Counter-Offer Dilemma

Should You Accept a Counteroffer? Why Sticking with Your Decision Is Often the Right Move

Deciding to leave a job is rarely easy. It’s an emotional process that often triggers fear, doubt, and anxiety—especially when it comes time to submit your resignation. You may find yourself second-guessing your choice, and your current employer may do everything in their power to convince you to stay.

Once you tender your resignation, there’s a 37.94% chance you’ll receive a counteroffer—and an 83% chance you’ll be tempted to accept it. But before you reconsider, it’s important to understand what’s truly behind a counteroffer and whether it serves your long-term goals.

Understanding the Counteroffer

A counteroffer is your employer’s attempt to retain you by offering better pay, a new title, or promises of future growth. In today’s competitive labour market, replacing a valued employee is costly and time-consuming—making counteroffers more common than ever.

However, a counteroffer is usually a reaction to inconvenience, not recognition of your worth. It’s a short-term solution for your employer—not necessarily a long-term win for you.

The Emotional Landscape: Reactions to Your Resignation

Your Boss’s Response

Your resignation can trigger a whirlwind of thoughts and concerns for your supervisor:

• “What did I miss?”
• “This is terrible timing.”
• “I’ll never find someone with the same skills.”
• “What if others follow this lead and quit too?”

 
Ultimately, your departure reflects on your boss’s leadership. Their instinct will be to keep you—at least long enough to ease the transition. That’s human nature, not necessarily a strategic move with your best interests in mind.

Reactions from Mentors and Co-workers

Expect advice from every corner—some helpful, some not. While friends, family, and colleagues mean well, not all opinions are objective. You may even face pressure or guilt tactics aimed at convincing you to stay.

Always weigh external advice against the careful reflection you’ve already done. You made your decision for a reason. Your career goals are yours to honour.

What a Counteroffer Really Means

Counteroffers often include:

• Promises of promotions
• Sudden raises
• Flattering reassurances
• Emotional appeals

 
Statements like “You’re too valuable to lose,” or “We had great plans for you,” are common. So are digs at your new employer or guilt-laden comments like “You can’t abandon the team now.”

While tempting, remember: if you were truly valued at that level, why did it take your resignation for the recognition to appear?

Why You Wanted to Leave in the First Place

Most people don’t quit for money. In fact, 80–90% of resignations are due to non-monetary factors, including:

• No opportunity for growth
• Skills underutilized
• Poor workplace culture
• Work-life imbalance
• Toxic management
• Burnout or stress
• Better alignment elsewhere

 
A raise or new title doesn’t erase these issues—it simply masks them, temporarily.

Key Considerations Before Accepting a Counteroffer

• Trust and loyalty are already impacted. You’ve signalled dissatisfaction.
• Your original reasons for leaving still exist.
• Most employees who accept a counteroffer leave within 41 months.
• You may be labelled a ‘flight risk’ internally.
• Team dynamics could shift. Co-workers may see you differently.
• Raises or perks given to retain you may come at someone else’s expense—or your own future salary growth.
• Professional reputation matters. Backing out on a new employer can damage your integrity and future opportunities.

 
Well-run, forward-thinking companies rarely make counteroffers—they focus on equitable practices, not reactive measures.

Staying Firm in Your Decision

Once you’ve made the choice to move on, it’s important to handle your resignation with professionalism and grace.

Resigning the Right Way

• Provide two weeks’ notice, ideally during a face-to-face conversation.
• Prepare a brief, clear resignation letter stating your final day.
• Avoid discussing your new employer, compensation, or job details.
• Keep the tone appreciative but firm:

 
“I’ve accepted a new position and will begin with them in two weeks. I’d like to ensure a smooth transition and have outlined a plan to help during this time.”

Have an agenda ready for your meeting and focus on the transition—not debating your decision.

For a detailed step-by-step guide on how to approach this process with tact and professionalism, be sure to read our related blog post:
How to Resign in a Professional Manner

After the Resignation

• Inform your recruiter and close family that your notice has been submitted.
• Send your resignation letter to HR and your supervisor’s manager.
• Start organizing your workspace: take home personal items, clean your devices, and ensure you leave with only documents you’re entitled to.
• Wrap up key projects and document handoffs for your team.
• Exit with dignity: thank colleagues, keep conversations positive, and leave doors open for future opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Changing jobs is one of the most significant career moves you can make—and often one of the most rewarding. The initial discomfort is temporary, but the benefits of sticking to your decision can shape your professional growth for years to come.

We recently came across this quote on LinkedIn, which sums it up perfectly:

“Bad managers keep people trapped in dead-end jobs. Good managers create opportunities for people to grow and advance. Great managers encourage people to pursue growth—even if it means leaving for another organization.”