What is Counter Offer?
A counter offer is a new pay or role proposal made either by a current employer to keep you after you resign, or by you or the employer during negotiation of an offer. It is worth comparing the full package, not only the pay figure, before you accept, decline or answer one.
The two kinds of counter offer
- Counter to keep you. You resign, and your current employer offers more pay, a new title or other changes so you stay.
- Counter in a negotiation. A company makes an offer, you ask for different terms, and the company answers with a revised offer. Either side can make the next move until you agree or walk away.
What to compare
Look past the headline pay. Ask for the whole package in writing and compare:
- base pay and any variable or bonus pay;
- start date and, in India, the notice period you must serve;
- title, reporting line and scope of the role;
- benefits, leave, remote or location terms;
- anything promised verbally, which should be written down.
Questions to ask yourself before accepting a counter to stay
- Why did I start looking? If the reasons were not pay, a raise may not fix them.
- Is the change in writing, with a date, or only a promise?
- How will my manager and team see the decision?
There is no single right answer. Some people stay and are glad they did; others leave later for the same reasons. Decide on your own priorities.
How it shows up on LiveRec
When an employer sends you an offer on LiveRec, you can choose Accept and sign, Decline, or Make counteroffer, where you enter a pay amount and an expected start date. The help article on accepting, declining or countering an offer walks through each step.
Example
A candidate gives notice. Her manager offers a higher base pay if she stays. She asks for it in writing, compares it with the new offer's full package, and sees that the scope of the role is unchanged. She weighs why she wanted to leave before deciding.