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I met with the CTO of a local tech company today for a beer, at the recommendation of a friend who currently works at the company. They're looking for Software Engineers and wanted to see if I'd be a good fit.

I'm not actively looking to leave my current job, as I love it there. I was just curious to see what other opportunities were out there.

After the beer, he pretty much offered me the job on the spot for $30,000 to $40,000 more than my current salary, along with benefits. When I asked if there was any sort of technical interview, he said that this meeting was actually the technical interview, and that by the time he had finished his first beer, he could already tell that I would be a good fit. He wants me to meet with his Lead Architect and CEO soon just to see if we all click and then we'll go from there.

The only problem is that I really love my current company. I love the work, the atmosphere, the autonomy, and my coworkers. But an extra $30k to $40k per year is a lot of money.

If everything works out and they give me an official written offer, I'm going to see if my current job will counteroffer. I know my boss would happily counteroffer if he's given authorization from the higher-ups, it's just a matter of exactly how much they're able to counteroffer.

Comments
  • 4
    Good luck!
  • 4
  • 4
    Good luck my dude!!
  • 9
    Shit that's a wonderful predicament to be in!

    Good luck man.
  • 7
    Consider this as the universe having your back because it knows you have been undervalued in terms of compensation.
  • 5
    Wish I had your problems, wait until you get the written offer tho.
  • 1
    @ElbowDeepInElmo, something to think about. Imagine you are personally responsible for being 3 weeks late on a delivery at the new company. Would you be more anxious than if you were in the same state with your existing employer?
  • 4
    Your friend can tell you probably more but if there is no process in place how to interview people that sounds a bit fishy to me in terms of how they're organized.
    I once turned down an offer because (among other things) because the interview was bad from their side and as it turned out they were generally not well organized as well...
    Also make sure you know what your friend told them about you just do the expectations are right ^^
  • 3
    No real technical interview? That means you may well have coworkers who can't do shit.

    Be careful ...
  • 2
    @Fradow Yeah...the CTO sounds like he knows shit but dont let that trick you. His criteria for "technically adept" may be wildly different from a normal person haha.

    Is your friend good? As in, do you honestly respect their work? Ask them who is a PITA and who is legend...do over alcohol ;p.

    Just dont do the move for money alone unless you need it, might realise that the money can't compensate for the bullshit.

    Other than that, gratz, and good luck with whatever you choose and everything they offer you respond with:
  • 5
    "I'm going to see if my current job will counteroffer" DONT EVER THINK OF THAT!

    Not sure how things go in your country but from what I've learned in my MBA and what I've seen in real life:

    1. When you try to take advantage, you are instantly considered for replacement

    2. Assuming your current company can pay that extra 40K per year, which means $ 3300/ month, why haven't they at least paid half the amount? They are after cutting cost, don't expect the exact same increase assuming they did increase.

    3. Your current place is not the best place, not being negative but you can never know whats out there unless you go out! You are now inside that exact same company thinking they are the only ones like that, move on, you will find lots of better places

    4. Bills need to be paid if you were leaving for an additional $4000/yr then ya screw it, but you are moving for 30-40K don't be emotional, if that company has better pay and you the potential to grow your skills then move on
  • 1
    You also need to see how good they are, money is great but if they are going to push you back instead of moving you forward, the only excuse to take their offer is if that you are working on improving your self after work.
  • 2
    @gitpush the biggest raise I ever received at one time was from a counter offer from my existing employer. It was decided, I was going to take the new job. Then there was the counter offer, because my boss was awesome. He fought for me and got upper management to approve a significant raise on my behalf because of how valuable I was to them.

    Counter offers don't always work out but they are not always bad.
  • 0
    @duckWit of course, but in his case, due to that raise, I suppose when he starts talking about resignation that's when they give him a counter offer, instead of him going and saying: I have that offer, but I want to see what you guys will give me
  • 1
    @gitpush yeah, I definitely don't recommend being a dick about it. I had already made up my mind. I told my boss I was leaving and he didn't like that so he worked his magic.
  • 0
    @duckWit happy to hear that, hope the same for OP
  • 0
    @ElbowDeepInElmo
    would you like to work less?
    If your current company can't counter offer you 40k more, ask for a 6 hour workday and a small raise. Because time to live is more valuable than any money can buy. We get old and ugly fast.
  • 3
    Thanks for all the responses! I'm meeting with the CEO for lunch next week, and then we'll see how it goes from there!
  • 1
    How'd it go?
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