How to Respond to a Lowball Counteroffer During a Competing Offer in English
Learn the English phrases for responding when your current employer's counteroffer falls short of a competing offer you've received.
When you tell your current employer about a competing offer, hoping for a real counter, and they come back with something well short of it, the temptation is to just accept out of loyalty or fatigue. This guide gives you the English to respond honestly without burning the bridge in either direction.
Acknowledging the Offer Without Committing
Buy yourself time to think and respond deliberately.
- “Thank you for putting this together — I want to think it through properly before responding.”
- “I appreciate you making an effort here. Let me take a day to consider it against the other offer.”
- “This is helpful context. I’ll get back to you by [date] with a decision.”
Naming the Gap Directly
Be specific about how far the counteroffer falls short, without exaggerating.
- “I appreciate this, but honestly, it’s a meaningful gap from the other offer — it’s about 20% lower.”
- “This is closer than I expected, but there’s still a real difference in the base salary.”
- “The counteroffer helps, but the other offer also includes equity that isn’t reflected here.”
Asking If There’s More Room
Give them a chance to improve before you decide it’s final.
- “Is this the final number, or is there more flexibility if I give you a bit more time?”
- “Would it help to know exactly what number would make this an easy decision for me?”
- “Before I decide, is there any room to move closer to the other offer?”
Explaining Why Money Isn’t the Only Factor
Sometimes a lower number is still worth staying for — say so clearly if that’s true.
- “The number matters, but it’s not the only thing — I also care about the team and the work itself.”
- “If the growth opportunities here are real, I’d consider staying even with a smaller gap than this.”
- “I want to be honest that the offer is stronger financially, but I’m weighing more than just the number.”
Declining a Lowball Counter Gracefully
If the gap is too large and nothing changes, decline without hostility.
- “I’ve decided to move forward with the other offer — the gap here was larger than I could justify staying for.”
- “I appreciate the effort, but this doesn’t close the distance enough for me to turn down the other opportunity.”
- “This wasn’t an easy decision, but I think it’s the right move for me right now.”
Staying Professional Regardless of the Outcome
Whether you stay or go, keep the relationship intact.
- “Regardless of what I decide, I want to thank you for considering this and for being straightforward with me.”
- “I’ve valued my time here, and I hope we can stay in touch either way.”
- “I’ll make sure the transition is smooth if I do end up leaving.”
Vocabulary Reference
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lowball offer | An offer significantly below what’s expected or fair, often used as an initial low anchor |
| Counteroffer | An offer made by your current employer in response to news of a competing offer |
| Total compensation | Salary plus bonus, equity, and benefits combined |
| Anchor | The first number mentioned in a negotiation, which tends to influence the rest of the discussion |
| Final number | An offer explicitly stated as non-negotiable |
Key Takeaways
- Don’t respond to a disappointing counteroffer immediately — take time to compare it properly against the competing offer.
- Name the specific gap rather than vaguely saying the offer “isn’t enough.”
- Ask directly whether there’s more room before treating the number as final.
- If non-monetary factors genuinely matter to you, say so — it can justify staying even with a real gap.
- Whether you accept or decline, keep the tone professional to preserve the relationship.