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How to Counter a counter - Jobs offer

J

JBT

Lifer
I recently started on with a company. Making in the 80's

A friend of mine introduced me to his company and offered me in the low 100's.

Now the company in the 100's I have to pay state tax for 5.25% and the commute is a bit more. But in the end its a more money.

I verbally accepted the position over the phone but I have not signed and sent in the written offer yet.

I gave my notice to the original company and they are attempting to counter offer, but have asked me how much its going to take to keep me. I honestly want to go with the new company, but I would really like to have make an additional 5K out of this with the new company and go with them.

Is it too ballsy to try to make this with the new company I already verbally agreed. I think if I ask for another 5K they will tell me to take a hike, and I'll either be stuck with the original company or out of a job...

Just to Clarify: I already have the written offer in my hand from the new company.
 
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If you submitted your resignation letter, it should be a final decision and you shouldn't negotiate a counter with your current/soon to be former employer. All they're doing is trying to buy time to fill your position with someone else, at which time they'll show you the door.
 
I have not submitted my letter of resignation yet. I had a meeting with my manager, and he asked me to build of list of what they could do to keep me.

I think the new company was actually as high as they are willing to go, so I'll just leave that offer and see if the old company can meet my "demands"
 
It would be ballsy. All you can do is let them know your current employer is offering 5K more than they are offering. But be prepared for the new company to turn you down and send you packing. You shouldnt have submitted your resignation letter until you are employed by the new company.
 
NEVER EVER accept a counter offer!

having said that, since you already accepted (even if verbally) and would like to go with the new offer, just go with it.

ps. there are exceptions to every rule!
 
Don't try and play games with your new employer. This is the place your going to work in, it's not a safe way to start things.
 
I received the new companies offer via FedEx. I have signed it but did not mail it back. I'll just leave their offer alone (in that I won't be countering etc) As no one wants to start off on the wrong foot.
 
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Everything is negotiable... and you should have a written offer letter IN HAND before you submit a written letter of resignation.

Never accept a counter offer, as they will always doubt your intent to remain from then on.
 
You verbally accepted the offer. If you weasel out now, you'll have a reputation as someone who can't be trusted on his word.
 
Metron said:
Never accept a counter offer, as they will always doubt your intent to remain from then on.
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This I don't get.
On one hand, they should doubt that anyway.
On the other hand, if he accepts their counter-offer, it means that he is willing to stay, as long as the conditions reflect his market value.

Of course, it depends on the individual boss and HR.
 
Best thing is to ask yourself if you only want the change for more money. If it's just about money, then that's fine...but that means you should explain that to your current employer and let them know it's not personal....let them know they can make you an offer if they wish, but they should come up with what they think you're worth.

Don't burn any bridges with them.
 
Genx87 said:
It would be ballsy. All you can do is let them know your current employer is offering 5K more than they are offering. But be prepared for the new company to turn you down and send you packing. You shouldnt have submitted your resignation letter until you are employed by the new company.
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and odds are that's what they would do. unless you are filling a hard to find slot.


if you choose to stay with the old company depending on the boss it won't matter. some get bitchy some dont' care.
 
JBT said:
I gave my notice to the original company and they are attempting to counter offer, but have asked me how much its going to take to keep me. I honestly want to go with the new company, but I would really like to have make an additional 5K out of this with the new company and go with them.
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Make it an UNREASONABLE request in order for them to keep you. ie: Something on the likes of a 100% pay raise and an additional 2 weeks of vacation per year or whatnot.

They'll get the hint, and you won't have to worry too much about the situation - OR - they'll accept and you can laugh all the way to the bank. Win-win.
 
First of all, there is nothing wrong with changing your mind and accepting the counter from your current employer. If your current employer is offering a counter, consider it but I wouldn't use it as leverage for the other offer.
 
dyna said:
First of all, there is nothing wrong with changing your mind and accepting the counter from your current employer. If your current employer is offering a counter, consider it but I wouldn't use it as leverage for the other offer.
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Exactly this unless the new company counters without you trying to get it out of them.

I had a friend who was working at the mall for Coach. She applied for Louis Vuitton and they pretty much doubled her current pay. Coach found out (mall politics) and raised her past what LV was willing to pay and she stayed.
 
don't even bother with the counter offer. tell them there is nothing they can do and you've made up your mind. trying to use a counter offer as a reason to ask for a higher salary at your new position just looks like a very shady thing to do.
 
If you've already verbally accepted then I think you've limited yourself to two acceptable options:

1) Take the offer as given.
2) Take the counter offer. If you stated exactly what it takes for you to stay expect to stay if they give it. I'd recommend asking for much more than you need to stay. If they come back with less than that but more than you needed you can make the choice there and if you say no you aren't burning bridges. In my case I asked for a 40% increase counter offer, would have stayed for 20% but never stated that, got 37% increase and took it. At no point did I mention that the offer was only a 10% increase.

You do have to gauge the risk of a counter offer. Both in terms of manager/company culture (it had zero impact on me) and in terms of why you are looking at all (only take a counter if money is the biggest reason for looking well above all others).
 
JBT said:
I verbally accepted the position over the phone but I have not signed and sent in the written offer yet.

I gave my notice to the original company

Is it too ballsy to try to make this with the new company I already verbally agreed.
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YES

By already making a verbal commitment, renigging on that will make you look like a snake. Graciously deny the counter offer from the company you are leaving and advise that you would like to keep in touch, "you never know what the future will hold"

If they loved you so much, they would have paid you the right $ to start.
 
You should have looked into the counter-offer situation before you agreed for the new job.
You gave your word - apparently it is not worth anything if you are looking to counter/raise.
 
Rakehellion said:
You verbally accepted the offer. If you weasel out now, you'll have a reputation as someone who can't be trusted on his word.
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Yep...OP has accepted verbally, so, that should be it.
Have fun with the new company.

As for the old company, say, sorry, but I already accepted with them.
Then write a 'thank you' letter, to show you have no hard feelings, it is just business.
 
Sounds fair enough. Thanks for your opinions guys. You all pretty much said what I expected. I'll be going with the new company, and didn't bother with any counter.
 
I know you've already decided, but at that salary point, I wouldn't bother bickering about 5k. Would probably need to be 15k or so before I took notice.
 
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