How To Decline a Counteroffer

You’ve completed the steps necessary to find a new job, including polishing your resume, doing well in the interview, receiving an offer for a fantastic position, and notifying your employer that you’re quitting. The difficult part should be over once you’ve submitted your resignation, right? However, your employer follows up with a counter-offer intended to entice you to stay Employers frequently use this strategy; up to 50% of candidates who resign get a counter-offer. So what should you do?.

Many would advise you to decline the counter-offer. The statistics show that up to 80% of people who accept counteroffers ultimately leave their current employer within 6 months, and 90% do so within a year. However, no matter how compelling the offer may be, you have to consider what’s best for you in the long run when making decisions.

A counter-offer is a bid made in retaliation for a previous one. An employer’s attempt to prevent a high-performing employee from leaving in a recruitment situation is typically made after the employee has given their notice. A counter-offer typically makes a promise of a pay raise or promotion in an effort to persuade you to rethink your resignation.

1. Select the medium that makes you most comfortable. …
2. Express your gratitude. …
3. State your rejection clearly. …
4. Give a short, yet honest reason for declining the job. …
5. Provide a referral. …
6. Express your willingness to keep in touch.

How to negotiate a counteroffer

There may be advantages to continuing to negotiate if you receive a counteroffer that you’d like to accept. Here are a few steps to negotiate a counteroffer:

1. Know your value

Make a convincing argument based on facts when negotiating your counteroffer. Say, “I appreciate the counteroffer, but given my drive and performance, I believe my work is worth something in the $60,000 range.” if the counteroffer involves an insufficient pay raise. You can then briefly list your top accomplishments that, in your opinion, show off your value. Additionally, you could offer trustworthy wage information from sources like the U S. If the pay offered by the company is less than the regional average for the job you have, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Take your time

Ask for a couple of days to review the counteroffer. Clear your mind and look at the counteroffer objectively. Giving yourself time to consider the counteroffer can help you feel more confident in your choice, even if you are inclined to reject the offer.

3. Consider non-salary benefits

Before you decline a counteroffer, look beyond the salary. Perhaps you receive additional benefits and perks, or perhaps there are some non-salary benefits you could request to make a lower salary more alluring. You could request more time off, a bonus for your performance, or flexible hours.

Why decline a counteroffer?

There are a number of reasons you might decide to reject a counteroffer and look for work with another organization. These include:

How to decline counteroffer

Maintaining a professional demeanor will help you keep your relationship with your former employer if you choose to reject the counteroffer. Heres how to decline a counteroffer successfully:

1. Select the medium that makes you most comfortable

You must decide how you will inform your employer that you will reject the counteroffer as your first priority. It is recommended to employ the same strategy your employer employed to make the counteroffer. It’s important to keep in mind that even if you reject a job counteroffer over the phone, your employer may still ask for an email so they can record it.

2. Express your gratitude

It can seem a little counterintuitive to begin your message with sincere gratitude or “thank you” when rejecting a job counteroffer, especially since you are not accepting the offer. However, it’s critical to keep in mind that your employer might have invested time and effort in keeping you on as an employee. Be as grateful and appreciative of that effort as you can as a result.

3. State your rejection clearly

It’s crucial to be up front about the fact that you are passing on the opportunity when rejecting a job counteroffer. When you are focused on being diplomatic and complimentary, it is simple to skip over this section. Including extraneous information could cause your employer to question your motivation. You don’t have to be harsh, but being succinct and direct is essential. For instance, you could say, “I have chosen to reject the offer that you extended to me last Thursday after careful thought.” “.

4. Give a short, yet honest reason for declining the job

You might be tempted to decline the offer without providing a reason. However, it’s frequently preferable to give a sincere explanation than to let your employer make assumptions. You could say something like, “While your offer of more vacation days was considerate and generous, I intend to accept Firefly Technology’s job offer because they offer the career growth that I want to prioritize.” “.

You don’t have to go into every detail about why you rejected the counteroffer, just the important ones. To emphasize your gratitude, it also helps to list some of the things about your current employer that you liked.

5. Provide a referral

After rejecting a counteroffer, you won’t always be able to provide a referral. However, offer to provide their name and contact details if you know someone else who is looking for work right now and might be a good fit for your current position. For instance, you could say, “I do know someone who could be a great fit if you want to fill this position right away.” I’d be happy to give you their contact information. “.

Making the offer demonstrates some thought and consideration, but make sure to get in touch with any potential referrers before you make the recommendations so you can go over the specifics of the position with them.

6. Express your willingness to keep in touch

If appropriate, you can close out your rejection by telling your employer how much you loved working for them and how much you’d love to stay in touch. You can connect with them on social media to stay in touch in a relaxed, stress-free setting. It’s beneficial to keep in touch with your professional networking contacts even after leaving a job because you never know where they might lead in the future.

How to decline counteroffer examples

The following sample letters can be used as a starting point if you choose to reject a counteroffer via email:

Example 1

Dear Mr. Benitez,

I appreciate your offer, but I must regrettably decline. The past three years at BahoBilat, LLC. have been amazing. I’ve had a great time working here and have developed a ton of professional experience. However, I have repeatedly stated over the years that I am interested in moving up, and I now realize that this position doesn’t offer as much room for advancement as I had first thought. I’m currently looking for a job that will allow me to take on more responsibility and advance my career.

Please accept this as my letter of resignation from my position as BahoBilat, LLC’s HR assistant, effective January 30. Being your assistant has been a lot of fun, and I want to thank you once more for the wonderful time we had together. I wish you and your company all the best.

I hope we can continue to communicate via email and social media. Please dont be a stranger!.

Sincerely,
Martha McCarthy

Example 2

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you so much for your generous offer. Knowing that you value me as a worker is comforting. My time here at Dhaks Co. has allowed me to grow as a marketing professional. I’ve learned about the industry from management and my peers, and that knowledge will serve as the basis for my long-term success.

But I need to move on to the next phase of my career. I must decline your offer, even though it was a difficult choice to make. This letter serves as notice that I’ll be leaving on March 29, 2021. I wish everyone here a successful future.

Respectfully yours,
John Donahue

How To Deal With The Counter Offer

FAQ

How do you respond to a counter offer?

1. A professional greeting.
2. A message stating whether you accept the candidate’s offer.
3. Your enthusiasm for them to join the team.
4. A summary of the new terms you’re offering.
5. Reasons they should work for your company.

How do you politely decline an offer to pay?

1. “I appreciate the job offer, however, I must decline.”
2. “Thank you for the offer and your time, but I’m afraid I can’t take the job at the pay you’re offering.”
3. “Hello. …
4. Dear Sebastian,
5. I appreciate you contacting me about the social media manager position at SpotCheque.

Why you should decline a counter offer?

Your relationship with your current employer is likely to suffer if you accept a counteroffer. You just told them you were leaving, and the only reason you’re staying is because they gave you more money. They might start to doubt your commitment to the company and whether you won’t quit if you get a better offer.

How do you politely cancel an offer?

1. Examples:
2. As much as I appreciate your interest in me for the account manager position, I’m calling to inform you that I have accepted an offer with another company and would like to reschedule our 2:00 p.m. appointment. m. interview for next Thursday.