[Rick Lee]

Of course, I know the recruiter is protecting his commission check. Why should he be looking out for me when I'm not the one paying him? I totally get that and have no problem with it. But the PDF he sent on why to never accept a counter does make some good points.

When I played this game about 10 yrs. ago and won, it was a very small company where I had constant access to the top people whose offices were a few ft. from my own. These days it's a big company with a lot of departments and politics scattered around the world, constant shifts in direction and leadership goals and not such a well-oiled machine as where the boss and I once were.

I'm sure my boss has authority to offer what it'd take to get me to stay and he'd not be personally offended or view me as a traitor. But what happens if he leaves or gets promoted to a different role? I know he's protected several of us on his team from getting laid off or fired in the past. I personally think my boss's boss will be fired in the near future. So I'm not too worried about him. I'm just worried about how long I'd be dependent on my boss's protection after threatening to leave to get a good counter. And let's face it - that's what it is. I've asked for raises before and been stalled. If I say I'm leaving, I know he'll take it seriously and want to counter.