offer and 6 months later they canned the guy. So is it once you've put in your notice do you have to walk?

I have to decide on mine before tomorrow afternoon.

8/14/2006 7:08:59 PM

I took a counter offer a yr. and a half ago to stay at my current company and they've given me more good raises since then to continue to keep me. It just depends on how integral you are and how much they can't afford to lose you.

I didn't take the other job offer b/c it moved me to a much more dispensable position than the one I'm currently in. Not to mention it was boring...

8/14/2006 9:44:27 PM

It all depends on the politics and specific situation.

Two scenarios:

My last scenario... I asked for a raise and job change within the company and was promised a hefty bonus with a salary change later and a change in job function... 2 months go by and nothing until I was offered slightly more than a 30% salary increase by a second company and regardless if the first company would have matched, they were not willing to work on my actual job position/description, etc, etc... so I was going to leave anyway.

A good buddy of mine quit one job for what he thought to be a better career growth opportunity... more responsibilities, etc... very little salary change... he wanted the better job and not to be bored at work. A couple months into the job he realized they were pretty much pulling a bait/switch on him and his previous company offered him a very nice job position and salary increase... he said he has never been happier working there and everyone is glad to have him back.

8/15/2006 1:47:34 PM

I had included in my letter of resignation that I had already accepted a position elsewhere so I would not have to worry about that scenario. What % increase did they offer? If you have no way of moving up and/or hate what you are doing then I would pass.

8/15/2006 2:06:41 PM

New company offered 15% plus 12-15% yearly bonus. Current company countered about 12% and they seem to forget what a bonus is. I'm 99% sure I'll take the new job.

8/15/2006 8:13:12 PM

If you were worth the extra cash to your old company today, why were you not worth that yesterday? Take the new job

8/15/2006 9:39:55 PM

new one sounds like a better deal for you....

8/16/2006 1:54:42 PM

Most companies that are offering a counter offer aren't looking to get rid of you in a few months, they have the perfect opportunity to get rid of you in front of them.

That being said, you were looking for a job in the first place, and unless the only reason was money, then it would probably be best just to move on. A little more $$ will make you happy for a few months, but eventually, the same old problems will surface.

8/16/2006 4:07:34 PM

^ Actually I wasn't looking. It fell in my lap and it sounds like a great opportunity. I'm giving them a 4 week notice. My boss come down and countered 15% then the VP called me today but said they can't go much higher. I told him it wasn't all about the money but mostly opportunity. They told me they'd take me back if I don't like where I'm going. VP said he's going to come talk to me in about a week. That's how it's played out so far.

8/16/2006 6:10:10 PM

nice

8/20/2006 3:37:45 AM

What's the harm in taking the counter offer to the new job. Perhaps they'll one up that and then you're set. I mean, isn't that the part of the negotiation process anyways.

Perhaps if you phrase it right? I dunno. Never been in that situation.

8/20/2006 5:38:56 PM

Bout to have to go through the same thing myself. Another job offer fell into my lap, and I gotta decide to:

A)Take new job
B)Ask current boss for counter, and if not then leave for new job
C)Stay at current job and possibly let boss know that others are after me.

The counteroffer is the trickiest part. Timing that and approaching it right are the biggest challenge I can see.

8/21/2006 3:16:37 PM

Quote :

"What's the harm in taking the counter offer to the new job."

Quote :

"I told him it wasn't all about the money but mostly opportunity."

Unless the counter also included opportunities or a position change - no real reason to accept it... even though he wasn't jobhunting/upset to begin with really.

For slackerb's situation I would say the course of action now depends on how large of a time window is available for accepting the new offer. The longer the window the easier it is to determine all of your possibilities with your current employer. More than anything though I would suggest sitting down and making an old-school list of pros/cons of your current job and decide whether or not you are happy with your pay, role, future there... then compare that with the new offer.

Timing is always the tricky part... but if you are pressed for time, just be candid and schedule a meeting with your boss ASAP.

[Edited on August 21, 2006 at 4:18 PM. Reason : edit]

8/21/2006 4:17:33 PM

i know a guy who took the counter offer then was fired 3 months later.

8/21/2006 6:46:23 PM

^yep. most of the time they want to keep you while they look for your replacement.

8/21/2006 9:26:49 PM

I've been at my current job for 2 years, and the new job is pretty much a "door is always open" type thing.

They're sending me numbers this week and I'm heading over to fill out an application just in case.

Still dunno what to do bout counter offering at my current job, or which I'm gonna stick with.

8/23/2006 4:07:12 PM