Exploring the complexities of job counter offers reveals why they might not be the golden opportunity they appear to be. You’ve just been counter offered – very flattering. Two companies battling it out in a bidding war for you and in today’s climate, you’d be mad not to consider it right? Well, I wouldn’t be so sure – four out of five employees who accept job counter offers are gone within a year!
So why are the odds stacked so heavily against you?
Your current employer is looking after themselves
As a general rule of thumb, the counter offer is a temporary means to protect the business. Replacing an employee is costly and time consuming. Why do you think HR teams strategise so heavily around retention, talent pipelining and succession plans? What’s more, your resignation looks bad on your manager.
The risk factor
In the eyes of the business, you are now a high risk employee – you’ve threatened to quit once and there will undoubtedly be concerns that you will again. More importantly, that ‘disloyalty’ you’ve shown the business will be hard to shrug off and they are likely to be keeping an eye on the market for your replacement.
Your reasons for leaving won’t change
Generally speaking, most counter offers will come in the form of an uplift in salary, but is that enough? Your fundamental reasons for wanting to leave the business remain – you’re under valued, there isn’t any scope for progression or the senior leadership team stifles your creativity to make change. Issues like this can’t be resolved with a quick cash injection so expect to be disappointed.
Your employer has been backed into a corner
“we really respect you as a valued member of the team”… “we don’t want to lose you” … “we’ll match whatever the other business is offering you”. Great, your managers really do care – or, rather, it’s taken a resignation for them to show their appreciation for all of your hard work and loyalty over the years…
Good companies don’t make counter offers
Good companies rarely make counter offers. They believe that they treat their employees fairly and are likely to support you in your future endeavours.
So when it comes to a counter offer, take a moment to wade through the flattery and take a reality check. It takes more than a few quid to enrich your job satisfaction, and, if your only motivation for leaving is money…then you really shouldn’t be in the market for a new job!
Summary
The article emphasizes the pitfalls of accepting job counter offers, highlighting that the majority of employees who accept such offers leave within a year. It argues that counter offers are often a temporary solution for the employer to avoid the costs and time involved in hiring a new employee.
Additionally, accepting a counter offer can label you as a high-risk employee and does not address the underlying reasons for wanting to leave, such as lack of progression or undervaluation. The piece concludes by suggesting that good companies rarely make counter offers, implying that acceptance of such offers might not lead to long-term job satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main reasons employees regret accepting job counter offers?
Employees often regret accepting job counter offers because the fundamental reasons for wanting to leave, such as lack of career progression, feeling undervalued, or a stifling work environment, remain unaddressed. A salary increase or other short-term benefits cannot resolve these core issues, leading to continued dissatisfaction.
How do job counter offers impact an employee’s standing within a company?
Accepting a job counter offer can negatively impact an employee’s standing within a company. It labels the employee as a high-risk individual who might leave again, potentially leading to trust issues. Employers may view such employees with skepticism, impacting their chances of future progression and possibly leading to them being first in line for redundancy or not considered for key projects.
Why do good companies rarely make job counter offers?
Good companies seldom make job counter offers because they believe in treating their employees fairly from the outset. They focus on providing a supportive and progressive work environment, addressing concerns proactively rather than reactively. Such companies are likely to respect an employee’s decision to move on, supporting them in their future endeavours rather than attempting to retain them through counter offers.
Benefits of Partnering with an HR Recruitment Specialist: A Candidate’s Perspective
Access to a Vast Network of Opportunities
As a candidate, partnering with a specialist HR recruitment agency opens up a world of opportunities. These agencies have a broad network of connections across various organisations, which means they can offer you access to a wide array of HR roles that might not be publicly advertised. This network can significantly increase your chances of finding a role that matches your expertise and career aspirations.
Industry-Specific Guidance and Support
Specialist HR recruitment agencies possess in-depth knowledge and expertise in the HR sector. This means they can provide invaluable guidance and support tailored to your specific career goals. They understand the nuances of different HR roles and can offer insights into what different organisations are looking for, helping you position yourself as the ideal candidate.
Streamlined Job Search Process
Working with a recruitment specialist streamlines your job search process. They handle the time-consuming aspects such as identifying suitable positions, making initial enquiries, and setting up interviews. This allows you to focus on preparing for interviews and other important aspects of your job search, saving you valuable time and energy.
Personalised Career Advice
Recruitment agencies offer personalised career advice, helping you to craft a compelling CV and cover letter, and prepare effectively for interviews. They can provide feedback and coaching based on their extensive experience with HR hiring processes, increasing your chances of success.
Confidentiality and Professionalism
When exploring new career opportunities, confidentiality is often key. HR recruitment specialists ensure that your job search remains confidential, protecting your current employment status while you explore new prospects. They maintain high standards of professionalism, which is particularly important for senior-level roles.
Faster Job Placement
Agencies often expedite the job placement process. Their goal is to match you with the right role swiftly and efficiently, which means you could secure a new position faster than if you were searching on your own. Their proactive approach can open doors more quickly, giving you an edge in the competitive job market.
Access to High-Quality Roles
Specialist recruiters focus on the quality of job matches. They aim to place candidates in roles that not only fit their skills and experience but also align with their career growth and personal values. This approach leads to more satisfying and fulfilling career moves.
Ongoing Career Support
Many agencies offer ongoing support even after you’ve secured a new role. This can include career advice, market insights, and networking opportunities, helping you continue your professional development and stay ahead in your HR career.
Partnering with PEEQ: A Unique Advantage
PEEQ offers distinct benefits with a high fill rate, exclusive partnerships, and access to experienced freelance HR recruiters. Our approach ensures a focused and committed job search process, increasing your chances of securing a desirable HR role. Additionally, own unique services like psychometric insight reports and post-hire executive coaching set you up for long-term success in your new role. With PEEQ, you gain the advantage of an informed, strategic approach to your HR career advancement.
Benefits of Partnering with an HR Recruitment Specialist: An Employers Perspective
Access to a Vast Network of Professionals
A specialist HR recruitment agency has an extensive network of professionals in the human resources field. This network allows them to identify top talent with the right expertise, qualifications, and experience for high-level positions within your organisation.
Industry-Specific Knowledge and Expertise
HR recruitment agencies specialising in your industry have a deep understanding of the specific requirements and challenges of top-level HR roles. This expertise enables them to identify candidates with the ideal skill set and experience to excel in these positions.
Streamlined Recruitment Process
Working with a specialist HR recruitment agency can save your organisation time and resources by streamlining the entire recruitment process. The agency takes care of tasks such as job posting, candidate sourcing, screening, and initial interviews, allowing your HR team to focus on other essential duties.
Tailored Recruitment Strategies
A specialist HR recruitment agency develops customised recruitment strategies that align with your organisation’s needs and goals. They take into account factors such as your company culture, values, and objectives to ensure that the candidates they present are an ideal fit for your organisation.
Confidentiality and Discretion
Top-level HR roles often require a high degree of confidentiality and discretion during the recruitment process. A specialist HR recruitment agency is experienced in handling such sensitive information and can ensure that the process is conducted with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.
Reduced Time-to-Hire
Partnering with a specialist HR recruitment consultant or agency can significantly reduce the time it takes to fill top-level HR positions. By leveraging their network, industry expertise, and recruitment strategies, they can quickly identify, screen, and present the best candidates for your organisation.
Enhanced Quality of Hire
A specialist HR recruiter’s primary goal is to identify the highest quality candidates for your organisation. Their expertise and tailored approach ensure that the candidates they present meet the specific requirements of top-level HR roles, leading to a better overall quality of hire.
Long-Term Partnership and Support
Establishing a long-term partnership with a specialist HR recruitment agency can be beneficial for your organisation’s ongoing talent acquisition needs. The agency can provide valuable insights, support, and assistance for future recruitment efforts, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to attracting and retaining top HR talent.
Why Choose PEEQ?
The average fill rate amongst HR Recruitment Agencies is 46%, but at PEEQ our average fill rate sits above 90%, So you are twice as likely to make a hire if you choose PEEQ.
This is due to two reasons:
Firstly, we only partner with our clients on an exclusive basis, so we ‘own the responsibility’
Secondly, we don’t employ recruiters. Instead, we work with trusted and proven freelance HR recruiters, to hire for our clients.
We give them the tools and infrastructure to be successful, and the rest is down to their magic and experience. Our Associates are not employed by us and only get paid for making a successful hire.
This makes them incredibly tenacious and committed to finding the best talent, which is why our fill rate sits above 90%, compared to the industry average of 46%.
More reasons to work with PEEQ
Psychometric insight reports
Obtain a unique insight into your candidates’ Cultural Fit, Strengths, Decision Making and Resilience through our accredited assessments.
Post-hire executive coaching
Set your hire up for success with a tailored coaching programme that helps them achieve their full potential personally and professionally.
Up to 6 Month Placement Guarantees
Confidently make your hire under our 2, 3 or 6 Month Placement Guarantee; safe in the knowledge that we’ll offer you a free replacement if they leave within our pre-agreed time period.
BeTalent Accredited Approach
We are proud to offer the BeTalent Accredited approach that enables us to deliver scientific candidate assessment, in accordance with the British Psychological Society standards.
This solution is for you if you want:
- An objective way to determine who is the best fit for your role
- A comprehensive understanding into your new hire before they start
- Peace of mind that you’ve made the right hiring decision.
Get in Touch with PEEQ HR Recruitment Agency
We are here to help you. If you have any questions, queries or would like to discuss a potential hire, a job application, or require clarification on anything detailed on our website, then we would love to hear from you.
Please feel free to call, email or complete the form provided and we will assist you.
