Congratulations! At this
point, you’ve received a job offer & have accepted it. Now its time to resign
from your current employer.
Prepare a resignation letter & make an
appointment with your manager. During the meeting, explain your decision to leave the
company & make it clear that it is a final decision. Remember you do not need to give
a detailed explanation as to why your leaving or what company you have chosen to go to.
It is customary to give a two week notice. You
do not need to feel like you are burning a bridge if you do not give a longer notice. We
recommend that you don’t give anything longer than two weeks because the pressure
& guilt from your present company can become overwhelming.
Beware of Counteroffer. That inducement from your current employer to get you
to stay after you’ve announced your intention to take another job. While a counter
offer may be flattering, acceptance can cause career suicide. Statistics show that if you
accept a counteroffer, the probability of leaving within six months is extremely high.
Consider the problem in its proper perspective: What goes through a boss’
mind when someone quits?
"It couldn’t be happening at a worse
time."
"This is one of my best people."
"There’s already one opening in my
department. I don’t need another one."
"Maybe I can keep him or her until I find
a suitable replacement."
What the boss might say to keep you?
"I’m shocked. I thought you were as
happy with us as we were with you."
"I’ve been meaning to tell you the
plans we have for you."
"I’ll put your raise into effect
immediately."
"You’re going to work for who?"
When someone quits it is a direct reflection
on the boss. Unless you are incompetent, the boss will not want to lose a good employee.
He or she is going to do what they can to keep you from leaving. That’s human nature.
It also is human nature to want to stay.
Making a career change is tough, yet exciting at the same time. Its filled with new
challenges, opportunities & new learning experiences. A career change is also a gamble
not only on yourself, but also the company that you’ve decided to go with. That is
why its easy for your boss to push the right buttons to keep you from leaving.
However, before you succumb to a tempting
counteroffer, consider this:
You shouldn’t have to get an outside
offer to have your present company suggest a raise, promotion or better working
conditions.
You will always be considered a risk having
demonstrated your lack of loyalty & will not be considered a "team player".
Counteroffers are usually stall devices to
give your employer time to find a suitable replacement.
Your reasons for wanting to leave in the first
place still exist. Conditions are made a bit more tolerable because of the raise,
promotion, etc.
Counteroffers are made in a response to quit.
You will have to solicit an outside offer every time you feel you deserve a raise or
promotion.
Decent companies do not make counteroffers.
Their policies are fair & they will not be subject to counteroffer coercion or
blackmail.
Remember, your first decision is most likely
the right decision. So if the urge to accept a counteroffer hits you, keep cleaning out
your desk.
