These past couple of weeks have been crazy. This is an update to this post where I detailed how I got a stellar review and asked for more money and was met with a raise that wasn't even close to what I asked for and still 60k below market. Let's walk through the journey of what went down.
I ended up putting in my notice a couple of weeks ago with someone in executive leadership who I value a lot. We had a long conversation about the company, my goals, the comp situation, my family, and just about everything under the sun that led to this decision. I did a lot of things for his team and he asked if there was anything they could do to keep me.
I told him that I had already accepted an offer that would be paying me 100% more and his response was “Give us a chance to counter. I'll get with the team and we'll have something for you by the end of the week.”
As the week approached, word got out that I was thinking about leaving, and other members of the executive leadership team scheduled 1:1's with me to try and retain me and keep me. I ended up talking to the CEO/CFO in a 2:1 and they said they were going to give me an offer that would compel me to stay.
That Friday, I received an offer in my work email that detailed their counter. They agreed to pay me EXACTLY what I had asked for, in addition to a promotion to report directly to the C-suite. I would essentially have 3 managers in the CRO, CEO & CFO and would have dotted-line access to them all.
What I found ridiculous about this offer was that they previously told me my previous raise was the absolute most they could offer and was generous/more than what other people had been offered. Now that I'm leaving they all of a sudden can come up with my original ask, title, and better reporting structure? You guys ALL called it.
When I told them I was going to leave and the offer wasn't compelling enough, they immediately countered again by raising my base salary to 150k + bonus (now 20k higher than what I had asked for). I still told them I wasn't going to take it because my new role is paying 180k+bonus and puts me in the low 200s which is where my role sits within the market & where I live.
Me declining the offer again pissed off the CFO. The guy called me and we quickly get into it again. He ends up saying “HandFar3125 I just want you to know that if you leave the company there is no reality where we will ever work together again.”
I used to fucking love this guy. We would shoot the shit and text back and forth. I thought this guy was my buddy and clearly, he's losing his mind over a decision I'm making. I don't know why, but they all are taking it super personally.
At this point, I realized it wouldn't be wise for me to stay at all. Even if I did stay, they would have the fact that they had to bump my pay a minimum of 50-60k just to keep me. Who's to say they aren't just paying me this now while they try to go find another skilled loser to underpay for the same role. I fell for it once and I wasn't going to fall for it again.
They tried to keep me by offering a retention bonus, more pay, mentioning how we are “set to grow exponentially this coming year”, they mentioned I was letting my team down, they wondered how they would find someone to replace me, the whole deal. It's like I saw the 7 stages of denial unfold right before my eyes in a professional setting.
I'll admit. I really wanted to take the counteroffer and stay. There are a lot of people here that I love and I've had a good time growing with the business & the team I worked for.
Staying would be financially irresponsible and would put me in a bad position. I have a compelling offer with a new company that immediately pays market rate right out the door for the right person.
I'll be honest. I'm nervous, I've got imposter syndrome and I feel like maybe I'm not making the right move. My old company guilted me hard and I'm still second-guessing myself a little bit. I grew up poor, and through a bunch of good luck, I've managed to hit the 200k mark. I understand I'm privileged in this regard. I'm proud of myself and happy I've hit this milestone and I do not intend for any of this to be a humblebrag. Like the rest of you, I'm heavily antiwork, and just because I make more money than some folks doesn't mean I'm not a champion for workers' rights, fair pay, and equitable workspaces.
Fuck it though, on to better things.
~$120k —> ~$220k just by leaving. It's true. If you want a raise don't ask for one, just fucking leave.
PS: Many of you DMed me asking what I do or how you can get into this line of work. I'm happy to answer DMs if you'd like. Hint, it's in tech, in a HCOL city on the west coast. You can do this job anywhere remotely and there are plenty of resources to get you started.