Got job offer 6.5k but current company counter-offer 7.2k, should I stay Singapore?

Question

Working in a local SME as a marketing exec for almost 4 years, drawing 5.8k. Got an offer from a bigger firm at 6.5k plus better bonus. When I put in resignation, my boss suddenly counter-offer 7.2k and promise promotion next cycle. Now I blur already. The counter is higher but part of me feels like why must I threaten to leave before they pay me properly. Anyone been through this? Is taking counter-offer a trap?

Uncle Tan HDB · Accepted Answer

I took a counter-offer in 2022 and regretted it within 8 months. The extra 1.4k felt good on payday, but the trust was gone on both sides. My manager stopped putting me on the good projects because in his eyes I already had one foot out the door, and come next appraisal my increment was a token 2 percent because I 'just got adjusted'. Studies HR always quote say 50 to 80 percent of people who accept counter-offers leave within a year anyway. The real question to ask: if they can find 7.2k now, why were they underpaying you at 5.8k when they knew your market value? Money aside, that answer tells you everything about the relationship.

Techie Jun Hao · Answer

Do the actual math beyond base pay. Compare total package: AWS, variable bonus history (ask around, don't trust the promised number), CPF is same 20 percent employee anyway but check if new place tops up or has better leave. Also factor commute cost and time. My friend jumped for 1k more but the new office was at Tuas and she was staying at Punggol, so 3 hours travel a day killed her. Sometimes the lower number is actually the better life.

Trader Boy Sheng · Answer

One thing people forget: the counter-offer 7.2k might just be them buying time to find your replacement quietly. I saw this happen to a colleague. Boss counter-offered her, she stayed happy happy, then 5 months later they restructured her out during a 'cost review' and she lost all her leverage because the other offer already gone. Once you show you can be bought back, you also show you can be managed. Go in with eyes open if you take it.

JC Kid Marcus · Answer

Take the new offer. The 700 dollar gap between 6.5k and 7.2k is not worth staying at a company that only values you when you threaten to leave. Bigger firm means better brand on your resume, more structured career path, and usually stronger CPF-friendly benefits like better medical and more AWS. In marketing especially, moving around every 3 to 4 years is how you build your portfolio and network. Two years down the road the bigger firm name opens more doors than that 700 bucks ever will.

Insurance Sis Priya · Answer

Depends what you actually want lah. If your main gripe was purely the pay and you like the team, the work, the location near your place, then 7.2k solves it and moving to a new company is always a risk too. New place you kena probation again, new politics, new boss who may be worse. I stayed on a counter-offer and it worked out fine because I was upfront with my boss that I want a clear promotion timeline in writing, not verbal promise. Get it documented in email, then it's not just talk.

Got job offer 6.5k but current company counter-offer 7.2k, should I stay Singapore?

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