โWhile working in an internal recruitment role,ย Lauren Pocknellย longed for the consultancy environment sheโd previously enjoyed at a large staffing firm. And then Investigo came calling. Yet after she was offered a position with us, Lauren received a counter-offer from her employer โ and accepted. She soon wished she hadnโt. Knowing external recruitment was where she really wanted to be and at last deciding toย work for Investigo, Lauren tells us why you should be wary of accepting a counter-offer.
Why did you want to move on from your role in internal recruitment?
There was nothing wrong with my current company. Internal recruitment was awesome but it didnโt have the same rewards or buzz as agency recruitment. I decided I wanted to go back to 360 recruitment and make a fresh start at a good, established company. Once I got the thought in my head to move on, I donโt think there was a way back. That feeling of โwhat ifโ will make you less productive over time.
Why did you initially reject the offer from Investigo?
There were a number of reasons. I was worried about upsetting my current boss and about what people might think or say. There was also the fear of starting something new: new probation period, new colleagues, new team.
I had stability too. I knew my last company and I was comfortable there โ maybe a bit too comfortable. I told too many people that I was thinking of leaving and I ended up getting such conflicting advice โ some saying โstay where you areโ and others saying โgo for itโ โ that I didnโt know what to do. Half of them didnโt even work in recruitment. I suddenly felt embarrassed to leave. When my employer made the counter-offer, I decided to stay.
In the end you made the right decision and came to Investigo. What would you advise candidates to do if they receive a counter-offer?
If a manager offers you more money when you say youโre going to leave, for me thatโs a kick in the teeth. Theyโve always clearly had that money in their budget, so why didnโt they value you that highly in the first place?
Trust will be broken. The manager will always remember that you wanted to leave, no matter how much they say they will not. Itโs better to leave on good terms and just cut your losses rather than stringing it on until the next time you get headhunted or something upsets you.
At the end of the day, accepting the counter-offer might keep you happy for a short time, but ultimately it wonโt take away the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place.
What would your advice be to someone considering the move into a new recruitment position?
Donโt ask too many people โ listen to your gut first. Put together a pros and cons list and when you do speak to your close family and friends, tell them your decision rather than asking their advice.
Go for it โ challenge yourself! Iโve done two deals in six weeks already and thatโs with the Christmas break. My manager has been an absolute gem and offered me so much support.
If youโre worried about making the move, be honest with your potential new line manager. Tell them your concerns and get a better idea about whether youโre compatible with the role.
Honestly, whatโs the worst that can happen? If you work hard and trust your ability, then go for it.
Whatโs different about Investigo?
Youโre always out and about on meetings and putting together regular business plans โ which Iโve never done before, but really helps you focus. You feel like an entrepreneur and you take ownership of your market.
Thereโs no micromanagement. The onus is on you to do what you need to do. Investigo has the most supportive managers โ hands-off, helpful and human. You can talk to them about anything.
Then thereโs the commission. I was not in a commission-based role and with Investigoโs lucrative scheme, I wanted a piece of that. That said, there will be a point where your happiness and career progression will outweigh the finances, and only you know when that point comes. Luckily for me, ย Investigoโs got those covered too.