How to Write a Counter Offer Letter (with Examples)

What is a Counter Offer Letter?

A counter offer letter is a proposal made by a job applicant to an employer in response to an unsatisfactory job offer. Job seekers can present a counter offer letter to the employer in several ways: meeting with the employer to negotiate in person, speaking with the employer over the phone, or writing a counter offer letter.

When Should You Write a Counter Offer Letter?

You should consider writing a counter offer letter when you are not satisfied with the compensation package initially offered by the employer. For example, you may want to submit a counter offer letter if the offered salary is low relative to your needs or experience, or if you believe the benefits package lacks critical perks like a sufficient number of paid vacation days.

Benefits of Writing a Counter Offer Letter

There are several reasons you might prefer to write a counter offer letter rather than having a face-to-face meeting or phone conversation with the employer, including:

It can make you feel more comfortable. Writing a counter offer letter is the ideal choice for candidates who feel anxious about negotiating in person.
You may benefit from your writing skills. Strong and effective writers are in the best position to write a counter offer letter because they can clearly express what they want in a diplomatic manner.
It is easy to document the exchange. Written communication leaves a helpful paper trail. With an exchange of letters or emails, any agreed-upon changes are documented in writing.

How to Decide on a Counter Offer Letter

The salary is an important factor to consider when deciding on a counter offer letter – specifically, how much you need to comfortably meet your needs in the location where you live. However, it is also wise to think about the overall compensation package. Look for other non-salary compensation changes you can request, such as relocation costs, insurance, signing bonuses, paid vacation and sick days, and other benefits. You can also include specific office perks, such as your office space, hours, or remote work options.

What to Include in a Counter Offer Letter

You should facilitate the employer’s process of addressing the requested changes to the original offer by clearly stating them in an easy-to-follow format, by:

Address: Format your letter in standard business letter format. Include a header with the employer’s information and your contact information. Address the letter to the employer.
Introduction: Start by confirming your interest in the company and mention one or two main reasons that make you an ideal candidate for the position. This will remind the employer of their desire to hire you and your worthiness of more money and/or benefits.
Body of the letter: In the body, you can request a meeting with the employer and be general about the changes you want until the meeting. Or you can mention the specific changes within the letter itself. If you choose the latter approach, include a short paragraph for each part of the compensation package you want to negotiate. In each paragraph, clearly state the original offer and your counter offer, and why you believe the counter is appropriate. For example, after stating the original salary and the desired salary, explain that their offer was below the national average salary for the position.
Conclusion: Reinforce the reasonableness of your request and reiterate your enthusiasm to work for the company. You may also want to offer to meet the employer in person to discuss further, or simply tell the employer to reach out to you.
Subject line: If you are sending the counter offer letter via email, your subject line should include your name and the reason you are writing in the format “Your Name – Job Offer”.

Tips for Writing a Counter Offer Letter

These guidelines can help you effectively communicate your expectations to the employer:

State

Clear reasons backed by research. You are more likely to receive a positive response if you present clear reasons why you deserve more money or additional benefits. Provide the requested compensation package in the context of your experience level, market rates for the position, and the cost of living in the area. Asking for compensation that exceeds industry standards may make you seem like an unserious candidate.

Mention competing job offers. If you have a competing job offer, mention it to the employer to motivate them to increase their offer and provide a better compensation package to keep you from going to the other job.

Highlight the skills you possess. Having skills that are hard to find in your industry can make you more valuable in the eyes of employers. Be sure to mention these sought-after skills to strengthen your case for getting more money or benefits.

Frame your desires as requests rather than demands. Be firm in communicating what you want, but do not use an aggressive tone. Use polite and neutral terminology. Try to use language that does not reveal your emotional state, such as “I would feel more comfortable with…” instead of “I really need…”. Similarly, do not insult the company or the person dealing with the negotiation.

Edit and review. Carefully edit your message before sending it. Review it thoroughly before sending. You might consider asking a family member or friend to look it over as well.

Examples of Counter Offer Letters

Use these letters as templates when you need to request changes to a job offer.

Meeting Request Letter

This counter letter requests a meeting to discuss the compensation package that was offered.

Subject: Lisa Wong – Job Offer

Dear Ms. Gonzalez,

Thank you for your offer for the position of Regional Product Development Manager at Witten. I am deeply impressed with the knowledge that your development team possesses, and I believe my experience will help maximize the profitability of the department.

I would like to meet with you to discuss the salary and benefits you offered before I make a final decision. I feel it is appropriate to continue discussing my compensation given the skills, experience, and contacts I will bring to Witten.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lisa Wong

Email: lisa.wong@email.com

Phone: 203-555-1234

Additional Compensation Request Letter

Below is an example of a letter requesting additional compensation. The writer presents a counter salary offer with justifications supporting the request.

Subject: Susan Pavilion – Compensation

Dear Ms. Montani,

Thank you very much for offering me the significant role of Major Sales at Revelation Company. The opportunity seems incredibly exciting, and I am confident that I will find the position rewarding.

I hope we can discuss the possibility of adding a 5% commission to my base salary, as my 15-year track record in sales and network of contacts will enable me to generate additional revenue for the company. Please let me know if we can discuss this before I make a decision regarding your offer.

Thank you for your attention.

Respectfully,

Susan Pavilion

What to Do After Submitting a Counter Offer Letter?

While waiting for the employer to respond to your proposal, consider any terms you cannot negotiate in your counter offer letter. Is there a specific salary or set of benefits that you will not negotiate on? Think about how you would respond if the counter offer letter falls short of these terms.

Be prepared for any response from the employer. They might respond in one of the following ways: request a face-to-face meeting to negotiate your compensation, accept any or all of the changes you requested, reject some or all of the requests, or make another counteroffer.

If the employer rejects your proposal or makes another counteroffer, decide whether to accept the counteroffer, make a new counteroffer, or walk away. If you accept the counteroffer, get the new offer in writing to avoid any misunderstandings when starting the job.

Source:

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-a-counter-offer-letter-2061958