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Anonymous

June 9,2022 at 2:13PM UTC

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Hi! I need some advice. After accepting a job offer at another company, my company countered. I am considering the counter offer - better comp plan and new role. However, because I haven’t decided whether to stay or go, I don’t know if I should tell the other company yet.

Compensation is top priority for me and my growing family.

Do I tell the new company about the counter or wait until I’ve decided to accept the counter?

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Audrey KirschJune 9,2022 at 3:50PM UTC
No reason to tell the new company about the counter. They are not going to counter with a counter of their own. Instead, they will see you as not serious about wanting to leave your current job. If money is your main motivation, accept the counter but realize that next time you feel you deserve a raise or promotion, you will probably again have to threaten to leave to get one.
AnonymousJune 12,2022 at 12:14PM UTC
What was the motivation for your job search to start? Was there more to it than money, other factors? Are you happy with the environment? Do you feel the counter offer will help you feel fulfilled in your role? Maybe list the pros and cons of each job and then make your decision. The one time I accepted the counter, it did not work out well and I regretted the decision for the next two years it took me to find a new job. My experience is not yours but hope you are able to weigh these questions to help you decide.
Nicolette ThompsonJune 12,2022 at 12:30PM UTC
tell the other company, but have your decision matrix ready.
when I made a move a few months ago, I had old company and two new ones. My matrix had cash compensation, benefits, opportunity for advancement, quality of team I’d work with, fit with supervisor, company values, fit with lifestyle, even “coolness factor”! (For me, all offers were above a basement that I wanted so cash compensation was my lowest priority, so your categories will likely be very different) I assigned each category a WEIGHT - for you, maybe cash compensation is a 10 and coolness factor is a 1 - then give each opportunity a score for each thing that’s important to you and you’ll have a pretty strong decision there. Basically, weighted average. You can share it with each potential employer, sometimes you get better packages out of both. It also helps their HR teams to know why they lost, while maintaining a good relationship (my former employer thought it was poppycock, which was telling and confirmed some poor scores there; company X that I didn’t choose loved it and thanked me for transparency, company Y that I did choose loved it and asked if they could suggest it to prospective employees thinking about the opportunity.)
hope it helps, good luck!
AnonymousJune 12,2022 at 1:27PM UTC
If the other company upped their offer to match the counter, which job would you rather have?
That's what you need to decide because you do need to tell the new company. It's just about whether you frame it like, I'd really like to accept, but this comp is so important to my family, can you match it? Versus I regrettably can't come because I've received a counter. They might try to see if they can still negotiate with you and you'll have to then decide if you are genuinely interested enough to continue pursuing the offer. Most importantly, don't lie.
As I'm sure you know, a total package is more than just base salary. It also includes bonuses, ability to advance, stock options, retirement, PTO and health care.
Are there other things you can negotiate for that aren't just base salary? While this might seem good now, does it really set you up for the long term? And finally, one more piece of unsolicited advice, if the new comp is say 10% more but you have to work 20% more to get it, is it really worth it?
Good luck!
CosmosMomJune 12,2022 at 3:19PM UTC
Your current company could have been paying you more this whole time, but didn’t? That fact alone would have me move companies.
KathrynJune 12,2022 at 3:56PM UTC
Counter-Offers are often smoke and mirrors. Be wary they could have done this before you were leaving. Now they will always think you are leaving and this will be the best you can get. Go with new company ability to move up will come into play
Christine Brush, MSW, MBAJune 12,2022 at 6:43PM UTC
Never accept a counter offer! Your current company knows now that you are not 'loyal' and they will never forget that you tried to leave. If you stay, the chance is that the company will search behind your back for your replacement and will find the reason to let you go - to be petty. Take the new offer always.
AnonymousJune 12,2022 at 7:26PM UTC
I would let the new company know that your current employer countered their offer. That often ups the offer of the new company. But do not remain at your current company. You don't know how that will play out in the future since they know you were looking to leave.
Valerie RiegerJune 13,2022 at 1:08PM UTC
Seldom have I seen a counter offer go well. The reasons that employees wanted to leave are rarely addressed and there was often animosity on the part of the original organization that an employee would dare leave them. And the employee still ended up leaving, just not under the best of circumstances.
Carolyn HipkinsJune 22,2022 at 5:19PM UTC
Why didn't they offer these things in the first place? Politely decline the counter offer and go.