TheNegotiator

VP of Sales

I'm severely underpaid. I signed another offer & resigned. They're begging me to stay...

The bullet points are in the title. Area sales leader, responsible for about 20M ARR book of business and 20+ SDRs/AEs/AMs.

I'm severely underpaid for what do and deliver. I kept my head down and worked, ignoring upward of 20 recruiters offering 2x - 4x.

I finally lost my patience with the mistakes made by our product and delivery team; concerns that have been heard as valid (money actually wasn't the final trigger). Now they're begging me to stay.

This would mean backing out on a signed offer, and my integrity means a lot to me. I've read all sorts of statistics about people who take improved offers, and how it never works out after that. The fact is, I really love this company and the people, and I've tried to make it work but it hasn't.

Now my owner, CEO, CFO are all begging. What would you do...?

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69

70 comments

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funcoupons

WR Officer

44

👑

Fuck. That.

They didn't appreciate you before, why would they appreciate you now? Counter offers are almost never worth it, because as you said - money wasn't the main problem anyway.

Take your new offer and skip on outta there.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

13

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

^this, it doesn't change any of the red flags.

Sounds like you're just having some pre-exit jitters. Don't second guess yourself.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

8

VP of Sales

The dust has settled now, and its over. Thanks for push ladies and gents.

willyhndz3

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

@TheNegotiator Congrats man!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

21

🦊

I'd still leave. If you stay you will always be the one who quit in the back of their mind. The moment you have a "bad day" they will accuse you of not being engaged and let you go. Seen this happen many times.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

4

VP of Sales

That's exactly what I think. We have someone in the company who did this, before I got here. She's not the greatest at her job anyway, and I can't stop myself from thinking this way about her... I was thinking, negotiate an airtight severance clause to protect myself, but that's a shitty way to maintain a business relationship

PawPaw

Opinionated

3

Business Developmemt Director

I agree. Plus, I’ve yet to know anyone who accepted a counter offer and end up staying for more than 4 months for one reason or another

ColdCallFartBoy

Celebrated Contributor

5

Business Development Representative

Take the new offer

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

2

VP of Sales

I did. P.S. your name makes my lungs hurt. The story was even better.

I'm adding cold-fart to my list of tactics; though maybe a back-pocket one.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

5

SaaS Eater

Are you leaving for the money at the other company or because you believe in what they are doing more than your company?

From what you have outlined, it doesn't sound like you are leaving because of they money, but poor leadership and execution. Them counterting to keep you solves your income issue short term but doesn't solve any of the other reasons that prompted you to look elsewhere in the first place. If your feedback has been valid in the past and they have done nothing to act upon it or shown improvement, why would they value it more now that you have shown you are willing to leave?

I see very little upside in you staying in your current role, aside from a base bump that will feel good for 90 days, until you realize you are dealing with the same bullshit as before.

It doesn't sound like you have burned any bridges, you can still love the people that work there, but do it with a fatter wallet and higher level of happiness at your new company.

Dorsia4Two

Valued Contributor

4

Account Executive

What’s going to change if you stay? Do what’s right for you, not the company.

SaaSam

Politicker

3

Account Executive

GTFO Because I would almost bet my commission that if you took the offer they will still be looking to replace you as you've proven you are willing to leave.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

0

VP of Sales

If I was to even consider staying, and I’m not anymore, I would’ve gotten them to put in a bulletproof severance clause. Being let go wouldn’t have mattered at that point. I’ll always have a future in sales, and financially I’d be taken care of… but you’re all right. It’s time to go.

msp_sales

Opinionated

1

Full Cycle Sales

Would you ask your spouse for a divorce, and then stay if they promised to be better? They had their chance, they blew it.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

2

VP of Sales

I agree.

Chep

WR Officer

1

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Demand a raise. Be transparent about what you have been offered and tell them you expect something in the ballpark plus them listening to what you say. They say no go enjoy the new offer. Sounds like you have all the power🔥

agave

Contributor

1

Head of Business Development

Think of it this way: if you stay, your employer's trust will be eroded in you. They will always remember that you wanted to quit. I think this can harm your long term ability to get promoted and grow; in other words, you will likely leave within a year or so anyway. That being said, is this opportunity better than what is behind door #2 in the future? If the answer is yes then I would depart.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

I'd still leave. If you stay you will always be the one who quit in the back of their mind. The moment you have a "bad day" they will accuse you of not being engaged and let you go. Seen this happen many times.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

1

ISR

I'd still leave. If you stay you will always be the one who quit in the back of their mind. The moment you have a "bad day" they will accuse you of not being engaged and let you go. Seen this happen many times.

HappyGilmore

Politicker

0

Account Executive - SMB

Stick to your guns. No matter the counter it won't match the offer you signed, and it sounds like truly greener pastures are on the other side.

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

0

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Lot of red flags leading up to your resignation. Enough to say too bad and leave.

If you’re on the fence, get them to outline:
-how they will address the concerns with product and delivery. Require specifics from them.
-clear career growth path for you. If you’re that valuable, they need to show a (defined) path for more. Especially if the new company is providing that.
-OVERPAY vs the other company. You gave them a discount before. Now they’ve gotta pay up and then some.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

1

VP of Sales

They are actually making moves to address the mess. They insist my concerns - all valid - will be addressed. It's constructive feedback anyway, but it just feels like too little too late

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

It's like getting cheated on and your bf/gf promising never to do it again...the damage is done.

goose

Politicker

0

Sales Executive

Don't let the door hit ya where the lord split ya.

DFWSpartan2013

Opinionated

0

Presales Manager

Do not go back. They only want you back because you realized that they were undervaluing you. The only time you will be getting a raise from that company is if you threaten to leave again. Take the new job and go thrive and fly like an eagle.

ryan_repvue

Good Citizen

0

founder

I mean did they match the competing offer? Even if they did that's not enough. Wish them well on the way out the door and don't burn any bridges, but move on.

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

0

Sr. Business Development Manager

Counter them, stay in your role and get paid 2x4 more... That's what I would do anyway...

braintank

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

You mention begging, but are they offering you more money? Regardless I think you should go. But definitely don't stay for the same money.

bendandsnack

Politicker

0

Account Exec

I've had a similar dilemma this week where I've thought about going back on a signed offer.

However, I've definitely signed with a better company and I don't want to burn them.

I've read conflicting info but some say HR can still drop you if you've resigned in writing, & you can get into legal issues if you've signed something. Unclear if that's true

cokelon

Politicker

0

Direct Sales Lead

Usually that happens a lot, but unfortunately also a lot of us never ask for a raise or a different role (moving up). So once you have the new offer and feel more appreciated by the other company because they pay you more then this thing comes out where they are begging you to stay. Yes you could say that if you were so appreciated then they should've offered more before but sometimes if you don't ask you never know what their answer is. Tough situation but if you are leaving because you don't fell appreciated then that's your answer right there. Why were you looking or entertained an interview process in the first place? ;)

CaneWolf

Politicker

0

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

NOPE. They suck and it sucks to suck. They fucked you over and over and it's way too late. GTFO of there and go enjoy your new world.

Justatitle

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

From a random stranger on the internet my instinct tells me you should leave. It took you threatening them to leave for your current company to appreciate what you do and they wouldn’t listen before that. Who’s to say if you stay they won’t revert back to the same problems and they have already let you down time and again. I get loyalty and allegiance but the company didn’t do the same to you so why would you do that for them?

SalesRecruiter

Opinionated

0

Recruiting Director

Never accept a counter offer in your current role. You started applying elsewhere for a reason and you already said money wasn’t the final straw which means money shouldn’t be what gets you to stay. Congrats on the new job!!

Nairobi

Politicker

0

AE

They appreciate you now but trust they won't care about you soon.

happyhunter

Politicker

0

spittin' sunshine

LEAVE. They should have been paying your worth all along. I've worked as a recruiter and dealt with this all the time. People who stay still end up leaving the company within a year.

You're making the right decision in taking a new position and have some exciting times ahead!

Rupert_Pupkin

Contributor

0

Account Executive

Had the same situation about 6 months ago but as an IC. Told my manager 6 months before I made the decision that I didn’t want to leave, but if nothing changed I was gonna start looking (same reasons, mostly product related). Nothing changed, and everyone acted like they couldn’t believe it. I told them it wasn’t fair to either of us for me to stay have have one foot in the boat going forward. We all still see each other about once a quarter for beers, but I could not be happier in the new gig. You have no idea how refreshed and reinvigorated you’ll feel when you move, seriously. Good luck either way

spicyrecruiter

Contributor

0

Recruiter

Leave! 90% of people who stay from a counter offer end up leaving within a year

Ozz

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Yeah, GTFO.

thegrinch

Politicker

0

SDR

Too late. On to the next one!

plssircanigetanotherpo

Executive

0

IC

Don't take the counter offer from your existing company. It NEVER works out. If you're crushing it, you're the good one. But the moment you make a mistake or miss a number, they (C-Suite) will remember the time you tried to leave. Seriously if they didn't treat you right during all the times you worked your ass for them, why would they treat you differently in the future? Be ware of the fake shit and gtfo there!

fidelcashflow

Catalyst

0

Account Executive

Leave. Watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqnMQOZnl6E

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