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How about - as an employee - using external offer to get a raise and stay at current job? Is that always a bad idea? Many usually mention that the company will

How about - as an employee - using external offer to get a raise and stay at current job? Is that always a bad idea? Many usually mention that the company will be bad to you if you stay, which means a bit of a childish approach. I mean, there is a cost balance to be made from the company side, given the cost involved in hiring and training. I am at that exact point right now, working at the biggest, very well known British tech company.

maccard 4y ago
You can only really do it once is one problem, so you want to use it for a _big_ raise if not a promotion. HR won't care and your line manager won't care, assuming you do it once. If you do it again you're the boy who called wolf. Also, you need to be prepared to walk if they don't give you the raise. Finally, you actually need to interview and get another offer. They don't just fall out of the sky! Remember that declining the offer from another company to stay in your current role is likely to make them reconsider hiring you. If you're comfortable with the above, go get some leverage!
- thedougd 4y ago
  As a manager, I agree with this. Although, I would suggest setting the stage sooner by expressing some discontent of compensation. Your manager may not have a clue, and may have 50 other fires. You need to speak up so that your concerns are on their radar. I've had managers come through in big ways, and I've had managers completely fail either of their own fault or because of limitations of the company.
  - maccard 4y ago
    Right - walking into a 1:1 and dumping this on the table is a recipe for disaster. You don't need to treat your manager as your friend, but treating them with respect is a prerequisite for this going well. Here's two possible conversations: a) "I'm unhappy here with my compensation and I think I deserve a promotion. I went and interviewed with <insert company name here> and they've offered me $X, as a <TITLE> and I'm going to take it." b) "The last few times we spoke I told you that I thought I was deserving of a promotion. Since last month's meeting, I was contacted by a recruiter from <insert company name here>, and they've made me an offer for $X as a <TITLE>. I think I can keep providing value here as <TITLE> and I'd like you to help me make that happen". As a manager, I would probably tell a) to take it, and try to promote b)
Merad 4y ago
> How about - as an employee - using external offer to get a raise and stay at current job? Is that always a bad idea? I'm too lazy to look it up and verify but IIRC the majority of employees who ask for a raise with another job offer on the table end up leaving within about 6 months even if they get the raise. So yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if doing that basically puts a red flag beside your name for management. You also probably don't want to go that route unless you are actually prepared to leave... there's no guarantee that they will agree to give you a raise. I left a company this spring after ~4 years and thought I was in a very good position to get a counter offer. I was lead for one of their most important projects and was slated to move into an architect role to oversee a major revamp and expansion of that project. When I turned in my notice I told them (truthfully) that I wasn't necessarily look to leave if they were willing to make a counter offer, but the answer unfortunately was that they couldn't go that high for my role.
- chasd00 4y ago
  it's definitely a gamble. I'm of the mindset that once you choose to leave then you should never look back and not even open the counteroffer email. However, i know a couple coworkers that have accepted the counter offer and are now in a better place than they were both in terms of comp and work life.

maccard 4y ago

You can only really do it once is one problem, so you want to use it for a _big_ raise if not a promotion. HR won't care and your line manager won't care, assuming you do it once. If you do it again you're the boy who called wolf. Also, you need to be prepared to walk if they don't give you the raise. Finally, you actually need to interview and get another offer. They don't just fall out of the sky! Remember that declining the offer from another company to stay in your current role is likely to make them reconsider hiring you. If you're comfortable with the above, go get some leverage!

thedougd 4y ago
As a manager, I agree with this. Although, I would suggest setting the stage sooner by expressing some discontent of compensation. Your manager may not have a clue, and may have 50 other fires. You need to speak up so that your concerns are on their radar. I've had managers come through in big ways, and I've had managers completely fail either of their own fault or because of limitations of the company.
- maccard 4y ago
  Right - walking into a 1:1 and dumping this on the table is a recipe for disaster. You don't need to treat your manager as your friend, but treating them with respect is a prerequisite for this going well. Here's two possible conversations: a) "I'm unhappy here with my compensation and I think I deserve a promotion. I went and interviewed with <insert company name here> and they've offered me $X, as a <TITLE> and I'm going to take it." b) "The last few times we spoke I told you that I thought I was deserving of a promotion. Since last month's meeting, I was contacted by a recruiter from <insert company name here>, and they've made me an offer for $X as a <TITLE>. I think I can keep providing value here as <TITLE> and I'd like you to help me make that happen". As a manager, I would probably tell a) to take it, and try to promote b)

Merad 4y ago

> How about - as an employee - using external offer to get a raise and stay at current job? Is that always a bad idea? I'm too lazy to look it up and verify but IIRC the majority of employees who ask for a raise with another job offer on the table end up leaving within about 6 months even if they get the raise. So yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if doing that basically puts a red flag beside your name for management. You also probably don't want to go that route unless you are actually prepared to leave... there's no guarantee that they will agree to give you a raise. I left a company this spring after ~4 years and thought I was in a very good position to get a counter offer. I was lead for one of their most important projects and was slated to move into an architect role to oversee a major revamp and expansion of that project. When I turned in my notice I told them (truthfully) that I wasn't necessarily look to leave if they were willing to make a counter offer, but the answer unfortunately was that they couldn't go that high for my role.

chasd00 4y ago
it's definitely a gamble. I'm of the mindset that once you choose to leave then you should never look back and not even open the counteroffer email. However, i know a couple coworkers that have accepted the counter offer and are now in a better place than they were both in terms of comp and work life.