Using a job offer to get a payrise
Discussion
Hi All,
The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
I hand my notice in once with a view to getting a pay increase. There was no other job.
Stupidest thing I have ever done and would never do it again.
I would use legitimate means to get a payrise, such as quality of your work etc, and not resort to these tactics unless you would be happy to follow through with it.
I did get the pay rise.
Stupidest thing I have ever done and would never do it again.
I would use legitimate means to get a payrise, such as quality of your work etc, and not resort to these tactics unless you would be happy to follow through with it.
I did get the pay rise.
You work in sales yet you don't know how to sell your boss on the idea that you're worth more money?
Why don't you sit down and discuss it with your boss to see if he's willing to pay more to keep you happy? No point threatening to leave if you don't really want to and don't have to. That way there's no bluff for him to call.
Why don't you sit down and discuss it with your boss to see if he's willing to pay more to keep you happy? No point threatening to leave if you don't really want to and don't have to. That way there's no bluff for him to call.
It all depends on the situation and what your drivers are.
If you driven by money (not a negative thing), then it's a simple decision. Who will pay you the most money? Find out how much the new company will pay, mention to your current boss (private chat, coffee, look conflicted), see what happens. If they wont match, then leave.
If your driven by job security then look at both businesses and decide which is likely to grow in the future. Also consider that if you join a new company, they can sack you for fairly easily for the first 2 years. If both look like equal prospects, then stay put.
If your driven by the need to develop, look at which offers the best future prospects and decide based on that.
There are too many variables for a simple answer.
Regarding the conversation with the boss; only have that chat if you are reasonably confident that they want to keep you or you add benefit to the business. Everyone things what they do is important, rarely is that true.
The chat you want to have is exactly that, a chat. Keep if unoffical and private. When you talk to him, mention you've been approached by a company, tell him you want to stay but they've put a good offer on the table.
He will probably ask how much; be honest, not greedy. Look conflicted and talk about how much you enjoy working for the current company, but you need to do what is best for you.
Leave it open, see what the feedback is like and go from there. If the boss doesn't look that bothered or doesn't talk about 'seeing what he can do' then I guess they aren't interested in matching and will wait for your notice letter to land.
Do not mention who offered you the role and don't issue ultimatums. Don't ask them to match it, they'll offer it if they want to keep you.
As always, never burn bridges.
If you driven by money (not a negative thing), then it's a simple decision. Who will pay you the most money? Find out how much the new company will pay, mention to your current boss (private chat, coffee, look conflicted), see what happens. If they wont match, then leave.
If your driven by job security then look at both businesses and decide which is likely to grow in the future. Also consider that if you join a new company, they can sack you for fairly easily for the first 2 years. If both look like equal prospects, then stay put.
If your driven by the need to develop, look at which offers the best future prospects and decide based on that.
There are too many variables for a simple answer.
Regarding the conversation with the boss; only have that chat if you are reasonably confident that they want to keep you or you add benefit to the business. Everyone things what they do is important, rarely is that true.
The chat you want to have is exactly that, a chat. Keep if unoffical and private. When you talk to him, mention you've been approached by a company, tell him you want to stay but they've put a good offer on the table.
He will probably ask how much; be honest, not greedy. Look conflicted and talk about how much you enjoy working for the current company, but you need to do what is best for you.
Leave it open, see what the feedback is like and go from there. If the boss doesn't look that bothered or doesn't talk about 'seeing what he can do' then I guess they aren't interested in matching and will wait for your notice letter to land.
Do not mention who offered you the role and don't issue ultimatums. Don't ask them to match it, they'll offer it if they want to keep you.
As always, never burn bridges.
MrsMiggins said:
You work in sales yet you don't know how to sell your boss on the idea that you're worth more money?
Why don't you sit down and discuss it with your boss to see if he's willing to pay more to keep you happy? No point threatening to leave if you don't really want to and don't have to. That way there's no bluff for him to call.
I've done this a few times and each time it has worked, but I'm wondering when my luck might run out. I thought a different approach might help in this instance to get another bump.Why don't you sit down and discuss it with your boss to see if he's willing to pay more to keep you happy? No point threatening to leave if you don't really want to and don't have to. That way there's no bluff for him to call.
He is aware of the quality of my work, but naturally like all companies he wants to pay as little as he can for his staff, however I know he believes in "if you don't ask you don't get". I have pushed for pay rises three times just by telling him I want more money and justifying why. I am 10 years younger than the other sales staff and I believe a lot of the department are on more than me. I know a tech guy got another job offer and they matched the wage to keep him, but he has a very specialist role.
I know someone who did this and it worked. Unfortunately, he accepted the job with the other company first, handed in his notice knowing they wanted to keep him and they offered him a big jump to stay with them. That's all he wanted. He's a regional sales manager. He then had to let the other company down by telling them he'd been offered more money to stay and they didn't want to get drawn into a bidding war. Not really fair on the other company but there you go. It can work but it's a risky strategy unless you have a new offer and are fully prepared to take it if your current employer accepts your resignation.
It might be worth telling your boss in a friendly manner than you bumped into Mr. X and he offered you a job with more money. You don't have to say you had an interview or you want to take him up on the offer. At least that way you can laugh it off but plant the seed that you are wanted elsewhere and you could get more money. You might find a nice suprise from HR in the comiong weeks as an incentive to stay?
It might be worth telling your boss in a friendly manner than you bumped into Mr. X and he offered you a job with more money. You don't have to say you had an interview or you want to take him up on the offer. At least that way you can laugh it off but plant the seed that you are wanted elsewhere and you could get more money. You might find a nice suprise from HR in the comiong weeks as an incentive to stay?
Volition said:
Hi All,
The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
It worked with me. I just had a chat with my manager and mentioned that I had been offered another position with better pay and what would they do about it. The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
They came back about a day later and matched the offer i recieved pretty much. So I stayed, as that is what I wanted to do. No repercussions either - like I have heard to happen to some people.
Volition said:
I've done this a few times and each time it has worked....
I would be inclined to give that a try then.If you have a definite job offer you could use this to get a pay rise, but I think this is very much a one-shot method.
I had a similar experience to you in the past - managed to negotiate reasonable pay increases, and then got stuck. Further attempts over maybe 18 months were always answered with "sorry, no budget at present".
I got offered a job by one of our biggest customers, so handed in my notice. Suddenly there were no problems matching/beating their offer. I still took the job.
All depends on your employer and your own situation. I've been in a similar situation where a competitor tried to poach me. I attended an informal interview and was offered the position for x amount more. I approached my current employer with all the facts, including proof of the new offer and was offered more then the competitor would offer. Worked in my favor as I didn't want to leave and I'm still here now, 2 years on.
I dont think I've ever had a counter offer, but if I did I'd be wondering why that wasnt offered to me at the time and why it'd take leaving as a way to suddenly find budgets that werent there at the last pay review
I think trying to get a counter offer on the offchance is sneaky and you'll lose trust
I think trying to get a counter offer on the offchance is sneaky and you'll lose trust
Thanks all for your input. I know the approach of using the job offer could go one of 2 ways - either I stay or go. Whereas if I just ask for another rise all they can do is say no, which then settles in my own mind that if I want more money I am going to have to move job.
I'll see how the customer visit goes and take it from there. I might just have an informal chat with my boss in the summer and see if there is any potential for another bump in salary, to coincide with our next pay review. Perhaps I could be honest and say I want to stay but I'd like another bump. What prospects do you think I still have here in terms of future pay rises? This then answers the question and then I'm sure he knows that if I can't have another bump it may make me look elsewhere.
I'll see how the customer visit goes and take it from there. I might just have an informal chat with my boss in the summer and see if there is any potential for another bump in salary, to coincide with our next pay review. Perhaps I could be honest and say I want to stay but I'd like another bump. What prospects do you think I still have here in terms of future pay rises? This then answers the question and then I'm sure he knows that if I can't have another bump it may make me look elsewhere.
Only you can really gauge the situation effectively.
I worked for BSI as an Operations Manager at one point and at my 3 month probation review meeting I handed over a bound document to my boss detailing all of the key things I had done, how much money I had saved and would save over the next 9 months to give an annual saving etc etc etc.
I also included jobs ads for Operations Manager roles with more money attached to justify my request.
He was slightly taken aback but in a good way and was actually very impressed by what I had done. I got a 10% increase on basic salary there and then with a 50% increase in quarterly bonus payments. I then got a further 5% at my annual review.
I didn't use brinkmanship and was pleasant, non aggressive and reasoned throughout.
Worked for me :-)
At my current job I switched roles as was headhunted by another department after 8 months. (I was on an initial 12 month contract) I got a 15% increase by playing hardball. I declined the first offer which surprised them and the GM told me that HR do not negotiate on salary offers - they do f
king now and I got what I wanted :-)
Just be careful as one persons experience is no guide to your own; when people are involved anything can happen.
I worked for BSI as an Operations Manager at one point and at my 3 month probation review meeting I handed over a bound document to my boss detailing all of the key things I had done, how much money I had saved and would save over the next 9 months to give an annual saving etc etc etc.
I also included jobs ads for Operations Manager roles with more money attached to justify my request.
He was slightly taken aback but in a good way and was actually very impressed by what I had done. I got a 10% increase on basic salary there and then with a 50% increase in quarterly bonus payments. I then got a further 5% at my annual review.
I didn't use brinkmanship and was pleasant, non aggressive and reasoned throughout.
Worked for me :-)
At my current job I switched roles as was headhunted by another department after 8 months. (I was on an initial 12 month contract) I got a 15% increase by playing hardball. I declined the first offer which surprised them and the GM told me that HR do not negotiate on salary offers - they do f
king now and I got what I wanted :-)Just be careful as one persons experience is no guide to your own; when people are involved anything can happen.
Always a tricky position, and can also depend on the agenda of the person who authorises the rise - I'm about to take up a slightly different job role, and with it should come small payrise. I'd obviously like this to be bigger, but I know that if I approach my Ops manager with a request for more pay, then his reply could well be "give the job to Y instead" - Y already earns more than me, though we do the same job!
So sometimes, you can be caught between two stools, as it were.
So sometimes, you can be caught between two stools, as it were.
andy-xr said:
I dont think I've ever had a counter offer, but if I did I'd be wondering why that wasnt offered to me at the time and why it'd take leaving as a way to suddenly find budgets that werent there at the last pay review
I think trying to get a counter offer on the offchance is sneaky and you'll lose trust
When I worked in a largeish company we always used to fight quite hard to keep most people - recruiting and training replacements was a nightmare and it can be 1-2yrs before they get into their stride. I did very well out of one a approach at a time when we were being acquired and they really didn't want any established staff to leave.I think trying to get a counter offer on the offchance is sneaky and you'll lose trust
A serious answer.
If someone threatened me with a pay rise or they'll leave for another job- even if I needed them enough to give them the pay rise I would see them as mercenary and someone who is always eyeing other job opportunities so I would start planning their departure and under no circumstance would they figure in any future plans as the grass always seems greener.
It is a ludicrous tactic and effectively you are just announcing yourself as loyal only if the money is the best in the market.
You achieve exactly the same thing by asking for a pay rise with no veiled threat and no strings.
If someone said to me "I love working here and I wouldn't leave but is there any chance of a raise?" I would be infinitely more generous than someone who demanded it.
If someone threatened me with a pay rise or they'll leave for another job- even if I needed them enough to give them the pay rise I would see them as mercenary and someone who is always eyeing other job opportunities so I would start planning their departure and under no circumstance would they figure in any future plans as the grass always seems greener.
It is a ludicrous tactic and effectively you are just announcing yourself as loyal only if the money is the best in the market.
You achieve exactly the same thing by asking for a pay rise with no veiled threat and no strings.
If someone said to me "I love working here and I wouldn't leave but is there any chance of a raise?" I would be infinitely more generous than someone who demanded it.
Volition said:
Hi All,
The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
Very, very risky.The group sales director based at a company that is a customer of mine has jumped ship to work for a different company doing the same job role.
I bumped into him and I know he is recruiting for the new company. He made it obvious to me to get in touch if I was interested in the available positions, but I didn't. I am actually popping down to this company as he has invited me over, to see if I can drum up any business with them, as we don't normally deal with them. I am pretty sure he might mention the open positions and gauge whether I am interested in working for him.
The thing is I have no interest in leaving my current company but wondered if I should use this situation to get a pay rise with my existing employer.
Has anyone done this? The only caveat I can think of is my current boss will tell me to go, which is not what I want, but there must be a way to use this to my advantage.
Has anybody done this? I think it might be a sensitive issue if you don't approach it properly.
Do you have any tips or stories where this may have back fired?
Cheers in advance.
If you openly ask for a payrise or you'll leave; the company has 2 options.
1. You're irreplaceable. Pay you want you want to keep you
2. You're not irreplaceable. Let you leave.
1. gets you what you want but you'll be tainted in your boss' eyes as you've blackmailed him into a payrise with no justification apart from the fact you're threatening to walk. Everyone I have seen in 20 years who has successfully executed option 1 has got their payrise, but then nothing again. Ever.
2. Means you're out on your ear when you don't want to be.
If you don't plan on staying with the company for much longer, go for it by all means. If you're in there for the medium to long term, justify a pay rise properly - i.e performance/experience/responsibility.
Getting a payrise like you have done recently isn't down to 'luck' it's down to you doing a good job (presumably)
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff