Offers and pay · 5 min read
Should I accept a counter-offer from my current employer?
Only if money was the main reason you were leaving and they fix the rest too. If you left for the work or the manager, more pay rarely changes that.
The short answer
Accept a counter-offer only if pay was the main reason you were leaving and the counter fixes it properly, ideally in writing with any promised changes. If you started looking because of the work, your manager, progression or burnout, more money usually doesn't fix the underlying reason, and you may end up looking again. Before you resign, decide what, if anything, would make you stay, so you aren't deciding under pressure.
On this page 4 sections
Ask why you started looking
| Why you were leaving | Can a counter fix it? |
|---|---|
| Below-market pay | Often, if the new figure is market rate |
| No progression | Only with a written promotion or new scope |
| Difficult manager | Rarely |
| The work itself | Rarely |
| Burnout | Only if workload changes too |
Decide before you resign
Write down what would make you stay, if anything. If nothing would, say so kindly when they ask. If something would, it's better to raise it before you have an outside offer.
If you accept
- Get it in writing.
- Tell the other employer the same day.
- Set a date to check whether promised changes happened.
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Questions people ask
- Is it unprofessional to accept a counter-offer?
- No, but it can affect your relationship with the new employer who offered you a job. Tell them promptly and courteously.
- Will my employer trust me less?
- It can happen. Some managers see you as a flight risk afterwards. Others are glad to keep you. It depends on the relationship.
- Can I use an outside offer to get a raise without leaving?
- You can, but only do it if you'd genuinely take the other job. If they don't match, you need to be ready to go.
- What should I ask for in writing?
- The new pay, the effective date, and any changes to role, title or reporting line they promised.
- How do I decline a counter-offer?
- Thank them, say the decision is made, and focus on a good handover. 'I appreciate it. I've decided to take the new role, and I'll make sure the handover is smooth.'
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