Back to CAREER ARTICLE LISTING

We will look at this issue from all perspectives in a three part series. Due to the limited supply of talented tax professionals, employers are making counter offers more than ever before. The hiring employer, the company losing the employee and the employee are all at risk.

This first section is from the standpoint of the candidate making a career change.

As a candidate considering a job change, you may ask, "WHY NOT CONSIDER A COUNTER OFFER FROM MY PRESENT EMPLOYER?" The answer to this question is four fold.

1. Promises made under duress (as is the case when a counter offer is made) are much less likely to be kept and if they are kept, it is only because "a gun is to the head" of your employer. They are being forced to make "commitments" under duress in response to a crisis situation.

2. Your present employer will never view you the same. Your loyalty to the organization will always be questioned in future situations.

3. If you delay a decision to the firm making the offer, in order to entertain a counter offer, you will at least dampen their enthusiasm by your delay. If you accept the counter offer, you inevitably burn a bridge with this prospective employer and all of his/her contacts (Reminder: The tax world is a small community!)

4. Most importantly, going through a counter offer scenario is NOT necessary. The desired outcome of every candidate is to be employed with the best company and in the best possible opportunity. This can be accomplished in a much more effective way than going through a counter offer scenario.

Listed below is a process on how to most effectively consider a job change....and avoid a counter offer situation. The key is to approach a potential job change as a "merger" and apply sound due diligence analysis prior to your resignation.

FIVE STEP DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS:

I. LEARN ABOUT PERSPECTIVE NEW EMPLOYER.

If you are working through a recruiter, this individual should be able to give you enough information regarding the company, position, future potential, etc. for you to know if you are interested in moving forward to interview. If you are not working through a recruiter, you will need to gather this information yourself through a telephone interview or an initial face-to-face interview directly with the company plus any additional research you can gather.

II. GIVE YOUR EMPLOYER A CHANCE.

After you have learned enough about the new position to determine your interest, it is time to give your present employer an opportunity to address your issues. You must do this without them being aware you are interviewing elsewhere so as to get honest feedback.

A. If you are unhappy at your current situation due to specific concerns, you must talk to your employer and give them the opportunity to remedy the situation. Do not tell your employer you are considering other opportunities. Just ask for a meeting to discuss concerns you have regarding your situation. APPROACH IN A "MERGER" MODE WITH EMPHASIS ON DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE PRIOR TO RESIGNATION. Probe to find out if your present employer is willing to correct, in a defined tangible manner, any of the problem issues.

B. If you have been happy at your company but learn of an opportunity which offers you the next step in your career plan, you must go through the same step as above. Meet with your employer and probe as to whether they are willing and able to match your new opportunity.

IT IS CRITICAL THE DATA GATHERED FROM YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER MUST BE DONE WITH THEIR HONEST FEEDBACK...NOT A DISTORTED VERSION BASED ON THEIR FEAR OF LOSING YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE.

III. DECISION - TO INTERVIEW OR NOT

A. If you are satisfied with the answers you get from your current company....STOP....the interview process with the outside company. There is no reason to continue interviewing since you have had the chance to investigate this opportunity without creating a counter offer and all the negative ramifications which follow. There is no reason to explore outside your company since all your concerns have been met and satisfactorily addressed in a tangible manner.

B. If you are not satisfied with the answers from your company, plan to move forward with the interview process. Focus all your efforts on continuing the due diligence process of gathering data exclusively on your prospective employer.

IV. OFFER STAGE

A. Acceptable offer - If you receive an offer from the new company with which you are satisfied, it is then time to move to the resignation stage.

B. Unacceptable offer - If you receive an offer which you do not feel is acceptable, STOP the interview process. There is no reason to continue.

V. RESIGNATION: GOAL - DO NOT BURN A BRIDGE!

Your goal should be to depart from your current employer on good terms, and not "burn a bridge". There is an effective way to accomplish this if done properly.

Arrange a meeting to notify your appropriate supervisor of your decision.

a) Turn in a resignation letter and an addendum listing all unfinished work projects for which you are responsible.

b) Do not discuss your motivation or reason for leaving. Just state it is a better opportunity for you and give appropriate notice time (two to four weeks depending on level).

Most people feel a need to explain their reasons for leaving in detail. This is a mistake. Any positives you mention about your new opportunity will be perceived as a negative statement of your current firm. For example, if you tell your employer there is an exciting career track at the new company, they will perceive that to mean your view of their career path is negative.

Keep in mind, if you follow this process, you will have already approached your company to discuss your issues without them knowing you were interviewing. You have their honest answers regarding your wants and needs. However, this is the time when the actual counter offer will happen.

You will be told verbally of ways your employer can all of a sudden fix your problem or give you a new opportunity....which remember, they could not do when you spoke to them earlier. If you listen to their last minute offers, and then say you are still leaving, you have basically said...I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU. I DO NOT TRUST YOU. This is where the damage occurs. It is essential not to get into these discussions at all. Your decision has been made. Make a "neat, clean" resignation, focusing on your transition out of your position and how your work will be completed.

TIMING: Proper resignation is a matter of timing. You resign only after you have done your due diligence. Stick with the process and you will feel confident about your decision and maintain a good relationship with your past employer.