As a former manager at a big corporate, I just wanted to point out that the budget available to managers to make counteroffers is often very different to the bu

As a former manager at a big corporate, I just wanted to point out that the budget available to managers to make counteroffers is often very different to the budget available for ad hoc or periodic raises based on performance. This is especially true if you are willing and able to show the offer letter to prove it's real. I've leveraged an offer to get my compensation increased several times, without having to actually leave, and it did nothing to harm my standing with my employer. If anything, my immediate management respected me more for "playing the system" to my advantage. Finally do make sure you question any "wisdom" that taking the counteroffer is a bad idea is coming from. It is often repeated by recruiters, but clearly this is for self-serving reasons, so beware of that.