Resign With Class

You've been highly professional during the interview process and have landed the job. Now it's time to be just as professional in resigning from your current employer. Make an appointment with your manager and prepare a brief letter of resignation. Your NorthShore Staffing Group Account Manager can help with the wording. During the meeting, calmly and concisely explain your decision and make it clear it is final. Retain your poise if the meeting becomes tense. Burning bridges is not an option.


Be wary of a counteroffer. While it may be flattering, there can be drawbacks. Is the counteroffer a ploy for your employer to avoid short-term inconvenience? Will your career track remain blocked? Will you still be reporting to a person you distrust? Will your responsibilities be expanded? Have others who've accepted counteroffers in your company been fairly treated?


If your answers to any of these questions are not positive, then it's time to move on. Remember, your first decision is most likely your best decision. If a counteroffer puts you in a dilemma, contact your NorthShore Staffing Group Account Manager for advice.


Counteroffer Acceptance
-reprinted from the National Business Employment Weekly-


Weighing Alternatives
Counteroffer Acceptance: Road to Career Ruin

A raise won't permanently cushion thorns in the nest

Matthew Henry, the 17th-century writer said, "Many a dangerous temptation comes to us in fine gay colours that are but skin deep." The same can be said for counteroffer, those magnetic enticements designed to lure you back into the nest after you've decided it's time to fly away.


The litany of horror stories I have come across in my years as an executive recruiter, consultant and publisher, provides a litmus test that clearly indicates counteroffers should never be accepted...EVER!


I define a counteroffer simply as an inducement from your current employer to get you to stay after you've announced your intention to take another job. We're not talking about those instances when you receive an offer but don't tell your boss. Nor are we discussing offers that you never intended to take, yet tell your employer about anyway as a "they-want-me-but-I'm-staying-with-you" ploy.


These are merely astute positioning tactics you may choose to use to reinforce your worth by letting your boss know you have other options. Mention of a true counteroffer, however, carries an actual threat to quit.


Interviews with employers who make counteroffers, and employees who accept them, have shown that as tempting as they may be, acceptance may cause career suicide. During the past 20 years, I have seen only isolated incidents in which an accepted counteroffer has benefited the employee. Consider the problem in its proper perspective.


What really goes through a boss's mind when someone quits


• "This couldn't be happening at a worse time."
• "This is one of my best people. If I let him quit now, it'll wreak havoc on the morale of the department."
• "I've already got one opening my department. I don't need another right now."
• "This will probably screw up the entire vacation schedule."
• "I'm working as hard as I can, and I don't need to do his work, too."
• "If I lose another good employee, the company might decide to 'lose' me too."
• "Maybe I can keep him on until I find a suitable replacement."

What will the boss say to keep you in the nest? Some of these comments are common.

• "I'm really shocked. I thought you were as happy with us as we are with you. Let's discuss it before you make your final decision."
• "Gee, I've been meaning to tell you about the great plans we have for you, but it's been confidential until now."
• "The V.P. has you in mind for some exciting and expanding responsibilities."
• "Your raise was scheduled to go into effect next quarter, but we'll make it effective immediately."
• "You're going to work for whom?"

Let's face it. When someone quits, it's a direct reflection on the boss. Unless you're really incompetent or a destructive thorn in his side, the boss might look bad by "allowing" you to go. His gut reaction is to do what has to be done to keep you from leaving until he's ready. That's human nature. Unfortunately, it's also human nature to want to stay unless your work life is abject misery. Career changes, like all ventures into the unknown, are tough. That's why bosses know they can usually keep you around by pressing the right buttons.

Before you succumb to a tempting counteroffer, consider these universal truths:

• Any situation in which an employee is forced to get an outside offer before the present employer will suggest a raise, promotion or better working conditions, is suspect.
• No matter what the company says when making its counteroffer, you will always be considered a fidelity risk. Having once demonstrated your lack of loyalty (for whatever reason), you will lose your status as a "team player" and your place in the inner circle.
• Counteroffers are usually nothing more than stall devices to give your employer time to replace you.
• Counteroffers are only made in response to a threat to quit. Will you have to solicit an offer and threaten to quit every time you deserve better working conditions?

If the urge to accept a counteroffer hits you, keep on cleaning out your desk as you count your blessings.

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