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5 Feb 2025

Christian Poulsen

Too little, too late. Why accepting that counter offer is a bad idea

 menska insights 

A counteroffer might seem like appreciation, but it’s usually a short-term fix for your employer, not a long-term win for your career.

When you decide to leave your job, receiving a counteroffer might feel like a sign of appreciation. Your employer suddenly wants to give you more money or a better title. It can be tempting to stay. But as a recruiter who has seen this scenario play out many times, I can tell you that accepting a counteroffer is rarely the right choice for your long-term career.


Here’s why.


It’s not really about you. When your employer makes a counteroffer, it’s not because they’ve had a sudden change of heart and realised your true worth. It’s a reaction to your resignation. Hiring and training a replacement is costly and time-consuming. In most cases, the counteroffer is simply a short-term solution for them, not a long-term commitment to you.


Trust is broken. Once you have handed in your notice, your employer knows you were ready to leave. That knowledge changes the dynamic. No matter how much they claim to want you to stay, you may now be seen as disloyal or unreliable. This can limit your future growth within the company. Promotions, pay rises and key projects may start going to someone they see as a safer bet.


It’s a temporary fix. If money was the only issue, you would have asked for a pay rise before handing in your notice. A counteroffer might provide short-term satisfaction, but it won’t erase the deeper reasons you wanted to leave in the first place. Frustrations with company culture, lack of progression, or poor management won’t disappear just because you’re earning more.


It’s often a delay tactic. Many employees who accept counteroffers find themselves out of a job within months. Employers will take the time they’ve bought to quietly find your replacement on their own terms. Now, instead of leaving on your own schedule, you could find yourself pushed out unexpectedly.


The reality is simple. If your employer truly valued you, they would have offered better pay, a promotion or career development opportunities long before you handed in your notice. Don’t let last-minute incentives cloud your judgement. Trust your instincts, stick to your decision and move forward towards a role where you’re genuinely valued.

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Email: christian.poulsen@menska.co.uk

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