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This is the easiest and most foolproof option. But reverse fleitz's chronology: first get another offer, then go talk to your boss. Edit—To imsofuture's point
by pash 14y ago
This is the easiest and most foolproof option. But reverse fleitz's chronology: first get another offer, then go talk to your boss.
Edit—To imsofuture's point below: Yes, come to your employer with another offer that you would actually take, but with a real preference to stay (otherwise, just go). Ask for a raise, and if the discussion doesn't go anywhere, describe the decision you face between more money elsewhere and a preference to stay if the money were not a differentiator.
This is not extortion, and a reasonable employer will not treat it as such. It is the way you find out what you're worth and get paid commensurately. Changing jobs is not the only way to get a raise, and it's certainly not the best way—for you or for your employer.
- imsofuture 14y agoDon't do this. Well, do this, but don't use your offer as a negotiating chip -- use it as a backup plan if you don't get a raise. You will be the first up against the wall if you accept a counter offer to stay.
- joezydeco 14y agoNot up against a wall. You'll be out the door as soon as your replacement is trained. You'll probably be the one doing the training, too. And then instead of your income going up, it'll go down to zero.
- rhizome 14y agoHave either of you witnessed this happening in real life? There's always a comment to this effect in every "raise" question I've ever come across, but never have I seen any proximate information.
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- imsofuture 14y agoYes, first hand. Don't do it :)
- waltgoldberg 14y agoIt definitely does! Take it from someone who's been responsible for giving the layoff list to HR as well as being a small business owner. Business leaders look at developers as a commodity. Why do you think so many companies still hold Java in such high esteem?
- rhizome 14y agoI don't doubt that out-of-band raises can put someone over the cost-line such that they'd get the axe at layoff time, but I think that's different than the company gunning for them as soon as they give a raise in response to a cherry-pick offer to the employee, to be actively hiring for this person's replacement ASAP.
- joezydeco 14y agoFirst hand, it happens. Not every CEO is a wonderful caring person, and some can get very vindictive when it appears that an underling is threatening the operation of their company by (in their view) holding the job hostage for more cash.
- chc 14y agoMore charitably, by talking about offers from other companies, you are indicating to them that your continued employment is in question. Businessmen like predictability. So from that perspective, when they see you have one foot out the door, it makes sense to alleviate the uncertainty by getting the other foot out the door and bringing in somebody who seems more predictable.
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- rhizome 14y agoI'm not saying any of that stuff, I'm just asking about your first sentence, which is like every instance where someone makes the bald assertion that it happens, but I've never heard of it happening. So far I'm thinking it's just a myth.
- tsotha 14y agoI agree with this wholeheartedly. And anyway it's not necessary. First you get the offer. Then you go to your boss and say "Look, I'm not really happy with my current situation. The market supports a larger salary than you're paying me." That's a threat, sort of. But it's veiled enough that your boss can give you a raise without feeling like you forced his hand. He can give you a raise without it being step one in a two step plan to get rid of you. If he doesn't... well, then you take the other offer.
- jamesfordiv 14y agoCheck out the good book "Getting Past No" (the follow-up to "Getting to Yes") - this is called having your BATNA - Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement and will help your position even if you don't have to bring it up, just having it in your mind could boost your confidence and help you ask for what you want