RESIGNATION AND COUNTER-OFFERS
While resigning from your current position can be emotional and sometimes stressful, there are several things you can do to make the process go smoothly and quickly.
-
Put it in writing. Handing your boss a resignation letter is the most effective way to handle an uncomfortable situation.
-
It is formal and will become a part of your permanent record. It is for your own protection.
-
It will help you keep the focus on the positive aspects of your career move rather than any negative aspects of your old situation.
-
It relieves the pressure of having to speak first. (We have included a form letter).
-
The sooner you leave the company, the better. Give fair notice, but ask to be relieved as soon as possible. You are in a lame duck position. The company will get by without you, and you owe your energies and loyalty to yourself and to your new opportunity!
-
Do not talk about counter-offers; it is the single worst thing you can do during the resignation process. We have enclosed an article from the Wall Street Journal. Read it carefully. We have been through this hundreds of times, and everything they describe in the article is true.
-
Talk to your Executive Search Consultant. Keep us updated. We can help keep this as smooth and painless as possible.
Sample Resignation Letter
Date
Former Manager’s Name
Title
Company
It is with mixed emotion, yet with firm conviction that I write this letter of resignation from (company name).
My association during the past (#) years with this excellent firm and its many fine people has been a wonderful part of my professional and personal life.
Please understand that I have made my decision after considerable deliberation. An outstanding opportunity presented itself that will significantly enhance my career and assist me in achieving my goals.
I am therefore resigning from (company name) effective (date). This will allow sufficient time to complete current commitments prior to commencing with my new employer on (date). In the interim, I will work with you and the staff to provide a smooth transfer of my current duties.
I hope that you will understand and accept my decision. I will support you in making this change as easy as possible for the staff and department.
Sincerely,
(Excerpts from a Wall Street Journal article.)
REASONS FOR NOT ACCEPTING A COUNTER-OFFER
-
What type of company is it to work for where you have to threaten to resign before they pay you what you are worth?
-
Where is the money for the counter offer coming from? Is it your next raise early? All companies have strict wage and salary guidelines, which must be followed? Are they going to make your increase retroactive in order to compensate for under paying you over the last several years?
-
Your company may immediately start looking for a new person at a cheaper price. In many cases, you could be training your replacement.
-
You now have made your employer aware that you are unhappy. From this day on your loyalty will always be in question.
-
When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember who was loyal and who was not.
-
When times get rough, your employer will begin the cutback with you
-
The same circumstances that now cause you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future even if you accept a counter offer. Things about your position and company rarely change.
-
Statistics show that if you accept a counter offer, the probability of voluntarily leaving in six months or being let go within one year is extremely high. 85% of people who accept are gone in six months, and 90% of people who accept are gone in twelve months.
-
Accepting a counter offer is an insult to your intelligence and a blow to your personal pride knowing that you were bought.
-
Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers will never be the same. You will lose the personal satisfaction peer group acceptance.