Welcome to the last article of the Career Accelerator series, so far, we’ve spoken about your motivators and dug deep into going through that element of self-reflection before you even look to move. We’ve then gone through your strategy of how to approach your job search and finally gone through the interview process. (Scroll down 👇 for links to the full series)
Hopefully, by this stage, you’ve been successful, and you’ve got an offer or multiple offers. So what are you going to do now?
Counteroffers – When to accept & when to steer clear
As a financial adviser, paraplanner, or administrator with experience, you’re sure to have many questions and choices to make when it comes to accepting job offers. It’s an exciting occasion when you hand in your notice of resignation! But there can be consequences that come with it; people that may not have previously shown any interest in your career could suddenly become your best friend and offer incentives to get you to stay. While there is nothing wrong with counteroffers, deciding whether or not to accept them should depend on the situation.
The key thing to remember is that these offers don’t happen often and if you’re presented with one, make sure to take your time analysing the situation before making any decisions. You may have worked really hard for this opportunity so it’s important to think carefully about how everything could play out both now and in a few years’ time. Ultimately, it’s your decision but seeking advice from mentors, your trusted recruiter or peers can sometimes help make the decision process easier.
Always pre-empt a counteroffer so you’re prepared for how you intend to deal with it.
For example, if you’re seeking a new opportunity due to salary and your current employer offers you a raise after finding out that you plan to leave, ask yourself the all-important question, why has it taken me to leave to gain a salary I deserve?
This is also a brilliant opportunity to lean into your recruiter and utilise this service. Perhaps they could have a discussion with the hiring manager and open out a conversation about salaries. Recruiters are fantastic negotiators and always have the candidate’s and client’s best interests at the forefront of what they do, take advantage of this benefit.
Remember: You should only accept a counteroffer once. If you’re staying in a job that only shows appreciation for the work you do when there is a chance you might leave, you need to recognise your own worth and move on to somewhere else that will follow suit.
Reveal any skeletons in the closet
It’s important to be open and honest with the hiring managers. Have you any previous convictions? Perhaps a driving ban? Something that may seem small could potentially have a huge impact if left in the closet until further down the line. This is an offer management situation. Lean into your recruiter, could they position the query to the hiring manager in a different way that won’t leave a sour taste?
Should I accept a job offer during an interview?
Accepting a job offer during the interview may seem like an easy decision, but it’s important to remember why you shouldn’t do this. You should always take your time and consider all of your options before deciding on any job offer. Taking some extra time allows you to think through the pros and cons of not just the job itself, but also the company you’re interviewing with and its culture. Additionally, accepting a job offer too quickly means that you may miss out on other opportunities or better offers that could come along in the future. It’s important to take a step back and make sure you’re making the right choice for yourself in terms of both short-term satisfaction and long-term career goals.
Handing in your notice
Before you celebrate with a bottle of bubbly, we advise you to keep your cards close to your chest. Don’t jump the gun and email your boss right then and there. Take the time to go through your new contract and make sure you’re satisfied. As I said in the accelerator podcast mini-series:
Wait until the dust settles and you can see in black and white what exactly they are offering you. Are you happy with the notice period? The benefits? Are there any skeletons in your closet which could come back to bite you? Be respectful and construct a letter of resignation that offers constructive feedback, but also if you can think of something you’re grateful for, say it! Then you can sit back and relax. There is nothing worse than accepting something, sending a rushed resignation email and then being anxious about burning bridges too hastily.
At this point, you should have landed an opportunity that will either be the job of your dreams or a brilliant stepping stone for the career journey that was meant for you. So GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS!
If you are still in a place where you’re unsure of what to do next. There is nothing left to do than to pick up the phone or email one of our recruiters. I hope this mini-series has taught you a thing or two about career journey success, but also about the value of a specialist financial planning recruitment consultant.
If you want to find your potential, click here and let’s get going.
See the full episode of the Career Accelerator Series here: 💚