You’ve been offered a new job, but the employer has made you an offer that is better than what you are currently making. They want to know if they can get your commitment before they make any other offers. The employer counter-offer dilemma is one that many people face when considering their next career move. Some people will take it because they need the money more than anything else, while others will decline because it’s not worth trading in their proverbial “good” for “better.” But how do you decide which option is best?
The answer may be different for everyone, but there are 3 simple steps that should guide your decision:
Ask yourself why this employer wants to know right now whether or not you’ll stay.
What is it that they’re trying to accomplish? Are there certain time constraints they’re working under, such as a funding deadline for your department or project? Or maybe the employer has some internal personnel issues and wants to make sure you’ll be available if he/she needs you. If you know what’s motivating their need for immediate feedback, then perhaps this can help guide your decision-making process: do not take the counteroffer (if the employer doesn’t really need them), consider taking it (if timing factors into consideration).
This step will most likely require research on your end; find out who else is in charge of making hiring decisions at the company where you’re interviewing. They may have different criteria than whomever initially offered you the job.
If there’s no one else who can make a decision, then consider how vital this employer is to your career (the company may be in its dying days; it might go out of business). If that happens, do not take their offer and look for other jobs- even if they counteroffer again. Employers like to keep good employees when possible but this should not come at any price! You need to value yourself too or you’ll end up with an employer who has taken advantage of you all along.
The employer made an initial offer because he/she was interested in hiring you; let them know that you’re flattered by their proposal and would like time to think about it before making your final decision.
In conclusion, employer counter offer are a great opportunity to continue negotiations. But before you accept it, think about your current employer’s reputation in the market, what they have offered you, and their future plans for being successful- then take into consideration how this will affect your life too!
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