Spotting the Signs – When a Counteroffer Might Be Coming

Counteroffers don’t always come as a surprise—there are often subtle clues that a candidate may be leaning toward staying.

Watch for these red flags:

• Sudden delays in feedback or decisions

• Vague responses to key questions like notice period or start date

• Shifts in tone—from enthusiastic to hesitant

• “Final conversations” with their manager before committing

• Asking you to improve the offer without specific reasons

Recruiters and hiring managers should stay closely connected during this phase and be proactive with communication and reinforcement of value.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at what to do after a candidate gets countered.