Should You Accept a Counter Offer?
About the Author
Lee Stevens, Director
Lee has over 15 years’ experience across Architecture, Design, and Planning, working with boutique studios through to global consultancies. He’s built his network on straight-talking advice and long-term relationships, not sales tactics.
Originally from the UK, Lee moved to Melbourne in 2014 and now balances recruitment with family life, coaching football, and keeping up with his kids and their very energetic cocker spaniel.
Contact Lee
Want to discuss your next role?
Contact Lee Stevens, Principal Recruitment Consultant, Architecture & Design -
You can also connect with Lee on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!
If you’ve got an interview coming up and want a straight answer on how to approach it, reach out. No fluff. Just honest advice.
Here's What Every Candidate Needs to Know!
Thinking about accepting a counter offer? Before you make a decision, watch Lee Stevens explain the biggest mistakes candidates make.
You've resigned... then comes the counter offer
It's a scenario we see all the time.
You've accepted a new role, handed in your resignation and are feeling excited about what's next. Then your current employer asks you to stay.
Maybe it's more money.
Maybe it's a promotion.
Maybe it's promises about new projects, better flexibility or career progression.
On the surface, it can be flattering. After all, it feels good to know you're valued.
But before you change your mind, it's worth taking a step back.
Counter offers are often emotional decisions, and making one in the heat of the moment can lead to regret later.
Why do employers make counter offers?
Replacing good employees is expensive.
Recruitment costs money. Training takes time. Projects can be disrupted. Client relationships can be affected.
For many employers, making a counter offer feels like the quickest solution.
That doesn't necessarily mean the reasons you decided to leave have disappeared.
Ask yourself:
- Has the workload changed?
- Has the leadership changed?
- Have career opportunities suddenly improved?
- Or has the salary simply increased?
Money might solve one problem, but it rarely fixes everything else.
Don't make a decision on the spot
One of the best pieces of advice Lee gives candidates is simple.
Ask for 24 to 48 hours to think about it.
This does two things.
- Firstly, it removes the pressure of making an emotional decision.
- Secondly, it puts you back in control of the conversation.
Taking time allows you to compare both opportunities objectively rather than reacting in the moment.
If you are considering accepting...
If you're genuinely thinking about staying, don't rely on verbal promises.
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is accepting a counter offer based on conversations that never make it onto paper.
Before agreeing to anything, make sure every detail is documented.
That includes:
- Your new salary
- Your position and reporting line
- Your responsibilities
- Flexible working arrangements
- Career progression commitments
- Timeframes for any agreed changes
If it isn't documented, there's every chance it won't happen as discussed.
Remember why you started looking
This is probably the most important question you can ask yourself.
Why were you looking for another job in the first place?
For most people, salary is only one part of the equation.
Perhaps you wanted:
- Better leadership
- More interesting projects
- Career progression
- Greater flexibility
- A healthier workplace culture
- Better work-life balance
If none of those things have changed, a higher salary may only delay the same decision a few months down the track.
It's okay to say no
If you decide the new opportunity is still the right move, be professional and respectful.
Thank your employer for the offer and for recognising your value.
Then move forward with confidence.
Changing jobs is a significant career decision, and if you've taken the time to find a role that better aligns with your goals, it's okay to stick with that decision.
How Vivid Recruitment helps
At Vivid Recruitment, we regularly guide candidates through counter offer conversations across Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering and Planning.
Every situation is different.
Our role isn't to tell you what to do. It's to make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision for your career.
If you're navigating a resignation, counter offer or new opportunity, we're here to help.
Final thoughts
Receiving a counter offer doesn't automatically mean you should stay.
Take your time. Ask questions. Get everything in writing. Most importantly, remember why you decided to explore new opportunities in the first place.
The right career move isn't always the one with the biggest salary. It's the one that best supports where you want your career to go.
