Listening to the radio the other day I was engrossed in a story which reported on the number of people who turned down an honour from the Queen between 1948 and 1999. The report also stated that 116 people turned down an honour in the past three years, although these people weren’t identified. I suppose the initial question on everyone’s lips when they hear this is “WHY?”. Why would someone turn down something which is so prestigious?
What do you do, accept or refuse?
Well certainly there are a number of reasons as to why people would turn down an honour; perhaps they don’t agree with the monarchy or perhaps they are declining one honour in the hopes of being offered another. Whatever the case, it seems quite absurd to refuse something that can offer so much prestige and responsibility.
But what has this got to do with job searching? Well, let me tell you. Picture the scene: you’re unhappy in your current role. It offers no career progression. You believe you’re underpaid. You feel stale in the role you’re in and dream of pastures new. So you apply for new positions you’re interested in and before you know it you’ve landed a fantastic new job. Now THIS is when the counter offer comes in. Your boss takes you into a meeting, offers you a pay rise and a promotion and suddenly you’re picturing yourself driving that new Audi A5 you’ll be able to afford with your 20% salary increase.
So, this is when you’ll most probably be weighing up your options.
What would you do when you're offered a pay rise or promotion?
Remember I said that it seemed quite absurd to refuse something that can offer so much prestige and responsibility? Much like refusing an honour, why would anyone refuse something that offers them better status and standing?
Well let me tell you this, a counter offer is not necessarily the best thing for you and on many occasion, simply not worth the risk.
Will you stay or will you go?
When you’ve handed in your resignation, and thereafter changed your mind, your loyalty to your current company may now be in question. Your management team may now be wondering whether you’re just hanging around until you find a better opportunity. Furthermore, if your loyalty to the company is suspect, does this mean you might have scuppered your chances of advancement in the future?
But is the grass really greener?
The answer is yes! You made the decision to leave your current company because the new position offered you the best environment to fulfil your career needs.
The grass IS greener on the other side!
Furthermore, if money is the issue, for example, why should it take the chance of you leaving before you’re offered a pay rise? Likewise, if you’re offered a better position, why should this only come about because you threatened to go elsewhere?
In the end, much like the people who declined the honours, you know what’s best for you. Whether that be declining the counter offer or not. But remember, the counter offer is only a belated recognition of the contribution you have made to your company. Maybe if it had come unprompted it would be a lot more flattering to you. As such, my advice is this: Move ahead with the goal of making yourself as valuable to your new employer as you now know you were to your old.
Executive Network Sales Ltd specialises in sales vacancies and associated positions at all levels across a range of niche sectors throughout the UK.
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