I have always felt strongly about people using a job offer letter to get additional benefits from their present company. This is a common practice these days and has to be condemned.

I recall an article by Hal Reiter, a Head Hunter Read on 1/n

"A few years ago, I recruited an exec to run a mid-level company. The night before he was supposed to start his new job, the executive called to say he was staying put. The BOD at his current Co--a major multinational retailer--had offered to name him CEO in one year's time 2/n

I was aghast, but my former candidate could hardly envision a better scenario. He had leveraged an offer to run a mid-sized company and used it to land the coveted top spot at a retailing giant. No greater career coup exists, right?

Wrong. 3/n

After 3 tumultuous years as CEO, he was fired. This executive was not yet ready to run such a large organization. Had he accepted the job at the smaller company, he could have gained the necessary experience to successfully run a major multinational in due time 4/n

Instead, he lured his company into a bidding war and forced the board to make a rash decision about retention in the name of corporate competition. 5/n

As a result, his career ultimately suffered a mortal blow, not to mention the damage he caused shareholders, who watched their stock drop as a result of his inexperience.

Unable to land another CEO position, he took an early retirement. 6/n

In my 25 years of experience, I have learned that accepting a counter-offer is usually career suicide. Watching your boss scramble to keep you may be a heady experience, but in exchange for that sweet moment, you'll have squandered your honour, 7/n

a sacrifice that will haunt you for many years. Even more troubling, you may never know exactly when or to what extent your reputation has been sullied.

There's a good chance hiring executives might blacklist you from other employment opportunities. 8/n

Aside from refusing to ever hire you again, executives have long memories and will bad mouth you any chance they get.

I remember sitting on a plane with a group of retail executives when someone mentioned, by name, a seasoned retailer. 9/n

The group listened intently as one of the executives launched into an unflattering tale of how the employee had used the executive's perfectly good job offer as a bargaining chip for a fat buyback. 10/n

By being dishonest with one company, employee harmed his reputation with all of the executives on that flight.

Whenever I deliver a short list for a top job to one of my clients, I feel obligated to mention which potential candidates have accepted buyback offers in the past 11/n

Often my client will choose not to proceed with one of these people. Remember: Recruiters never forget a buyback, and computer files help us immensely. 12/n

Bosses don't forget either. Initially, the company that retained you delights in winning you back from the competition. But after perhaps six months, management will begin resenting you for essentially extorting money or power from the firm. 13/n

A bitter taste of disloyalty lingers. Now you're tacitly expected to perform like a new hire, proving yourself all over again to justify your new salary or position. You had better be up to the task. 14/n

.

Anytime you use a new job offer as a bargaining chip with your boss, there's always a risk you'll lose the bet.

Next thing you know, you're sitting in a strange office, having left a trail of ill will in your wake 15/n

Counter-offers can provide an opportunity for employees to voice issues or concerns about their jobs. When you are recruited for another job, ask yourself What are the pros and cons of your current position? If the negatives outweigh the positives, you simply must leave 16/n.

However, you may decide you genuinely like your position, aside from one or two problems, in which case it's time to have an open, honest conversation with your boss--before you accept the offer. 17/n

Down the road, such a conversation will be far more valuable if you choose not to force your boss into a buyback offer. You will retain your reputation for honesty, and this will serve you far better than a single raise or promotion ever could"

End of Article 18/n

I was an Investment Banker in Kuwait from 2005 till 2008 with one of the leading Investment Companies that managed assets worth $ 1 Billion. I had a good salary, lot of freedom at my work, stock options, bonus. In 2008, I was offered AVP Post in a New Oil Field Company 19/n

I decided to take it up, went up to my Dy CEO (though I was very close to Chairman) and gave him my resignation letter

He asked me to wait, and I told him "Tareq, I shall wait, but please do not insult me with a counter offer"

He did make, but I politely declined 20/n

I could not make myself work in the same company after having accepted the counter offer. It is demeaning

Earlier this year, one of the youngsters whom I am mentoring was working as a Consultant, and got an offer from Tata Electronics 21/n

He is very young and I told him not to fall for the trap of counter offer from his Consultancy Firm. I had warned him what will happen exactly, and things happened precisely as I predicted.

He was well prepared, and handled the situation with aplomb 22/n

And got out of his old firm earning lot of respect and maintaining his dignity.

It is not the physical act of resigning. It is always your mentally resigning that matters

I resigned as Sales Officer in HPCL in Feb 1994. But I had mentally resigned almost a year ago 23/n

I always take a dim view of those employees who waive an offer to wriggle a few benefits from me

I tell them to quit immediately

If they are indispensable, I still tell them to quit or in the worse case scenario where I have to accede to their demands, I concede

BUT

I ensure I create a back up and sack the guy at the first available opportunity

PS: I am not saying what I reproduced/tweeted is applicable universally. It echoes my views alone. n/n