Can Two Jobs Lead To None?
September 19, 2013 7:01 PM Subscribe
I got an amazing job offer. I don't really want it. Is it wise to leverage it against my current employer?
A company in my current industry recruited me to join their executive team. They threw me an amazing offer (100% salary increase, lots of other stuff) and are very excited about me as a candidate. What they do as a company, however, is not quite as interesting as what I already do. Also, the business I'm currently in charge of and the people with whom I work are awesome. My current company is awesome. I want to stay put.
I've been given tons of new responsibilities over the past few years and have been promoted three times. Each promotion only came with modest raises... in short, I think I'm under paid. I have an excellent track record and am a key decision maker for my current company.
It's time to talk to my boss... is this as simple as letting her know what I've been offered and wait to see how she reacts?
A company in my current industry recruited me to join their executive team. They threw me an amazing offer (100% salary increase, lots of other stuff) and are very excited about me as a candidate. What they do as a company, however, is not quite as interesting as what I already do. Also, the business I'm currently in charge of and the people with whom I work are awesome. My current company is awesome. I want to stay put.
I've been given tons of new responsibilities over the past few years and have been promoted three times. Each promotion only came with modest raises... in short, I think I'm under paid. I have an excellent track record and am a key decision maker for my current company.
It's time to talk to my boss... is this as simple as letting her know what I've been offered and wait to see how she reacts?
if you tell your boss what you've been offered somewhere else, you also have to be prepared to take that offer somewhere else. once you make that kind of statement, even if your current company is the disneyland of whatever you do, you have fundamentally changed your work dynamic. they will always wonder not if, but when you're going to leave, and may treat you differently because of it.
posted by koroshiya at 7:06 PM on September 19, 2013 [25 favorites]
posted by koroshiya at 7:06 PM on September 19, 2013 [25 favorites]
Koroshiya is absolutely correct on this. If you use this offer to attempt to extract a raise, you'll be viewed as expendable from that point on. Take the new job and the money, or be happy you have a job you love, the parts are probably not interchangeable.
posted by HuronBob at 7:14 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 7:14 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
Any rational employer will view all employees as expendable and all employees as always being interested in increasing their salary. If your employer views you differently for simply looking at other options (especially when those options include a 100% raise), your employer isn't someone you want to work for. It'd be more appropriate to refer to your employer as a cult in that case.
In other words, I agree with showbiz_liz.
posted by sockmypuppet at 7:27 PM on September 19, 2013 [23 favorites]
In other words, I agree with showbiz_liz.
posted by sockmypuppet at 7:27 PM on September 19, 2013 [23 favorites]
You can try to leverage it, but if your current company doesn't budge, what are you going to do? Be like, "Darn, you called my bluff" and stay? Or go to the new job? Quality of life and enjoying your career is very important, but a doubled salary is pretty enticing. I think you might want to have other reasons for your company giving you a raise than "Well, X company is offering me double."
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:48 PM on September 19, 2013
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:48 PM on September 19, 2013
Only have that conversation if you're prepared to take the other offer in case your current gig can't/won't budge.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [5 favorites]
If you want to stay at your current job and believe you deserve a raise, then ask for a raise and argue your case based on your track record, accomplishments, increased responsibilities, and current market. Ask for whatever % raise you think is enough to keep you happy at your current company.
If you tell them that you have a genuine offer of double your current salary, I think you run the risk of your boss saying "I'm afraid we can't offer anything close to that. You should take it." What would you do in that case?
If the counter offer was 20% and you accepted, how do you think you'll feel in three months? Happy with what you're making, or damn, that was a lot of money to turn down?
posted by otters walk among us at 7:52 PM on September 19, 2013 [8 favorites]
If you tell them that you have a genuine offer of double your current salary, I think you run the risk of your boss saying "I'm afraid we can't offer anything close to that. You should take it." What would you do in that case?
If the counter offer was 20% and you accepted, how do you think you'll feel in three months? Happy with what you're making, or damn, that was a lot of money to turn down?
posted by otters walk among us at 7:52 PM on September 19, 2013 [8 favorites]
Definitely start off the conversation by telling your boss you got an offer for double your salary. You can't ask for a vague raise, then pull out the 2x offer during negotiation. That would be bullshit because you would be asking your current employer to take a shot in the dark only to turn around and shit on what they probably thought was a generous raise. You need to let them know what they are up against.
You need to approach the negotiation as "hey I got an amazing offer and I would be dumb not to take it". Be prepared to leave, since your current employer quite likely won't match it.
In my experience (yes I have some), compensation discussions for exec level positions are pretty frank. It would be super weird for an exec to tiptoe around something like a 2x salary offer. They're more mercenary than that (at least in Silicon Valley tech firms where people switch companies a lot).
posted by ryanrs at 8:02 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
You need to approach the negotiation as "hey I got an amazing offer and I would be dumb not to take it". Be prepared to leave, since your current employer quite likely won't match it.
In my experience (yes I have some), compensation discussions for exec level positions are pretty frank. It would be super weird for an exec to tiptoe around something like a 2x salary offer. They're more mercenary than that (at least in Silicon Valley tech firms where people switch companies a lot).
posted by ryanrs at 8:02 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
I personally don't think counter-offer talks are productive, especially with that large an increase. If they say "we'll match it," I think you've now put a sword over your head. Because they may say "we'll match it," in order not to lose you immediately (or in two weeks) - then start looking for a replacement.
Any job I went to with a 100% salary increase would automatically become very interesting to me. And it would probably make my co-workers seem pretty awesome too.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:38 PM on September 19, 2013 [6 favorites]
Any job I went to with a 100% salary increase would automatically become very interesting to me. And it would probably make my co-workers seem pretty awesome too.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:38 PM on September 19, 2013 [6 favorites]
Another possibility:
You sound like you're very happy at your current position. Tell the other company that you're flattered, but you don't think you can join them at this time.
Wait 2-4 months. The end of the year is coming up, it's possible you'll have some sort of performance review at that time. It should look something like this:
1) I'm awesome. Here are all the awesome things I do.
2) I'm underpaid. Here is some salary data for our industry.
3) I'm valuable. This other company made me an unsolicited job offer (you might fudge the truth here) earlier this year for a lot of money. I didn't take it at the time, but it told me what my current worth is in this job market.
posted by Hatashran at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
You sound like you're very happy at your current position. Tell the other company that you're flattered, but you don't think you can join them at this time.
Wait 2-4 months. The end of the year is coming up, it's possible you'll have some sort of performance review at that time. It should look something like this:
1) I'm awesome. Here are all the awesome things I do.
2) I'm underpaid. Here is some salary data for our industry.
3) I'm valuable. This other company made me an unsolicited job offer (you might fudge the truth here) earlier this year for a lot of money. I didn't take it at the time, but it told me what my current worth is in this job market.
posted by Hatashran at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
you've now put a sword over your head
That's a good point. In my industry, you'd protect yourself with automatic stock option vesting and other triggers for termination without cause. I guess other other industries would have other kinds of severance agreements. For an exec level position, this is something you would discuss and then run by your lawyer.
posted by ryanrs at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
That's a good point. In my industry, you'd protect yourself with automatic stock option vesting and other triggers for termination without cause. I guess other other industries would have other kinds of severance agreements. For an exec level position, this is something you would discuss and then run by your lawyer.
posted by ryanrs at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wait 2-4 months
No. You hold the advantage now, use it.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to substantially increase your lifetime earning power. This isn't about doubling your next months paycheck, it's about resetting the baseline salary for all your future positions as well.
This is not about your loyalty to the company or about how much you like your staff. It's about the sort of schools you can afford to send your children to. It's about your lifestyle when you retire.
posted by ryanrs at 9:00 PM on September 19, 2013 [50 favorites]
No. You hold the advantage now, use it.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to substantially increase your lifetime earning power. This isn't about doubling your next months paycheck, it's about resetting the baseline salary for all your future positions as well.
This is not about your loyalty to the company or about how much you like your staff. It's about the sort of schools you can afford to send your children to. It's about your lifestyle when you retire.
posted by ryanrs at 9:00 PM on September 19, 2013 [50 favorites]
ryanrs is right, and makes an excellent point. I retract my earlier advice. The difference between, say, $40k / year and $80k / year is huge, and will get bigger every year. Over a few decades, properly invested, that will add up to literally millions of dollars.
This might be one of those rare opportunities that comes up once or twice in your life.
posted by Hatashran at 9:11 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
This might be one of those rare opportunities that comes up once or twice in your life.
posted by Hatashran at 9:11 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
I recently finished a summer internship at a publicly traded technology company and got a lot of career advice from one of the company's VPs, including some about this exact situation -- using a job offer to negotiate a raise with your current employer.
What he said was you could do it, but only once. Try it a second time in the future with the same company and they'll likely start looking for a reason to get rid of you. And you do need to be prepared to take that other job offer.
posted by Percolate at 9:14 PM on September 19, 2013
What he said was you could do it, but only once. Try it a second time in the future with the same company and they'll likely start looking for a reason to get rid of you. And you do need to be prepared to take that other job offer.
posted by Percolate at 9:14 PM on September 19, 2013
I understand what ryanrs and Hatashran are saying, but I also think all the money in the world isn't worth it if you have to spend almost all day almost everyday at a place you don't like. The money is a big deal but OP would need to consider this seriously. Sounds like OP doesn't even want to leave the current job, so the question really is "I realized I deserve more money at my current employer so how do I get it?"
I still say OP needs to have legitimate reasons for his/her company to provide a raise, not just the fact that someone else is willing to pay more. Maybe the current company is being stingy, but maybe the proposed company overpays. Current company shouldn't give a raise just because another company wants the employee. It should be about the value the employee brings to the company and now OP has some knowledge about going rate for compensation to use in negotiations.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:24 PM on September 19, 2013
I still say OP needs to have legitimate reasons for his/her company to provide a raise, not just the fact that someone else is willing to pay more. Maybe the current company is being stingy, but maybe the proposed company overpays. Current company shouldn't give a raise just because another company wants the employee. It should be about the value the employee brings to the company and now OP has some knowledge about going rate for compensation to use in negotiations.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:24 PM on September 19, 2013
Doubling your salary will change your life. Do it. You can always get another job if that one doesn't work out. Company loyalty has gone the way of company pensions. It sounds like your current company was underpaying you, anyway; of course they were being nice to you. I've been in your shoes, too, and kicked myself for turning down a similar offer because everyone was so nice. Nice doesn't pay the bills and fund your retirement.
posted by dovesandstones at 9:26 PM on September 19, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by dovesandstones at 9:26 PM on September 19, 2013 [10 favorites]
OP needs to have legitimate reasons for his/her company to provide a raise
A competing offer letter is a legitimate reason. In fact, it's the best reason. I have been involved in hiring a CEO and other C-level execs. Previous salary, competing offers, and industry norms are the most significant factor in exec compensation. You start talking about employee value and the company budget when you want the guy to take a lower offer.
posted by ryanrs at 9:31 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
A competing offer letter is a legitimate reason. In fact, it's the best reason. I have been involved in hiring a CEO and other C-level execs. Previous salary, competing offers, and industry norms are the most significant factor in exec compensation. You start talking about employee value and the company budget when you want the guy to take a lower offer.
posted by ryanrs at 9:31 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
Are you already considered (in official title, not just in effect) an executive level person? That shift in title could be as life changing as the salary.
Are you comfortable and this would make you well off or are you actively underpaid currently? And if the latter, are the other employees also underemployed? I've worked in places where there was a lot of churn because of bad overall wages and it make the job fairly miserable.
posted by Candleman at 9:49 PM on September 19, 2013
Are you comfortable and this would make you well off or are you actively underpaid currently? And if the latter, are the other employees also underemployed? I've worked in places where there was a lot of churn because of bad overall wages and it make the job fairly miserable.
posted by Candleman at 9:49 PM on September 19, 2013
Shortest possible answer to your question: yes.
You did a great job explaining your situation, how you feel about the offer, and how positively feel about the job.
What I recommend doing is telling your boss exactly what you told us. Tell him you'd love to stay, but it'll be very hard to turn down a 100% bump in salary and an executive position. But DON'T ask him or her for a counteroffer then. Say that you're going to take the weekend to think about and would love to sit down on Monday and talk about your potential future with this company. Express your sincere hope that you can figure out a way to stay at your current job for the long term because it's really where you want to be. Try to explain what you love about your current job and what you see for yourself down the road.
The reason I recommend giving a weekend is that he or she will then have time to figure out what they can afford. They'll come up with their best offer and them it's up to you to figure out what the company can offer that will be tailored to your needs (remember: you told him what you value and want down the road already). Hopefully they make you an amazing offer. But if they don't, you can choose to either enjoy the higher tax bracket or be satisfied with the knowledge that you really have a job you love.
If you are respectful, honest, and considerate, you will only end up better off for having this conversation and bringing up this offer.
(Mini addendum: I teach negotiations to MBAs and execs. The above is the strategy I usually recommend that people use when they have an outside offer but don't want to risk the relationship. Honesty and empathy are the key. Don't be aggressive--present it as something more like problem solving--and everything will work out awesome. If you're respectful, a negotiation will only make you better off. Enjoy it! And good luck!)
posted by eisenkr at 10:05 PM on September 19, 2013 [61 favorites]
You did a great job explaining your situation, how you feel about the offer, and how positively feel about the job.
What I recommend doing is telling your boss exactly what you told us. Tell him you'd love to stay, but it'll be very hard to turn down a 100% bump in salary and an executive position. But DON'T ask him or her for a counteroffer then. Say that you're going to take the weekend to think about and would love to sit down on Monday and talk about your potential future with this company. Express your sincere hope that you can figure out a way to stay at your current job for the long term because it's really where you want to be. Try to explain what you love about your current job and what you see for yourself down the road.
The reason I recommend giving a weekend is that he or she will then have time to figure out what they can afford. They'll come up with their best offer and them it's up to you to figure out what the company can offer that will be tailored to your needs (remember: you told him what you value and want down the road already). Hopefully they make you an amazing offer. But if they don't, you can choose to either enjoy the higher tax bracket or be satisfied with the knowledge that you really have a job you love.
If you are respectful, honest, and considerate, you will only end up better off for having this conversation and bringing up this offer.
(Mini addendum: I teach negotiations to MBAs and execs. The above is the strategy I usually recommend that people use when they have an outside offer but don't want to risk the relationship. Honesty and empathy are the key. Don't be aggressive--present it as something more like problem solving--and everything will work out awesome. If you're respectful, a negotiation will only make you better off. Enjoy it! And good luck!)
posted by eisenkr at 10:05 PM on September 19, 2013 [61 favorites]
^^^this
I am an employer of smart people like yourself. Eisenkr's advice is absolutely spot-on.
posted by vaportrail at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2013
I am an employer of smart people like yourself. Eisenkr's advice is absolutely spot-on.
posted by vaportrail at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2013
What Eisenkr said x100. But...
...know that when you reset your salary baseline, as ryanrs said, you will in many ways reset how you spend said salary, and that can impact on your life in both positive and negative directions.
I went from one job to another with an almost 50% pay hike. Previous job? Awesome. New job? Developed into "meh" over two+ years; not a bad job, but not as much awesome as the other. The problem, however, is that after two years, we've adjusted many things in our household budget (investments, retirement savings, emergency fund savings, day-to-day, etc.) in such a way that I'm sorta screwed -- unless I can find something that is a financial move sideways (in a very small market), I'm held hostage by my salary level, both personally and professionally. I had an unsolicited offer (for a position I'd love) where I was told, "We can't afford you, but you'd be perfect for the job," that I literally *can't* afford to take. (Very aware of the first-world problems at hand, btw.)
I still recommend an approach as Eisenkr suggested; you are almost certainly undervalued in your current position, but the suggested solution is respectful of their position, as well. Good luck!
posted by liquado at 11:37 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
...know that when you reset your salary baseline, as ryanrs said, you will in many ways reset how you spend said salary, and that can impact on your life in both positive and negative directions.
I went from one job to another with an almost 50% pay hike. Previous job? Awesome. New job? Developed into "meh" over two+ years; not a bad job, but not as much awesome as the other. The problem, however, is that after two years, we've adjusted many things in our household budget (investments, retirement savings, emergency fund savings, day-to-day, etc.) in such a way that I'm sorta screwed -- unless I can find something that is a financial move sideways (in a very small market), I'm held hostage by my salary level, both personally and professionally. I had an unsolicited offer (for a position I'd love) where I was told, "We can't afford you, but you'd be perfect for the job," that I literally *can't* afford to take. (Very aware of the first-world problems at hand, btw.)
I still recommend an approach as Eisenkr suggested; you are almost certainly undervalued in your current position, but the suggested solution is respectful of their position, as well. Good luck!
posted by liquado at 11:37 PM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
Any job I went to with a 100% salary increase would automatically become very interesting to me. And it would probably make my co-workers seem pretty awesome too.
Seriously. I'd be looking at this through the lens of "what can i do with that 100% more money outside of working hours that will fulfill me otherwise in my life?". Unless they're going to be working you to death 70 hours a week, this sounds like a slam dunk to me.
I recently went through a fairly similar situation and slammed in to the brick wall of well, what company is even going to give you a 50% raise even in the face of that? You can do what eisenkr said. and i got some good advice on ask about my situation as well, and did essentially exactly that except with "here are several places i was offered interviews at for XYZ amount, and here's another one from six months ago where i was interviewed and the offer was for YZX amount. Both of these amounts are industry norms for this position bla bla bla. Several companies were very interested." I loved the place, and loved everyone i worked with... and they ended up telling me i was basically crashing in to the wall of the maximum they could pay.
I'm not saying this is going to happen to you, but don't be surprised if it does if you're being paid so much below the norm that another company can offer you a 100% increase.
I also think you're risking something, which happened to me(since i stayed, at least for now) which is that you'll forever now be sitting there going "fuck, i could have just walked". It'll burn extra hard every time an unexpected expense comes up, or you don't quite have the money to get that thing/go on that trip/do some extravagant or interesting spontaneous thing that comes up. You may be doing really good right now as it is, we don't know. But I can't think of a level below something along the lines of "warren buffet" where a 100% increase wouldn't basically lift you in to an entire other tier of life where all kinds of new options, and possibly some you haven't even considered pop up. I watched a friends life change after he got a raise like this.
So yea, if you don't take this and they make an offer that isn't a meaningful percentage of that one... I think you'll be second guessing yourself for quite a while. I can't help but think eisenkr's script is either rolling out a carpet to graciously leave, or stew in a pot of what if and bitterness for a while if they limp dick it and you stay.
But then again, i'm the kind of person who would rather work a meh job for great money and use that money to go on interesting/exciting trips with my SO/do interesting things in general, awesome stuff with my friends, etc. I'd rather have experiences outside of work than a super interesting job unless the more boring job took up a gigantic portion of my life. Different people are different, if this job is truly fulfilling to you and what you wanted to do then well... maybe my approach to life isn't yours, and that's fine.
posted by emptythought at 1:16 AM on September 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Seriously. I'd be looking at this through the lens of "what can i do with that 100% more money outside of working hours that will fulfill me otherwise in my life?". Unless they're going to be working you to death 70 hours a week, this sounds like a slam dunk to me.
I recently went through a fairly similar situation and slammed in to the brick wall of well, what company is even going to give you a 50% raise even in the face of that? You can do what eisenkr said. and i got some good advice on ask about my situation as well, and did essentially exactly that except with "here are several places i was offered interviews at for XYZ amount, and here's another one from six months ago where i was interviewed and the offer was for YZX amount. Both of these amounts are industry norms for this position bla bla bla. Several companies were very interested." I loved the place, and loved everyone i worked with... and they ended up telling me i was basically crashing in to the wall of the maximum they could pay.
I'm not saying this is going to happen to you, but don't be surprised if it does if you're being paid so much below the norm that another company can offer you a 100% increase.
I also think you're risking something, which happened to me(since i stayed, at least for now) which is that you'll forever now be sitting there going "fuck, i could have just walked". It'll burn extra hard every time an unexpected expense comes up, or you don't quite have the money to get that thing/go on that trip/do some extravagant or interesting spontaneous thing that comes up. You may be doing really good right now as it is, we don't know. But I can't think of a level below something along the lines of "warren buffet" where a 100% increase wouldn't basically lift you in to an entire other tier of life where all kinds of new options, and possibly some you haven't even considered pop up. I watched a friends life change after he got a raise like this.
So yea, if you don't take this and they make an offer that isn't a meaningful percentage of that one... I think you'll be second guessing yourself for quite a while. I can't help but think eisenkr's script is either rolling out a carpet to graciously leave, or stew in a pot of what if and bitterness for a while if they limp dick it and you stay.
But then again, i'm the kind of person who would rather work a meh job for great money and use that money to go on interesting/exciting trips with my SO/do interesting things in general, awesome stuff with my friends, etc. I'd rather have experiences outside of work than a super interesting job unless the more boring job took up a gigantic portion of my life. Different people are different, if this job is truly fulfilling to you and what you wanted to do then well... maybe my approach to life isn't yours, and that's fine.
posted by emptythought at 1:16 AM on September 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Who is to say that if you took the new job that you wouldn't learn to love that company and love your new coworkers?
I would have a VERY hard time giving up a 100% increase and an executive title. Yes, really enjoying your job is important, but work is about exchaning your time for their money.
You have to think about what that kind of money can mean, not just for the cool shit you can buy with it, but for your future wealth. That bump in salary, invested even conservatively can translate into millions of dollars in 20 years (ah compounding interest, how I love you!)
If you don't have a family now, but may in the future, that can mean college for kids, a nice house, and a splendid retirement.
Also, I caution you against falling in love with a company. You are two managers leaving from suddenly hating your life. What if the company were to be sold? What if your boss leaves (perhaps for the job you passed up.)
No situation in work is static. It's like weather, If you like your situation, wait a while, it will change. If you hate your situation, wait a while, it will change.
Remember, you don't work for a company, you work for YOU! That means maximizing your earning potential whenever you can.
Now, don't take a job with a company you despise, but what you've described this would be a MUCH better deal for you, in so many ways.
But this is the equivalent of throwing away millions of dollars. I'd think twice before I did that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:12 AM on September 20, 2013 [6 favorites]
I would have a VERY hard time giving up a 100% increase and an executive title. Yes, really enjoying your job is important, but work is about exchaning your time for their money.
You have to think about what that kind of money can mean, not just for the cool shit you can buy with it, but for your future wealth. That bump in salary, invested even conservatively can translate into millions of dollars in 20 years (ah compounding interest, how I love you!)
If you don't have a family now, but may in the future, that can mean college for kids, a nice house, and a splendid retirement.
Also, I caution you against falling in love with a company. You are two managers leaving from suddenly hating your life. What if the company were to be sold? What if your boss leaves (perhaps for the job you passed up.)
No situation in work is static. It's like weather, If you like your situation, wait a while, it will change. If you hate your situation, wait a while, it will change.
Remember, you don't work for a company, you work for YOU! That means maximizing your earning potential whenever you can.
Now, don't take a job with a company you despise, but what you've described this would be a MUCH better deal for you, in so many ways.
But this is the equivalent of throwing away millions of dollars. I'd think twice before I did that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:12 AM on September 20, 2013 [6 favorites]
Something else to consider is whether or not your current company has a policy on this. The company where my husband works, and where I used to work, has a very strict policy on this situation, which is that they will under no circumstances make a counter offer. In that case, you would be better off just trying to negotiate a raise without even mentioning the other job.
posted by thejanna at 7:38 AM on September 20, 2013
posted by thejanna at 7:38 AM on September 20, 2013
The worst case scenario here is that you get a counter offer, take it and the 6 months from now you're let go from your current role for no cause because they found someone for 50% less. That's the problem with counter offers, even if your current role does accept, you can be on the hot seat for a long time.
posted by Carillon at 7:56 AM on September 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Carillon at 7:56 AM on September 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
The minute an employer learns an employee is interviewing at another company, or has an offer, they instinctively start to "write you off." They have already started to think and visualize your replacement - a replacement that represents a new, fresh level of devoted loyalty to the company. Until of course, they too look at their paycheck and start to wonder ...
Such is the nature of the modern day workplace.
Use the problem-solving-empathy approach, but more so for securing a relatively peaceful exit from this company. Counter offers rarely work with such a disparity (100% increase).
posted by Kruger5 at 8:25 AM on September 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Such is the nature of the modern day workplace.
Use the problem-solving-empathy approach, but more so for securing a relatively peaceful exit from this company. Counter offers rarely work with such a disparity (100% increase).
posted by Kruger5 at 8:25 AM on September 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
I also agree with eisenkr's approach. Although I clearly work in a very different industry than you and am much lower on the food chain, I was just recently in such a situation.
I had an unsolicited offer from another workplace in my industry that would double my salary (because my salary at the time was ridiculously, pathetically low) and offer benefits I didn't have at Job That I ADORED. I had the same conversation eisenkr suggested, where I frankly told my boss about the offer and told him I could not afford to not take it, and that I needed to think about it for a week but wanted to let him know what was going on.
After that week, he hadn't offered a raise but also hadn't NOT offered one, if that makes sense. So I sucked up all my nerves and blatantly ASKED if there was any way I could get a higher salary and more benefits to stay there. He seemed surprised, like he hadn't thought that was an option, told me he needed to run the numbers and think about it, and then two days later offered me 10% more than I had asked for.
So... anything is possible. And I am SO HAPPY that I had the guts to ask for exactly what I wanted/needed.
posted by raspberrE at 2:50 PM on September 20, 2013
I had an unsolicited offer from another workplace in my industry that would double my salary (because my salary at the time was ridiculously, pathetically low) and offer benefits I didn't have at Job That I ADORED. I had the same conversation eisenkr suggested, where I frankly told my boss about the offer and told him I could not afford to not take it, and that I needed to think about it for a week but wanted to let him know what was going on.
After that week, he hadn't offered a raise but also hadn't NOT offered one, if that makes sense. So I sucked up all my nerves and blatantly ASKED if there was any way I could get a higher salary and more benefits to stay there. He seemed surprised, like he hadn't thought that was an option, told me he needed to run the numbers and think about it, and then two days later offered me 10% more than I had asked for.
So... anything is possible. And I am SO HAPPY that I had the guts to ask for exactly what I wanted/needed.
posted by raspberrE at 2:50 PM on September 20, 2013
I had a *somewhat* similar situation about 15 yrs ago. After interviewing with a competitor, I was offered a position with a ~15% higher salary and a hefty signing bonus. I told my current employer I really wanted to stay, but that the offer was pretty good. My employer countered with a ~10% raise and as much company stock as the signing bonus. I stayed there five more years.
Employment is a market. Employers always look for "bargain employees" who get a lot done for relatively little pay. Employees should always be looking for "premium employers" where they get paid a lot for their work.
Another angle to consider is not just money. Are there non-monetary things (vacation, education, periodic sabbatical, ...) you could ask your current employer for?
Companies of any real size deal with situations like this all the time. Be honest and reasonable and they should be too. If they're not reasonable, you should leave anyway.
posted by sarah_pdx at 4:46 PM on September 20, 2013
Employment is a market. Employers always look for "bargain employees" who get a lot done for relatively little pay. Employees should always be looking for "premium employers" where they get paid a lot for their work.
Another angle to consider is not just money. Are there non-monetary things (vacation, education, periodic sabbatical, ...) you could ask your current employer for?
Companies of any real size deal with situations like this all the time. Be honest and reasonable and they should be too. If they're not reasonable, you should leave anyway.
posted by sarah_pdx at 4:46 PM on September 20, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
If I were you, I'd tell her that you'd absolutely love to stay but just can't justify it unless you get a counter-offer. (This need not necessarily be a match, but it should be something.)
Then, if she doesn't offer one, I'd take the offered job.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:05 PM on September 19, 2013 [9 favorites]