My company countered my external offer. Everyone says never take the counter — why?
Got an offer elsewhere for about 20% more. Told my manager I was leaving, and within two days they came back matching it and then some, plus a title bump.
The internet is weirdly unanimous that taking a counteroffer is a trap: you'll be seen as a flight risk, the reasons you looked in the first place won't change, most people who accept are gone within a year anyway. Part of me thinks that's just cynicism. I like my team. The new place is a total unknown.
Has anyone here taken a counter and been glad they did? I'd love to hear from someone it worked out for, because right now all I've got is the internet's blanket "don't."
2 comments
- 0
AnonymousAnon The flight-risk thing is overstated in my experience, but the "nothing else changes" part is real. Ask yourself what actually made you open that other application. If the counter fixes that, great. If it only fixes the salary, you'll be back on the market before long.
- 0
AnonymousAnon Took a counter two years ago, still here, no regrets — but it worked because money wasn't why I'd looked. I wanted a specific project and they gave me that too. If it's purely the pay bump, the itch that made you look tends to come back within a year.