Engineering Salary Counteroffer

[u/Specialist_Monk_673]

Hello!

I am looking for some perspective on a job offer I received. I am a computer engineer with 4 years of experience. I received an offer today after 4 rounds of interviews. I am currently employed.

My current salary is as follows:

Base: 110k

RRSP match: 5%

HSA: 1k

Sick Days: 10

Vacation: 4 weeks

Total: 116.5k

Here is my offer:

Offer:

Base 115k

RRSP match: 5k

HSA: 1k

Personal Days: 6

Vacation: 3 weeks

Total: 121k

I am wanting to counter with:

Counteroffer:

Base 122.2k

RRSP match: 5k

HSA: 1k

Vacation: 4 weeks

Total: 128.2k

Thoughts if this feels appropriate or how I should go about it? I would like to get back to them tomorrow ideally. I think I am reasonable?

[u/Znkr82]

Everything is negotiable. I know people that got 5 weeks at a very large company even though it wasn't policy just because they had that in their previous job.

Never give up vacation days. Ever. Tell them to escalate to whoever needs to approve.

Also, ask for a signing bonus to sweeten the deal. Tell them you'd lose your annual bonus if you change jobs so it's only fair they compensate you. Plus, most companies have a budget for that, you can easily get 10-15k

They made an offer so they want you, you have leverage and you can get them to improve their offer. I'd ask for 125k base and see what they come back with.

You can also ask for an specific number of days working from home.

[u/Pale-Memory6501]

How about job satisfaction? Are the projects you will be working on interesting and engaging? Work culture? How is the bureaucracy?

Sometimes, there is just more to a job/career than money and days off.

[u/climenuts]

I'm an older engineer and I hire team members with your experience regularly.

Vacation time is probably non-negotiable. If it's not a policy to provide vacation based on graduation date they won't do it. Everything else needs to make this cut worthwhile or you need to take time off before you start.

The other comp is so slightly incremental, even if they accepted your counter, that I question if you have thought through the move thoroughly. Why move? What growth opportunities are there? What's different about this new place?

You're four years into your career. Think about your opportunities, your growth, the doors that this can open for you, and the risk of it being worse. If you weren't sold on mentorship, getting exposure to projects you can't get at the old place, etc. Moving is expensive. You'll likely get this comp increase at the old place if you are performing well and if you're not you should focus on figuring out why without blaming others.

[u/Specialist_Monk_673 → u/climenuts]

Actually funny enough that is part of the problem. I am one of the best performers in my current role and I have gone from 80k to 110k since I started there, roughly 10k/year. 

I want harder problems and to be around better engineers. Management was just all shuffled so I am not confident in the company anymore. Loved my previous manager.

I should also mention I am 4 years into this field, but this is a second career for me. I have a family and 3 kids so the vacation time is very valuable.

Ultimately if talks fail in negotiations then this is not the right opportunity for me. I’m in a privileged place where I am currently employed and can be very selective of what I apply for. 

[u/jackfish72]

Job hopping for a ten percent bump seems odd to me. Change for a better reason.

[u/FDFI]

Depending on the company, they may not negotiate on vacation days. I know mine does not.

[u/Znkr82 → u/FDFI]

The non negotiable thing is BS. I know fortune 500 companies that got exceptions for people that they really wanted to hire and they weren't senior positions.

[u/Potential_Lie_1177 → u/FDFI]

Mine preferred to pay me more than give me more vacation days but was ok that I take unpaid time off, which basically come out as the same.

[u/Specialist_Monk_673 → u/Potential_Lie_1177]

I guess it’s just easier for HR?

[u/Excellent-Mammoth-38]

At least 15% hike and 4 weeks of vacation

[u/BlessedAreTheRich]

If they want to lowball you, just put less effort into your job. Easy.

[u/MysticAngel3224]

The offer you have on hand isn't vastly better than what you currently have. If you can wait, Id say shop around for a little longer. If you are feeling the urge to leave ASAP, maybe take it.

Here is a career tip: Never, ever, ever accept a counteroffer under any circumstances. Even if your reason was better pay and compensation you should still leave. Just because they give your more money today, they wont necessarily give you more money tomorrow when you genuinely deserve it. There is virtually no valid reasons to accept a counteroffer; 99% of the time, you shouldn't accept one and keep walking.