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My general feeling is never take the counter, but in today’s marketplace, I was happy when someone on my team took the promotion and counter. If the counter is a higher position, take it. If you really wanted to be at that agency, take it. Next time, if you’re humoring it, don’t accept until you get the counter. Won’t feel good, but they probably have someone else who they interviewed that was a close second. They will be fine. It will be hard to go work their in the near future. If it’s the same position at the new agency, I say stick with leaving. Tough call but you won’t be ruining your career if you go back on your acceptance.
The new place made it really easy for you to renege on your acceptance: you can tell them you received a better offer and the title you wanted, with a team that does have confidence in your readiness to take on that role. You don’t even necessarily have to tell them it’s with your existing agency. Thank them for their understanding, explain that the offer came in after you had accepted and you’ve given it a great deal of thought because you are not the kind of person who would renege, but that you can’t pass up the other offer. Then tell them you are genuinely interested in staying in touch, are glad you got to learn about such a great agency, and would be open to future opportunities with them as and when the timing /opportunity is mutually agreeable.
Chief
We just countered a guy. Said he didn't want to leave but $$$, we said here's what we can do, he said great and stayed.
No hard feelings, no drama.
YMMV.
@TD I have many examples of talent we countered - and they are still with us and thriving years later. I tend to think that people who accept a counter are genuinely open to building their future. Those who do not accept it, have already moved on mentally and perhaps are looking for a way out. Beyond the practical considerations of more $ than the offer from a new company, only OP can make that call. Sometimes, employees want to know their companies will fight for them. It sounds like as a talent director, you’ve been burned in this situation, I’m sorry to hear that.
Chief
You, the day after you take the counter:
I would never accept a counter offer. I would never be certain as to why the counter offer was extended: am I a valuable asset or do they need me to continue in the role until they can plan for a replacement sometime in the future?
In addition to that, I’ve tried to never make money the real reason to move jobs. More important criteria: growth and opportunity, people and place, the type of work and who it benefits and then there is money/compensation.
That’s been my model. It’s not right for everyone. Good luck in your decision. Whatever you decide, I’m sure it will be the right choice.
Those saying not to take counter... 2021 is very different than any other year. Talent is hard to come by. Still jr enough in a career there are multiple titles to jump. And to the same people... you would still leave for lower title and pay? No way. Even if they have a target, they can leave in a year with the higher title.
If you were looking for a new job simply for money and title, then pick the best option of the two. But if you were leaving for other reasons, like culture or clients or over-utilized, don’t expect that to get better. Also, plenty of people boomerang agencies so if you leave and hate the new place, you could likely go back if they value your work. I’ve personally never taken a counter but rather used it to better negotiate my next job. That said, it’s not always just about money and title. It’s about the work and growth opportunities
I was in a similar situation. They pulled out the red carpet to retain me out of desperation and were willing to give everything expect for a solution for the reason I was leaving. I knew I'd get pushed out or never see another promotion if I took the counter.
Short staffed and overutilized
Hi! I got another offer, put in my notice, and was extended a counter. I foolishly accepted. Last spring, thrown out on my hiney. My feeling was this recent history was remembered and very much a consideration when they were instructed by the holding company to reduce payroll. You’re leaving for a reason. Follow through and don’t look back.
Holy smokes all the "take the counter" advice here is astonishing. I don't understand how the pandemic fundamentally changed the dynamics of an employer not compensating you what you're worth until you got another offer. Like hitting on 18 in blackjack yeah it can work out, but it's a fundamentally flawed decision with so much more downside than upside.
I just accepted a counter. I don’t feel like I have a target on my back. In fact, I feel pretty secure. But I think it all comes down to why they countered. I say trust your gut and don’t worry about burning bridges. May they light the way.
If you’re beloved, and love the current agency, take the counter. If not, the new offer and new agency is likely the right move.
I turned down the counter and it was significantly more. But I also knew, because I was in a director position, that if it took it they were going to axe someone from my team and give me even more work. The burnout is why I was leaving. So, maybe if you take and keep looking sure
That’s terrible! Sorry to hear you were in that kind of environment
Take the higher title and pay to stay
Hopefully, why you wanted to leave wasn’t only about money and status. If it was, you have much thinking ahead of you 🤗
Honestly, it's a global pandemic. All "normal" rules are off.
Do what feels right to you. Who cares about the rest. It's a weird time and you're allowed to do what's best for you.
Why were you interviewing in the first place? Money doesn’t fix a bad work situation - it doesn’t make your colleagues better at their jobs, it doesn’t make your client more communicative, and it doesn’t fix work/life balance. So if any of those things were the reason you were looking in the first place, don’t take the counter, instead use the counter to make the new agency match it.
I did it, and it was probably the best move I ever made in my career. Turned out my boss there was hated - three months later I had his job, six months after that I got promoted again, rode it all the way up to EVP before I left for a different kind of role a few years later. It can work.