You were looking and a good situation presented itself. Or maybe you were pursuing a carefully mapped career track, and you were thrown an impossible-to-not-consider offer. It’s ego, career, mind and wallet-expanding to go with the new. But what if you like or really love your current job? Can you have it all?
You may be able to negotiate a better situation at your present job, but you’re entering a tricky communications arena – and one where time is tight, and the stakes are high. Experts caution against using an offer as a lever unless you are fully prepared to deal with the possibility of a handshake and a we-wish-you-the-best speech from your current employer.
In an article, The Grass May Not Be Greener, in the WSJ, experts suggest highlighting your contributions to your boss, and not asking for perks that will make your co-workers resentful – take the raise if it’s offered and what you want, but think twice about asking for Wednesday afternoons off for golf. The article lists four specific actions to take, and having been there I think they offer good advice:
- State clearly what your employer can do to keep you -- money, title, responsibilities etc.
- State your value to the company and how you will be an asset in the future.
- If you get a counteroffer, be sure you don’t accept before making sure it addresses the issues that made you consider leaving in the first place.
- If you accept a counteroffer, be aware that your boss may feel you stuck him up and he had no recourse, and your co-workers may resent you.
I once accepted a counteroffer that I believe was made because I was doing a good job, we were up to our ears in work, and getting a new person up to speed would have crippled our division at a crucial time. I didn’t say a peep to my co-workers, and most of them probably never realized I was almost out the door. But my boss never forgot, and once our big crunch was over, I’m convinced he spent his nights, weekends and commute time thinking of ways to show me he was the big dog and I wasn’t.
Great article - ultimately, I think we're all responsible to set goals for ourselves (career goals). If you keep your eye on the BIG picture, it becomes easier to make the decision to stay at a company or move to something else. This also prevents you from leaving for a dollar more an hour...
Malcolm Munro
www.professormal.com
Posted by: Malcolm Munro | April 12, 2006 4:14 PM | Permalink to Comment