Should I try for a counter-counter offer? [closed]

Question

I work for Tech Firm A, and was recently contacted by Tech Firm B. Firm B has made me a fairly nice offer. I was planning to accept it, even though it means moving.

My plan had been to accept and make sure everything was settled before informing my manager at Firm A. However, the recruiter made a definite point of telling me to inform her of any other offers I received, which makes me think that perhaps I should tell my current manager about Firm B, in the hopes that Firm A makes a counteroffer. Which I could then present to the recruiter for Firm B, in hopes that they'd up their original offer.

I suppose my current manager could just fire me on the spot (unlikely; he's a good guy), in which case I would have to drastically advance my plans. But are there any other possible downsides to this scenario? Also, is there any sort of reasonable chance that this could lead to a higher salary offer from Firm B?

Both firms are extremely large and well-known. Firm B has given me until Friday to decide, so I don't have a whole lot of time for figuring this out.

Answer 1

Playing two parties against each other carries the risks others mention.

Whether that risk is worth taking, could depend on what the reasonably likely upside would be. If both parties seem quite budget-constrained and your upside is probably only within the single-digit percentages, it seems the downside risks outweigh the upside.

I would think the only way one could pull this off successfully without antagonizing your current employer, would be if they acknowledge that you are an absolute rock star that has been massively underpaid for quite some time.

The fact that the recruiter wants to be told of any other offers is a reflection of you having the best hand. If unexpected things happen, your leverage will disappear quite quickly, thus turning the tables. In addition, even though your boss is a good guy, I have more than once been surprised at how resignations have been (mis-) handled when professionals all of a sudden take things very personally.

Bottom line: If you are basically happy with the FirmB offer, take that and then quit.

Answer 2

I am of the opinion that playing one against the other may leave you with no job at all - or a job where they know that they have employed you because of duress.

I am also of the opinion that people should work not just for the money. Money is a good reason for working but there should be other factors - such as enjoyment of the working environment, job satisfaction, etc.

If you have looked for work elsewhere, I think this is not solely due to money. I think it is wise that when you have made a decision to move on then stick with it. Whatever the reasons for looking for work elsewhere will raise their head again in the near future.

Answer 3

Accepting a counter offer is generally believed to be a bad idea. After having found an offer from another company, you are a marked person. You will be out rather sooner than later. If this is the USA, there have been people accepting a counter offer and getting fired two weeks later (just because the employer was an ***hole, but it happens).

Now asking for a counter counter offer, that is bad. You got an offer, presumably because you made a good impression in an interview, you seemed capable and enthusiastic, and because you are worth what they offered you. Looking for a higher offer from them destroys that good impression. It's very unlikely to lead to a higher offer. It could lead to #2 on their list to get an unexected offer.

Answer 4

So essentially, you are trying to play with fire here and "cheat" a firm into giving you a higher salary, correct? I would strongly recommend you do NOT try to play games, it WILL backfire on you and cost you dearly. Your best bet is to do either of the following:

1. Stay with Firm A and decline Firm B's offer; though this begs the question of why you are even looking unless you just do not like Firm B's offer, though you will have wasted that Firm's time which is highly toxic (Firm B could blacklist you or let others in the industry know you wasted their company's time...networking is a double-edged sword).
2. Accept Firm B's offer and leave Firm A; never play the counter offer game, YOU will lose from every angle. Negotiating is something to do without "empty" threats. If you want a higher salary (or XYZ) then negotiate for it without informing Firm A (this way if the Firm B falls through, you have Firm A to fall back on and they do not know you are looking).

The reason you will lose in a counter offer situation (or counter counter offer) is because once Firm A knows you are looking, your life and job are about to become 10x harder as they will dump any meaningless or grunt level task on you. Firm B knows this as well (since it is common knowledge essentially), so they could retract their offer and say "We cannot compete with XYZ's offer, sorry". So you lose either way. The counter offer game is just a gimmick that will burn you and not either company. I would accept or decline the offer and not play a game with either firm.