Some words of wisdom
from Charlene Howie, Senior Recruitment Consultant at PEP.
Break ups are tough, even with your employer! When you’ve accepted a great new job, you need to be prepared for the awkward bit that comes next… RESIGNING.
If you’ve taken the decision to apply for jobs and attend interviews then it’s very likely you have some serious frustrations with your current employer or your job role (or both!)
While you celebrate your success of landing that new job you’ve worked so hard to get, it’s important to stop and think about what comes next. It’s likely in this skill short industry that your employer will want you to stay! Finding a replacement for you will be tough and time consuming. They are likely to present a counter offer or utter the words; “What can we do to make you stay?”
Consider what your response will be before you’re asked this question and you’ll be well armed to make the best decision for you. Here are a few things you should think about:
Why are they only able to offer what you want now?
You should ask yourself why they are offering something different now? Why didn’t they do this without your resignation? Will you need to do this next time you feel frustrated or feel undervalued? If accepting a counter offer means you are jumping to a new salary banding a bit sooner consider the implications. Will your wages and opportunities within the company stagnate?
Your boss now knows you’re unhappy…
Will you ever be considered loyal again? You’ve resigned, will they be biding their time to find a solution in case you want to leave again? If you stay, do you risk being overlooked for promotion?
Why did you want to leave in the first place?
Was your drive for looking for a new job entirely salary driven? If it was, a counter offer may seem like a good solution, but will you need to resign every time you want a pay rise? Were there any other reasons you wanted a new job and is your employer addressing those issues? If you want to accept, make sure that you consider everything first so you know you will be happy in the long term, not just for the next 6 months.
What about the company who you’ve accepted the job with?
Will you ever want to work there in future? Will you potentially work with those people again later in your career? You need to manage this well. If you decide a counter offer is right for you, tell the other company quickly – you need to leave them with a professional impression of you.
You should expect that a Director, MD or CEO will call you or come and speak to you about your resignation. This will feel very flattering. They may be really worried about you leaving, but ask yourself why they are making you feel so important now? Stay level headed and do not be blindsided by flattery.
All in all it’s not easy to resign but you should celebrate your success at landing a new role. Getting a new job is always on the lists for the “10 most difficult things to do” and it’s also likely you have beaten a number of other applicants to get the job. As soon as you have this awkward bit out of the way, it is onwards and upwards with your career!
Ready to find your dream job? We can help! Get in touch on 01606 601035 or register your CV.
About the author: Charlene graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2008 with an honours degree in English Language. Since then she has accrued nine years experience recruiting into the technical, construction and property sectors across the UK and internationally. She is a passionate advocate of our innovative and quality-focused recruitment service and offers a unique approach to developing her network in the construction and property market.