Gen Z, You Can (and Should) Counter a Job Offer—Here’s Why

Gen Z, You Can (and Should) Counter a Job Offer—Here’s Why

Every year around graduation season, we see the same trend: bright, talented Gen Z job applicants landing interviews, getting offers for jobs they actually want… and then walking away from those offers over something small—like $5,000 or a slightly inconvenient start date.

Why?

Because no one told you it’s okay to counter.

So let’s clear the air.

If you get a job offer that’s close to what you want, don’t reject it outright—try to negotiate.

We’ve had multiple Gen Z candidates in the past week alone reject great offers without ever countering. When we followed up, we heard things like:

“I turned it down because the salary was a little lower than I hoped… I didn’t know I could ask for more.”

That’s fixable. In fact, in most of those cases, we got them back to the table just by coaching them through a respectful, reasonable counteroffer.

Let’s Be Honest: Countering Is Expected

My clients might hate me for saying this, but here’s the truth:

Countering a job offer is part of the process. If you’ve made it to the offer stage, the company already wants you. Asking for $5–7K more on a $70–80K offer is normal. Even $10K isn’t outrageous under six figures.

The odds that they pull the offer entirely? Basically 0.01%.

Worst case? They say no.
Best case? They say yes—or meet you halfway.

Either way, you’ve lost nothing by advocating for yourself.

What If You Have Another Offer?

Even better. If Company B is offering more money but you vibe more with Company A’s mission or culture, ask A to match or get closer. That’s called (pardon the millennialsplaining) leverage—and you have it.

The key is timing:

The sooner you counter, the more likely they’ll say yes—before they move on to other candidates or try to wrap the hire.

Pro Tip: Talk to Your Headhunter

If you’re working with a recruiter or headhunter (like us at Republican Jobs), don’t go dark and reject the offer out of nowhere. Call us. Text us. We’re literally here to help you navigate this and avoid leaving money or opportunity on the table.

We know how to make the ask without burning bridges.

One Caveat: Campaign Roles

This advice mostly applies to permanent roles with companies or organizations. Campaign jobs tend to have tighter budgets and shorter timelines—so negotiations might be more limited. That said, even in campaign roles, a polite counter is rarely offensive. The worst that happens? They say no.

TL;DR:

✅ If the offer is close, counter—don’t walk.
✅ You won’t blow up your chances by asking for $5–10K more.
✅ Use your headhunter—they’re on your side.
✅ The sooner you counter, the more leverage you have.
✅ Campaign budgets may be firm, but it’s still okay to ask.

You’ve got this, Gen Z.

— A millennial at Republican Jobs who’s rooting for you (and tired of cleaning up your negotiation messes)