When 'I Quit!' Makes Sense

By Matthew Bourdeau

Counter offers can be flattering, but they come with many drawbacks. Here are five reasons the smartest response to a counteroffer is “No, thanks.”

1.      Money isn’t everything – Remind yourself why you considered a move in the first place. Higher compensation won’t erase every problem.

2.      You’ve tipped your hand – Your threatened departure alerted your employer that you have an eye on the door.

3.      Secrets get out – Even if you’ve been careful to keep the situation between you and your boss, chances are your coworkers will hear about the details of the counteroffer.

4.      Name decay – The damage to your reputation won’t be limited to your current coworkers.  Anyone at the other company will associate your name with a broken promise and wasted time.

5.      The boomerang effect – Counter offers often end up magnifying the shortcomings of your current job – the exact opposite of the desired effect.

 “Rejecting a counter offer is a good career move – both in the short and long term,'' said Matthew Bourdeau, Regional Vice President for Robert Half Technology in Tampa.

"When people accept a counter offer after submitting their resignation it does not erase the fact that their manager will question their loyalty.”