So I’ve been waiting to finally leave this job due to an overwhelming mountain of issues (incompetent management, outdated tech, terrible systems/culture, etc.). Found a new job at a pretty well known company that is at least growing and addresses some of these problems, with a significant pay bump and title change as well.
My manager asked if they can counter to keep me and asked me to throw out a number. With no intent to stay, I gave them my minimum threshold to see what number they would throw out. I have been pretty underpaid at this point due to performing the tasks of two jobs while earning the salary of the lower-paying one. The minimum threshold I gave them was 35% higher than my current salary and within market range for the higher-paying job I’ve been performing job functions for.
Instead of countering they asked if I could go lower…
And I fucking laughed. It’s hilarious when companies are so out of touch with the current hiring environment that they don’t even understand how countering a job offer works.
We’re not negotiating here. I’m not trying to stay, you’re trying to keep me. You don’t get to ask if I can come down on my number when there’s a better company offering more already. I don’t know where the entitlement of these companies comes from, where they think they can still call the shots while having absolutely no leverage. I don’t understand why they think we would take a pay cut in order to work for them.
Let’s just say the conversation of a counteroffer stopped there. And I’m loving my new job.