Counter offer horror stories

Microsoft / Eng
AmI3vil

Go to company page Microsoft Eng

AmI3vil
Apr 30, 2018 12 Comments

I keep reading and hearing that it’s a bad idea to take your current company’s counter offer. Does anyone have a personal story that shows this to be the case?

What if you used the other company’s offer to get a raise?

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TOP 12 Comments
  • Intel
    IntelAlum

    Go to company page Intel

    PRE
    Intel
    IntelAlum
    Was offered 30-40 ish% raise, “unofficial” promise of promotion within the next year, leadership position within the group, and more. In the end I chose not to take it however, and 3 months later, the team was laid off/disbanded. The managers MUST have known this was coming, yet they still told me all this bs during counter offer stage. Beware of counter offers, managers will say anything to keep you so that they dont get flagged for not being able to keep talent.
    Apr 30, 2018 2
  • Amazon
    yKXA88

    Go to company page Amazon

    yKXA88
    IMHO, the reason not to take a counteroffer is if the reason you want to leave isn't money. If you're leaving because the money sucks, then taking a counter can make sense, but if not, money won't fix the problem.
    May 3, 2018 2
    • Google
      PrVK02

      Go to company page Google

      PRE
      Nvidia
      PrVK02
      Exactly this. Even if you're leaving because of money, taking the counteroffer is at best a temporary fix. You're still working for a company that wasn't willing to pay you properly until you threatened to quit.
      The one time I accepted a counter offer, I was miserable again within a year and left. It just delayed my escape.
      May 3, 2018
    • Microsoft / Eng
      AmI3vil

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      AmI3vil
      OP
      I think that logic is what makes us suspect that you would be sidelined anyway because it’s assumed you weren’t happy for other reasons. However, if they fix your pay and fix your work (a different position/project/team)...

      Although, even in those cases, once you get the idea of leaving into your head, it stays there until you do.
      May 3, 2018
  • Intel
    faangarooo

    Go to company page Intel

    faangarooo
    In my case, I took the counter offer of my company but from a totally separate group. The group I was working at the time also willing to counter but didnt even let them make an offer. Because my problem with that group was bigger than any money they could offer :) So far, happy with my decision. My advice would be: think once again clearly why you looked for other opportunities in the beginning. Is money the only problem or are there others? If it's only for money and they could beat the offer, you can stay. Otherwise, move on to the new company.
    Apr 30, 2018 2
    • Intel
      gihjuhghhi

      Go to company page Intel

      gihjuhghhi
      So you got an offer from a different group at Intel that offered you a raise? And your old group was also willing to counter? Can you offer any details of how you negotiated a raise?
      May 1, 2018
    • Intel
      faangarooo

      Go to company page Intel

      faangarooo
      It's not Intel, dont want to give out company name because of privacy reasons. Yes, I got a raise because I had a FAANG offer at hand.
      May 1, 2018
  • Microsoft / Eng
    AmI3vil

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    AmI3vil
    OP
    Ok, so far, the bad outcomes are due to layoffs that would have affected you whether you were announcing your departure or not. In other words, no stories about retaliation for getting a pay raise yet.
    May 2, 2018 0
  • Amazon / Eng
    Bezos Sama

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    Bezos Sama
    Not counter offer but retention bonus during a merger period. The news was they want only 50 out of 100 people so they pay you 8k to stay for 3 months and 20k to stay for 12 months.

    In the end they pay you 20k 6 months in and layoff everyone, merger progress ahead of schedule. Good thing I didn't take it.
    May 1, 2018 0