Is It Wise to Accept a Counter Offer from Your Current Employer?
Many legal professionals reach a point in their career where they consider leaving their current role. If you’ve reached this stage, you may be weighing whether you should let your employer know you’re looking – or you may be prepared to notify your current employer you’ve received a job offer elsewhere.
If this happens, your current employer may come back with a counteroffer. Here, we’ll discuss whether or not you should accept it – and how to know when it’s time to move on.
What to Expect in a Counteroffer
A counteroffer will likely respond to the new offer – but it won’t do so directly. Instead, your current employer will offer some incentive for you to remain in your current role.
Common incentives include a salary raise, a promotion, or both. In some cases, an employer may offer something else you’ve indicated would interest you, such as a transfer to another office within a law firm or more time in a particular practice area.
Should You Take a Counteroffer?
There are pros and cons to accepting a counteroffer. Potential pros include familiarity with the work environment, a chance to advance in your career, or a boost to your self-worth.
Weigh the counteroffer carefully against the new job offer, however. Consider not only salary and title but the complete package. How do each company’s benefits offerings stack up? Will you need to move to accept a new job offer – and do you want to make that move?
Also, compare opportunities for advancement in each role. As you do, consider how you received advancement opportunities in your current role. If you had to announce your departure to receive a promotion, that’s not a good sign for future advancement.
When to Move On
It’s time to take a new offer seriously if:
- You no longer want to work in the environment or role you currently have,
- Salary and benefits are significantly better in the new position,
- A clear path to career advancement is laid out with the new employer,
- You’ll get to work on cases, projects, or practice areas that appeal to you in the new role,
- The new role aligns with your long-term goals, or
- You suspect that staying will cause confusion about your professional values or change the dynamics of your workplace.
Looking for a new role? Explore the roles Avata Partners has to offer.
