Counter Offer
A Counter Offer is when an employee tells their current employer they're resigning, and the employer responds with an improved offer to convince them to stay. This usually includes a higher salary, better benefits, or a promotion. For recruiters, understanding counter offers is crucial because they can impact the success of placing candidates. Many hiring professionals consider counter offers a challenging situation that can delay or derail the hiring process, even when a candidate has already accepted a new position.
Examples in Resumes
Successfully managed Counter Offer situations with 90% candidate retention rate
Developed Counter Offer prevention strategies for client companies
Created training materials about handling Counter Offers and Counter Offer negotiations
Typical job title: "Recruitment Consultants"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Recruitment Consultants
Professional Networks
Online Communities
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you develop counter offer prevention strategies for key positions?
Expected Answer: A senior recruiter should discuss creating robust candidate experience, proper expectation setting, understanding candidate motivations beyond salary, and maintaining strong communication throughout the hiring process. They should also mention educating clients about market rates and retention strategies.
Q: What's your success rate in handling counter offer situations and how do you achieve it?
Expected Answer: Should explain their approach to candidate psychology, how they prepare both candidates and clients for potential counter offers, and their methods for maintaining placements despite counter offers. Should include specific examples and statistics.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you identify candidates who are likely to accept counter offers?
Expected Answer: Should discuss red flags in candidate behavior, understanding motivation factors, proper questioning techniques during interviews, and how to address concerns before they lead to counter offer acceptance.
Q: What strategies do you use to prevent counter offer acceptance?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods of candidate preparation, discussing career growth vs. immediate financial gain, maintaining communication during notice periods, and helping candidates understand the risks of accepting counter offers.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a counter offer and why is it important in recruitment?
Expected Answer: Should explain the basic concept of counter offers, their impact on the recruitment process, and why they can be challenging for recruiters.
Q: How do you discuss counter offers with candidates?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic counter offer discussions, including when to bring up the topic and how to prepare candidates for potential counter offer situations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of counter offers
- Candidate interview techniques
- Basic salary negotiations
- Understanding candidate motivations
Mid (2-5 years)
- Counter offer prevention strategies
- Advanced negotiation techniques
- Candidate risk assessment
- Client consultation on retention
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic counter offer prevention
- Training team members on counter offers
- Complex negotiation management
- Development of retention programs
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience discussing compensation with candidates
- Lack of understanding about candidate motivation factors
- Poor track record of completed placements
- Limited knowledge of industry salary standards
- No experience handling candidate resignations
Related Terms
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