How to Counter a Job Offer

Congratulations, you passed the interview loop and the recruiter just emailed you an offer!

Your first instinct might be to reply immediately with "I accept!" But in the tech industry, the first offer is almost never the best offer. Recruiters expect you to negotiate, and leaving money on the table can compound to massive financial losses over your career.

Here is exactly how to structure your counter-offer to maximize your total compensation safely and professionally.

The 3 Rules of Countering

1. Be Grateful, but Hesitant: Start the email by expressing extreme excitement for the role, but mention that one specific element of the offer is holding you back.
2. Never Negotiate Just One Variable: Look at the Total Compensation (Base Salary + Equity + Bonus). If they say they cannot increase the base salary, pivot immediately and ask for a larger signing bonus or more equity.
3. Anchor High, but Justify It: If you want $150k, ask for $160k. Justify the request using market data, competing offers, or specific value you bring to the team.

Email Template 1: The "Market Value" Counter

Use this template if you don't have a competing offer, but you know the initial offer is below market rate for your skills.

Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]

Hi [Recruiter Name],

Thank you so much for the offer! I really enjoyed speaking with [Hiring Manager's Name] and I am incredibly excited about the prospect of joining the team to work on [Specific Project].

Before I can sign, I’d like to discuss the base salary. Based on my research for this specific role in [City], and given my specialized experience in [Specific Skill/Tech Stack], I was expecting a base salary closer to $X.

If we can bring the base salary to $X, I would be absolutely thrilled to sign the offer today.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Email Template 2: The "Competing Offer" Counter (The Strongest Leverage)

Having a competing offer from another company is the absolute strongest leverage you can have. It forces the recruiter to act quickly.

Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]

Hi [Recruiter Name],

Thank you for the incredible offer. I am very excited about the opportunity to join [Company Name], as the culture and the engineering challenges align perfectly with what I’m looking for.

To be fully transparent, I have received another offer from [Competitor Company, or "another tech company"] that includes a total compensation package of $Y. While I would strongly prefer to join your team, the financial difference is significant.

If you are able to match their offer at $Y (or offer a signing bonus of $Z to bridge the gap), I will gladly decline my other offer and sign with you immediately.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

Email Template 3: The "Pivot to Equity/Bonus" Counter

Sometimes, a company has a strict cap on base salary for a specific level. If they say no to a salary bump, pivot to one-time bonuses or stock.

Subject: Re: Job Offer - [Your Name]

Hi [Recruiter Name],

I completely understand that the base salary is capped at the top of the band for this level. Since we cannot adjust the base, would it be possible to add a one-time signing bonus of $X or an additional Y RSUs to help bridge the gap?

If we can make that adjustment to the total compensation, I am ready to sign.

Best,
[Your Name]

[!IMPORTANT] Will they rescind the offer? It is extraordinarily rare for a tech company to rescind an offer simply because you politely negotiated. They just spent thousands of dollars and dozens of hours interviewing you. They want you to join! Be professional, and you have nothing to fear.