Be Prepared for a Counter Offer When Giving Your Notice

Are you prepared to receive a counter offer?

Step 1: You make the decision to leave your current employer and start looking for a new job.

Step 2: You’re taking calls in the parking lot and sneaking out to complete the rigorous interview process.

Step 3: You get an offer. Celebrate! Great! Congratulations!

Step 4: You need to give a proper notice at your current employer.

Resigning isn’t easy, you will most likely catch your boss/employer off guard. A counter offer might be presented at this time. The counter is presented so that you don’t leave. However, you may also be asked to leave immediately and there will not be a counter offer discussed.

Don’t be caught off guard.

When giving notice, the last thing on your mind will be “what if my company makes me a counter offer?”  As you are interviewing, most of your time and attention is solely focused on your interviewing and the potential new opportunities, and it should be.  

Employers know that it’s tough to find good people, and once they have them, they definitely don’t want to lose them. This is where the counter offer comes into play. Be prepared to receive a counter offer, and know how to handle and respond to it. Here are some questions to answer before you give your face-to-face notice.

  • Why did you start this process?
  • Where was this compensation before?
  • Are you getting special treatment now?
  • What would it take to get you to stay?
  • Would you stay?
  • What about the new offer, have you negotiated or are you prepared to negotiate with this new information from your current employer?

It’s easy to start thinking about the new opportunity and the challenges ahead, the change in scenery and in turn get nostalgic about the time you’ve spent bringing value to your current role. Don’t get too sentimental, remember when you were taking calls in your car to get away from this place?

Step 5: Resign with respect and be prepared for a counter offer.

Don’t let a counter offer cloud your judgment.

Bottom line, when you receive a counter offer from your current employer upon giving your notice be prepared. Just like you prepare for interviews, you should equally prepare to give your notice, and this preparation includes knowing what you would do if presented more money, a better title, fewer hours, more vacation, less travel – you get it. So, what would it take?


Rich Drennen, Senior Technical Recruiter at Talution Group brings more than 14 years in the industry to the Objective Paradigm team. Rich has immersed himself in the Chicagoland Tech Recruiting landscape, having supported clients that range from private startups to Fortune 500 global companies. Connect with Rich on Twitter @Talution_Rich

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