How Should I Handle Rejecting a Job Offer After Accepting a Counteroffer?

Hi, I will be short and simple. I received an offer from a new company and accepted it. I told them the official notice period is 2 months and that they might have to wait that long if my current company doesn't agree to a shorter notice. The new company has already waited for 1 month. Now, my current company has given me a counteroffer, which I am likely to accept.

Question

So my question is, should I mention the counteroffer from my current company in the email while rejecting the offer from the new company, or should I make some other excuse?

Maintaining Professionalism During Job Transitions

Please remain as courteous as possible. You may never join this employer, but you might interact with the HR and business leaders at some other place in the future.

Handling a Counteroffer

You have received a counteroffer from your existing employer. Please consider sharing a genuine reason and continue to remain transparent with the hiring team from the other employer.

Negotiation Considerations

Finally, at any cost, please do not try to negotiate a further raise unless arm-twisting is all that you want. You accepted the offer in the first place because it seemed justified to you. Creating communication for negotiation after the offer stage will create a negative impression on them.

You speak about "Counter offer by current employer," but I would like to know what you feel about this offer. Is this a better offer than the new employer has offered you? And do you feel you can get more good opportunities and growth with the new employer than the present one, or what are you expecting from the new employer in comparison to your present employer?

See, you have spent a good time here, I presume, and are well familiar with the work conditions and everything with your present employer. Therefore, you are the one who can judge these conditions first and have to decide which is better for you. Please let us know what you feel about it too.

Second, do not forget to consider the reasons that put you in this condition. Reasons which forced you to resign from the present position/employer. It is also important to realize that this "Counter Offer" evidently shows how important you are to your present employer, and they appreciate your skills and work performance, which is why they want to retain you.

Apart from that, in simple words, I would suggest you accept this counteroffer and continue with your present employer. For this, why you should continue with your present employer, I would also like to present some other facts that will help you understand the same for sure.

- You are well familiar with the present work conditions and others with your present employer, which enables you to work with a good understanding. But with a new employer, to get the same, you are certainly going to take time (if you join), which is why you should continue with your present employer.

- You have resigned, but still, your employer likes to retain you. That speaks about your work performance and the trust they have in you, which I believe is important for an employee and gives you more chances to strengthen your position there and further promotions.

- A counteroffer automatically means a good hike in salary and other benefits, more growth options, work responsibilities, more learning, and a value that an employee holds for an employer. The same is not easily or early expected from a new employer. Every employee wants to be an essential part of an organization, expecting value with respect and a strong, good position that matters too, and with your present employer, you are getting the same.

- You can get many new and better offers in the future with many reputed employers/firms, but the value and trust you have gained are not so easy to earn. This is why I feel you must continue with your present employer. Also, in this outer world, opportunities always follow the right, skilled, and experienced candidates, so you can get the same in the future whenever you feel like moving on.

Now, I would like to refer to the statement/suggestion provided by Ms. (Cite Contribution) that you must be honest with yourself and your new employer. Please tell them that you are not going to join them (if you decide to continue with your present employer), which will also be a good example of professionalism.

Lastly, I would suggest you consider the reasons for your resignation before making any decision, and I'm sure the same will give you a lot more to learn for your future and career.

Different Perspective on Resignation and Counteroffers

I have a different take on the matter. Once you resign and then stay put due to a counteroffer, especially after making someone wait for one month, it reflects badly. You may give any reason for doing so, but news does travel and may haunt you at some point in time.

My view is to quit and join the new company that has waited for you for one month.

Regards,
Col. Suresh Rathi

Understanding Job Offers and Counteroffers

Can you please elaborate on the reasons for (1) looking out for another job in the first place, and (2) your current company making a counteroffer, from your perspective?

Looking at the situation from another angle, what stopped your current company from giving you the raise via the counteroffer in the beginning itself, instead of waiting for your resignation, and that too after waiting for a month after your resignation?

Usually, two reasons drive companies to respond to such situations the way your present company responded: (1) Taking the employee for granted from a mistaken notion that this person can't/won't go anywhere, and/or (2) the typical human psychology of realizing the true value of a person only after the person has left them or is about to leave them.

The other issue is what you mentioned: the other company has waited for one month. You should have given complete thought to all the issues before you gave your acceptance. The point is not whether you will bump into any of them later in your career—it's whether you 'used' their offer to get a better deal for yourself. Actually, from this perspective, I think your present company did it—they gave you the raise only when they had no other option.

If you were the HR of the new company, would you like to be put into such a situation—someone saying no after a month of giving the acceptance?

There are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers to such issues—only consequences. Like the saying goes: What you 'sow' is what you 'reap.' Tomorrow, if your present company finds another person better than you and at a cheaper cost-to-company, I wouldn't be surprised if they create conditions to force you to leave. And then, if it happens, please don't blame them or anyone for that situation, since you brought it on yourself. Just as you 'used' the new company's offer, your present company 'used' you—as simple as that.

At the end of the day (meaning in the long run/term), it's your professional ethics that count. And yet again, at the end of the day, it's your career, so it's up to you to make the choice and face the consequences, good or bad.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

I fully agree with the comments from TS. When your current employer gave you a counteroffer, how did they know your offer details in the first place? It must have been from you. What were the reasons for you to share the offer details with them? There must be many reasons why you went out looking for a job. Once you find a job and accept their offer, you should join them unless you have strong reasons against the new company. (By the way, you should have done your homework before accepting the offer in the first place).

Best of luck, and I hope the strength of your character helps you to choose right from wrong.

Regards,
AJS

Thank you for understanding the exact question and replying with the relevant answer, Cite Contribution. To others, please note that the question was whether I should mention the counteroffer in the rejection email, not whether I should accept the counteroffer or join a new company.

Dear NPV, I believe anyone can interpret the same meaning as others have. If you had written what you did in your last post at the beginning, perhaps others would not have been confused. Be specific with your question. You should have only asked, "whether I should mention a counteroffer in a rejection email!"

Okay, let it be. I hope you have got what you wanted.

Regards,
Arun J.

Dear n.p.v.,

Thanks for your timely response. Please do not feel offended or impatient if some members would rather know the circumstances/background leading to the situation than give straightforward answers.

Warm regards.