Offers
What to say when you have a competing offer but want to stay
You received a strong offer from another company, but you'd prefer to stay at your current job if they match it.
When leveraging a competing offer, do not issue an ultimatum or demand a match. Present the offer as an unexpected problem you need their help with, state the facts, and say: "It sounds like we have a decision to make." This makes them your partner in solving the retention problem.
“It sounds like you have a decision to make.”
Tip: Never bluff. Only have this conversation if you are fully prepared to accept the other offer if your current company says no.
Why this works
Ultimatums trigger ego. If you walk into your boss's office and say 'Match this or I quit,' their instinct will be to let you quit rather than be extorted. You must frame the competing offer as something that 'happened to you' rather than something you actively sought out to use against them.
By saying 'I wasn't looking, but this fell into my lap and it's a significant jump. I love it here and want to stay, but the gap is too large to ignore. It sounds like we have a decision to make,' you remove the threat.
You are aligning yourself with your boss against the problem (the external offer). You are giving them the opportunity to 'rescue' you, which is a dynamic managers are much more willing to engage with.
The trap
What most people say, and why it backfires
✕“Company X offered me 20% more. What can you do?”
It reads as a shakedown. You are forcing them into a defensive posture.
✕“I'm probably going to take this other job.”
If you sound like you've already mentally left, they won't fight to keep you. They will just wish you well.
When they push back
Have your next line ready
If they say: "We can't match that number."
Say: "I figured it might be tight. What is the absolute best we can do to close the gap?"
If they say: "Let me talk to HR."
Say: "Thank you. I need to give them an answer by Thursday, so can we regroup on Wednesday afternoon?"
How to deliver it
Keep your tone collaborative and slightly apologetic. You are presenting a shared dilemma, not slamming a winning hand on the table.
Before you walk in
Five things to have ready
Frequently asked questions
Is accepting a counteroffer dangerous?+
Yes. Statistics show many people who accept counteroffers leave within a year anyway. Ensure you are staying because you love the job, not just because you fear change.
Will my boss resent me for interviewing elsewhere?+
That's why you frame it as 'an opportunity reached out to me.' It softens the blow of you looking around.
What if the new offer has a better title, not just money?+
Ask for a match on the full package: "The new role is a Senior Director position. Can we look at an accelerated title review here to match that trajectory?"
How long should I give them to counter?+
24 to 48 hours. Let them know the deadline the other company gave you, and stick to it.
This line works for most of these conversations. Yours has specifics it doesn't.
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