Techie agrees to Rs 28 LPA offer, asks for Rs 36 LPA two days before joining

tech hiring market. The incident, shared publicly by a startup founder, quickly caught attention online and sparked debate about professional etiquette, hiring practices, and transparency during job switches.

CEO shares hiring experience on social media

Jasveer Singh, co-founder and CEO of a Gurgaon-based company, recently described the incident on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). His post detailed how a backend developer he had interviewed was already earning Rs 21 lakh per annum when discussions began.

According to Singh, the company offered the candidate Rs 28 lakh per annum, which represented roughly a 33 per cent salary increase. The developer accepted the offer and confirmed that he would join the organisation. Based on that confirmation, the hiring team paused their search for other candidates and waited through the developer’s notice period, expecting him to join on the agreed date.

A new demand days before joining

The situation changed abruptly just two days before the scheduled joining date. Singh revealed that the developer contacted the company via email, saying he had received another offer worth Rs 32 lakh per annum from a different employer.

Instead of simply declining or withdrawing from the offer, the candidate reportedly asked Singh’s company to revise the compensation to Rs 36 lakh per annum if they still wanted him to join. The request came as a surprise because the candidate had already agreed to the earlier package and confirmed his joining.

CEO expresses frustration over timing

Singh described the move as frustrating, especially given that the company had stopped interviewing other applicants after the candidate accepted the offer. The hiring team had also spent time waiting through the notice period, assuming the process was complete.

In his post, Singh questioned why the developer had agreed to the initial offer if he was still exploring better options elsewhere. From the employer’s perspective, the late renegotiation disrupted their hiring plans and forced them to reconsider the process at the last moment.

Internet reacts

The post sparked a lively debate online, with many users sharing sharply divided views. Some felt the developer’s move was strategic, arguing that he simply used one offer to secure a better one and was optimising his market value. Others said salary levels are ultimately dictated by market demand, and candidates naturally try to maximise their compensation.

However, several users pointed out that while negotiation is normal, it should happen before accepting an offer rather than just days before joining. They suggested that competing companies often increase offers after seeing proof of another job offer. Responding to the discussion, Jasveer Singh said the issue was not negotiation itself but changing terms after confirming the joining date, adding that commitments should come after negotiations are complete.