4 ms·

Mostly good advice, but I strongly disagree with > threaten to go somewhere else if they don't give me the raise, this is implicit. Even in an in-demand indus

by jcdavis 12y ago

Mostly good advice, but I strongly disagree with > threaten to go somewhere else if they don't give me the raise, this is implicit. Even in an in-demand industry like tech, this is definitely not implicit. Edit: To expand - I'm not saying you absolutely should threaten to leave if you don't get the raise you want, but you need to be able to discuss your market value with your manager in a meaningful way. The market value is your BATNA, and without one your bargaining position is diminished. Companies, especially bigger ones, can do and do mess this stuff up occasionally, even when they/your manager really likes you. The "take it or leave it" response to a raise offer is an overly simplistic world view - you simply cannot ignore the market.

omegaham 12y ago
Personally, I think of it as giving your employer "first dibs." "Hey, I've decided that I'm now worth $X. Since you've already hired me and it's less hassle to stay than to change jobs, I'm giving you the opportunity to meet my price before I look elsewhere." Assuming that you didn't just pull $X out of your ass, the company can then make its decision accordingly. But if you really think you're worth $X, I find it strange that you would get declined by the company and then say, "...oh. Well, I guess I'm not worth $X, then. Never mind." At the very least, you'd be looking at other companies that are willing to meet your price. After all, you got your number from somewhere, right?
bane 12y ago
I think the "do this or I'm leaving" argument usually comes off poorly unless it's about something truly intolerable about the workplace. As a manager, whenever I hear that, the only thing I can think of is who I need to realign to temporarily fill in for this person when I tell them "okay, go ahead". Once you give in to that kind of ultimatum, you set yourself up in a negotiating position where all any of your employees have to say is "...or I'm leaving" and you've basically agreed to give away the farm for sometime truly inconsequential stuff (employees talk between each other and a successful and simple tactic like this will spread like wildfire).

by jcdavis 12y ago

omegaham 12y ago

Personally, I think of it as giving your employer "first dibs." "Hey, I've decided that I'm now worth $X. Since you've already hired me and it's less hassle to stay than to change jobs, I'm giving you the opportunity to meet my price before I look elsewhere." Assuming that you didn't just pull $X out of your ass, the company can then make its decision accordingly. But if you really think you're worth $X, I find it strange that you would get declined by the company and then say, "...oh. Well, I guess I'm not worth $X, then. Never mind." At the very least, you'd be looking at other companies that are willing to meet your price. After all, you got your number from somewhere, right?

bane 12y ago

I think the "do this or I'm leaving" argument usually comes off poorly unless it's about something truly intolerable about the workplace. As a manager, whenever I hear that, the only thing I can think of is who I need to realign to temporarily fill in for this person when I tell them "okay, go ahead". Once you give in to that kind of ultimatum, you set yourself up in a negotiating position where all any of your employees have to say is "...or I'm leaving" and you've basically agreed to give away the farm for sometime truly inconsequential stuff (employees talk between each other and a successful and simple tactic like this will spread like wildfire).