to ask for your advice re counteroffer?

[ladypete]

Answers ASAP would be great as I want to get back to them asap.

I handed in my resignation yesterday only to be asked if they could match my new salary to keep me. Heres a mini roundup of the situation:

Current job:
flexible which is very necessary
I'm settled there but also bored
Comfortable pay but I know i could get more elsewhere.
I had a recent (pathetic) pairs, although now they're asking if they can match

New job:
claim to be flexible too but as for how flexible time will tell
much better salary
more benefits

Basically I think I'm tempted to stay for the comfort of flexibility, but I know I could be earning more elsewhere. I also feel a bit insulted that i was offered a crap pairs and NOW seem to be worth more..

WWYD? I've not yet detailed to my company what my new offer is.

[ladypete]

pairs?

pay rise*

[Hereward1332]

If you accept the counter offer, you may find it hard to progress; it may be seen that you have had a pay rise, so won't get another is others do. You may experience resentment from colleagues and be seen as disloyal.

It's comfortable to sit where you are, but in my experience, you have to move for decent career progression.

[Panicmode1]

I think if you have had the bottle to go and get a new job then you have mentally checked out of your current one. Agree with Hereward that you generally have to move to progress and that if you stay, they may feel that you have settled and aren't ambitious - feel the fear and do it anyway, as the saying goes! Good luck.

[EvilSideKick]

Move jobs. It is lots of effort to put together a CV, research jobs, interview and then do well enough to be offered a new job. You would not have gone through all of that of you really wanted to stay where you are. If your current job valued you they would have offered you more money before and not waited for you to resign before offering it. Your boss will know your heart isn't in it and your attempt to leave may be held against you. Congrats on new job. Go for it!

[ladypete]

Thanks ladies.

I must admit progression isn't a big factor for me - its a second income so flexibility is the real major factor.

I do agree with you all re seeming disloyal and mentally checking out already though.

[sparechange]

What hereward said.
If you take the counter offer, you'll just get no/low payrises for the next year or two to offset it. The fact they could pay you more but haven't also speaks volumes...
Take the new job and you should be getting a pay rise in a year

[Aberchips]

If you're bored now then you'll still be bored but just better paid. In my old job as a recruiter, we always used to advise candidates in receipt of counter offers to consider them very very carefully before accepting. If you're got to the point where you are motivated enough to look for a new job then chances are the old one isn't really worth the extra cash.

Also think about the motivation of your current employers to offer you more - is your role hard to fill, have you been there a long time & would it take time to train someone to replace you? They are thinking of themselves & not you in this situation.

You might also find it more difficult to get promotions/ payrises in your current role if you stay as you may be seen as "disloyal".

I'd go back & make doubly sure that the new role is flexible, tell them how keen you are on the new job & excited about it - it doesn't hurt to let them know that your old place are counter offering & that flexibility is the thing that matters most to you in order to accept the new place's offer.

Good luck!

[LaurieFairyCake]

Is there anything you can do to make your job more interesting?

[ladypete]

laurie

No. Haha. It literally is just to pay the bills which is why I'm just tempted to just go where the money is.

[grumpysquash]

I would suggest calling the new company and say that you are very seriously considering their offer and you would like to have a discussion about flexibility. If that goes well, then go there. If it doesn't then renegotiate with your current place.
My bet is that the new place will be flexible, but you need to have sorted it out before accepting. You can ask them to put a flexibility clause in the contract (e.g. along the lines of "36 hours per week to be worked over 5 days, always to include the period 10am-2pm. May include working from home.")

You have got an opportunity to make it all work for you. But there is a short window. Act soon :) Good luck.

[magictorch]

Go for the new job. I accepted a counter offer in my old job and bitterly regretted it - all the reasons for moving were still there and I wished I'd have moved on instead of staying in 'comfy slippers.'

Good luck!

[ladypete]

I'm changing!

Thanks ladies for confirming what the timid part of my brain already knew!

[8angle]

Definitely change - "a change is a s good as a break..." and all that bollocks!
Just go in at the start and be firm about the flexibility you need, people are always happier to know where they stand, issues arise when there is a lack of communication.
Congratulations on the new job!

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

If they didn't think enough of you to offer you a better salary/opportunity beforehand, it speaks volumes.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I agree with raising flex with new employer (saying current employer have matched the money they are offering). Hopefully they can come to some sort of flexibility arrangement.

I'd go for new job though. A change is is as good as a rest :)