Should I approach my current job with another offer?

It depends on how healthy your company is financially and how valued you are as an employee. If you feel on firm footing in that respect, and you are professional addressing the issue; I don't see much downside.

 

Remember, verbal commitments don't mean much, Deandre.

 

What is the promotion? New duties and responsibilities?

 

Figure out what your best case scenario is first, right now you just seem a little heady due to a confluence and surplus of options relative to threats.

The three things at which all corporate managers thrive are making decisions with limited time, information or options, rationalizing and articulating those choices after the fact, and discretely using those two skills to endorse or sabotage employees in writing irrespective of their targets' skills, reputation or past accomplishments. They use both their back pockets, one has a list of former colleagues, friends and relatives to replace you, the other has a set of daggers labeled errors, off-hand comments and attitude.

Construct a positive, verbal performance review for yourself where you itemize your accomplishments and increased relevance to the department since your hiring or last promotion/raise. Then provide a specific range and if they don't meet it, wait another week for another sit down to notify them of your offer. This will compel them to reevaluate their earlier response against your true necessity, and introduce the prospect of your absence without forcing them to immediately cope with it.

 

I wouldn't deal in promises. Those fall through. See Rudy Rudiger.

As noted by the poster above, you hold the cards, so don't throw the offer in their face until you see what you can get without throwing it in their face, make your case, and if they don't make a tasty offer, then you can say I have a better offer on the table and in order to keep you they would need to at least match it ( not match the offer, but match what you would need to stay )

In the end, do what makes you happy with the realization that nothing is forever. It takes one new boss or a failed budget to ruin your best plans and promises. You are expendable in all jobs. So do what makes you happy.

 

Yes, but be prepared to leave your current job if you do that.

You don't OWE your boss anything, this is your life, you should make as much money as possible.

DD

 

Give me the job dude if you don't want it.

 

1. before you approach your current job make sure you have a letter and a start date from your new job. Your offer needs to be rock solid.

2. Once everything is set in stone then yes.... Let your current job know that you have accepted the new job and why you are leaving. Tell them you are open to staying if they can adjust your current compansation package to your market value.

How you approach the conversation is absolutely important. If you like your job let them know that and if you want to stay make it clear that your preference is to stay. If they value you enough the will very likely adjust your compensation package. If they fill you are a wheel in the machine they may wish you luck and just hire someone knew at a cheaper salary.

Remember to not be disgruntled if they choose not to make you an offer to stay. Most industries are much smaller than you know and your reputation generally follows you. Make sure you are definitely prepared to leave before you approach you current employer.

 

For what it's worth and I forget the exact stat, but the vast majority of people who attempt to leverage an offer from another company with their current employer typically don't remain employed there for much longer. And that's regardless of whether they're successful or not.

 

OP, forget playing "hardball". For that matter, forget "playing" at all with your current employer.

If this offer is something you are willing to take, accept it and give your notice. Simple as that. Let your current company come to you and see what they might offer. Don't give any hint you might want to "flip-flop" and stay.

I've been on both sides of the table. When an employee comes to me with an offer from another company and wants to negotiate, I lose all respect for them. They may as well hand me the keys, pack their stuff and get out.

 

Not sure if this advice applies across the board. It depends on how "replaceable" you are.

For example, if you're the only cardiologist (hospital employed) in a small city, the hospital would give you whatever you wanted if your request is reasonable. If you're a cardiologist in a metro area, someone can and will replace you.

 

IMO, there is so much more involved in deciding to work for a company than compensation. I take into consideration on what I can gain from the job, the environment and my happiness.
If you're not happy with where you are, go ahead and bail out. If you're happy and see yourself there long term, be cautious on how you approach. I would view it as where you are vs where you should be.
A good productive employee should always continue to ask for better compensation over time.

Considering turn over is becoming more and more common, those numbers are a bit skewed. Past are they days when people married themselves to a company for the longer term.

That said, I do agree. If I am looking for greener pastures, I am either not happy with my job or there is a large gap on what the compensation is expected. Its not often increasing compensation fixes either of these issues.

 

You had me until the last part, bolded. Why would you lose respect for someone who gave 2 weeks notice, with an offer. That sounds like you don't like your job and want to quit too. Or you unreasonably expect a girl or dog to stay with you forever, in spite of themselves.

I don't get it.

OP should show the offer to current employee, if he wants. It can't hurt, especially with people who will kick them out the door even with a respectful two weeks notice. I'd listen to you, and when you b**** and whined and asked me to leave, I would show it to all the current employees for the next two weeks, while you debated with other managers whether you could legally fire me. Could luck with that. It's like 3x damages lawsuit. You would not do that to me. It is an employee mistake to do what you said. It's stupid.

You misspoke.

 

Yep, thats why you make sure your job offer is firm. Need it in writing with a start date before you ever approach your employer.

 

You really misunderstood me. Totally. Just wow.

If someone gets an offer and gives notice, no problem. I wish them well. I've given notice many times myself. People that work for me know I have their best interest at heart. It's sad when a good employee leaves but you can't blame them, be upset or have hard feelings. With one exception (a bipolar person who had some serious emotional problems), everyone that has worked for me and left would say the final meeting was positive.

But when an employee comes to me wanting to negotiate, forget it. Ball game. I obviously won't make them leave on the spot (unless mandated by the company because they are going to a competitor), but they may as well.

Good point. When a person knows for a fact they are irreplaceable, a completely different dynamic exists.

 

Eh? 3PO is saying that the person in question has an offer and wants to negotiate for more money / better benefits. No solid 2 weeks notice in this scenario - it'd probably be the endgame. Rather, the person wants to play both sides, and see how / if he makes out with the better offer.

I've never had the chance to be the person in question, but I imagine this is bad business practice on the part of the employee, even though you should always look out for yourself?

 

This is the best course, in my opinion. Even if your current employer matches the offer you present to them, they won't be happy about being "forced" into it, and will take steps to reduce your leverage in the future.

 

Uh, I did not misunderstand you. The bold part is again, my main contention. I don't get it. Why would you feel that way? If I walk into your office to give notice, why shouldn't I have an offer, in case you ask me, then I give it to you, which assumes I expect you to match. And you know you will ask me if you want me. That's called respect in my book. I didn't just decide on a whim to leave you, or didn't just get an offer without telling you.

It means that I am a fIcking serious employee who wouldn't walk into your office without an offer. It means I'm wanted. You sound like you take that personally.

And that would be the answer I need. I'd feel 100% I made the right decision by your proclaimed way of dealing with me.

But don't try to make my last two weeks feel like I offended you and your company because I showed you my offer. Your advice is personal, and not worthy of the OP considering for a second, imso.

Maybe our difference is I'm thinking 6 figure negotiations, and you are thinking of young kids who you can bully. To me, the money doesn't matter,,,it is all about respect. I shouldn't have to be a 6 figure employee for you to respect me enough for me to show you my next offer.

That said, you know you're one of my top 5 posters who I follow and love to see post. cheers.

 

Uh, this isn't true.

Damn, y'all are wimps and work for wimpy companies. Showing an offer gains you respect. What? Really, I'm just supposed to print out a market research study and say "See, this is how much I should be paid based on these three websites."

An offer gains you respect over any other way of negotiating. And if y'all say salary negotiation is a taboo area to never tread upon...well,,,,

I don't get it. Such bad advice it's ridiculous.