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3 Reasons to Rethink Taking that Counteroffer

There’s a constant battle for top MSL talent. So when employers learn a top performer is leaving, their quick fix is whipping up a counteroffer. But should you really accept? It might seem convenient to accept a higher salary and stay. But before you do, check out our 3 Reasons to Rethink Taking that Counteroffer.

1. Money can only do so much to fix your current job

A pay raise is clearly the most common type of counteroffer. It’s quick and it’s usually the most appealing. But keep in mind the reason you wanted to start job hunting in the first place. Of the MSL job seekers we speak with daily, only a fraction begin their hunt because they feel underpaid. Generally, the main factors revolve around more intangible job satisfaction factors. Travel, manager relationship, and lack of scientific stimulation are good examples. You could resign for one of these reasons and get an enticing $10,000 raise counteroffer. Everything seems great now, right? While that monetary raise might be nice, it will still only act as a Band-Aid for the true problems with your current job. It will only be a matter of time before the other problems surface again and remind you while you wanted out.

2. Concessions made for you may create resentment

Counteroffers can come in many forms, not just in the form of a monetary raise. This is more of a comment on the non-monetary counteroffer like a better territory or, that you’re next up for a promotion. Or, in another sector of medical affairs, medical directors may be allowed to work remotely rather than in-house. As nice as these concessions may seem, they could lead to resentment from management or your counterparts. Once you get a little special treatment, everyone may begin asking for it and before you know it, your teammates are upset with you and you may start to think to accept your counteroffer was a bad idea. Or it may seem great that you’re being allowed to work an in-house role remotely now until a new member of management comes in and doesn’t like the arrangement that previous management gave you.

3. Statistics show you’ll just leave soon anyway

According to the National Employment Association, 80% of people that accept counteroffers end up leaving their company anyway within the next 6 months. Talk about a job hunt rollercoaster! This is evidence that it generally doesn’t take people very long to realize that the money didn’t make the grass greener in their current role.

Have YOU had experience with accepting a counteroffer?

 

Author: Lawrence Beck, CPC

Lawrence joined SEMbio in 2011 and is a team leader in recruiting and business development. He attended Texas Tech University on a path that led him to obtain his Master’s degree in Sports Management which provides Lawrence a unique perspective as a recruiter.
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