Can anyone help me with a 'job related' question tonight?

[propagandafreegal]

I know someone that likes her job but the pay sucks. She was approached by another company and told to name her price. She wants to parlay that offer for her job to counteroffer for her to stay.

I say that is a bad idea. It is like holding her current boss hostage...

Any thoughts?

[SarahB]

1. As long as she's willing to go if they call her bluff.

Things would be pretty bad I suspect only if her current company can't match it and she decides to stay anyway.

Otherwise, we have to look out for ourselves in the job world. There are no companies "loyal" to us anymore.

[RPM]

4. yep - do it if she means it....

... but if she gets the better offer at her current firm and she takes it, she may be in for a hard ride.

I wouldnt stay unless the offer at the current firm is considerably higher than at the other firm.

[propagandafreegal]

5. I told her just to go to the new place. there is no way her current

company will raise her salary by 100%. She needs to move on.

[AlCzervik]

2. If she were to get an counter offer at her current company and stay

she may have problems down the road, they may not promote her because they think thats she's not there for the long run.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. I don't think it's a bad idea. If the pay truly sucks, the company

probably knows that they've got a good thing going. She can call them on it and see what they say...and move on if they are not willing. But, if she likes her job and is good at it, I bet they'll raise the paycheck. MrG has done this and it works. Good luck to her.

[gmoney]

6. Does her current boss have the money?

Have her get an offer in writing from the new guys, including benefits, promotion path or whatever she is after. That will help ensure the new employer is on the level. If they come through with that, she can decide if she wants to jump ship, or let her current boss improve his compensation package. He may not be able to match it immediately, but if she's good, he'll want to keep her so he'll do his best to make it worth her while to stay.

She should make it clear that she was approached and she owed it to herself to at least listen to the offer, and that she enjoys working where she is, but needs to be earning more, and the offer shows that she's worth it.

Now, she also needs to keep in mind that she'll be losing seniority she may have in her old job, and in her new job she'll probably be the first let go if things get shaky. And I'd be things get shaky sooner or later.

Lastly, she should realize that when she brings up this subject with her current boss, he may immediately let her go and ask her to clean out her desk, so she should be prepared for that. She may only get minimal severance, so probably won't get paid for downtime between jobs. If she has "sensitive" or personal information on her computer or in her desk, she should remove it the day BEFORE bringing it up.

[propagandafreegal]

7. They do have the money.... rop

Thanks for the good strategic advice....good stuff.

[FlavaKreemSnak]

8. Here is the best job related advice I ever got

When you start a new job, get to know the people who do a good job and seem to be on the ball. Find out how long they have been there, and how much of a raise they have gotten.

Like if there are smart people who have been there 5 or 10 years and are still making peanuts and haven't been promoted, what can you expect?

That is the way your friend should think about it. You say they won't give her a 100% raise, but if she likes them a lot, she may not want to think that. So ask her which people there have gotten that kind of raise after working there the amount of time she has.

[teryang]

9. There are no guarantees anymore, trying to game...

...these situations is an illusion. I was offered an opportunity to leave a very high paying position for a higher paying position. I declined. Six months later I was laid off by the employer I was loyal to. I called my friend concerning the earlier offer. He said, "what are you talking about?" in so many words. He actually didn't even remember the prior offer and hadn't even carried out the business plans he told me about. A few days later he called me back to offer to help me get a high paying position with firms who didn't know me. I had to decline based upon a dislike for such brokered positions.

I got another job on my own in the most difficult and challenging work that no one wants to do. For less than half of my prior pay. When I was hired I was told that I would get a substantial raise "in a few months." In all modesty, I've had spectacular performance on the new job for six months, I've been told this by experienced professionals who have no reason to lie about it. I asked for the promised raise. I was politely told to piss off in so many words. The consolation offered was "don't worry we're not going to fire you." I told them I wasn't concerned about getting fired, that has happened often enough, I was concerned about the lousy pay.

This is a market (and government) based upon exploitation not performance. If they don't have a use for you or if you complain about anything they'll dump you in a heartbeat. Or they may just dump you to clear up the bottom line.

[propagandafreegal]

11. I hear ya about the exploitation. I have my own war stories as well...nm

[mcscajun]

10. It's a bad idea...

...they'll never trust her or value her as much after she buys their 'counteroffer'.

If she really likes her job and the people...and she thinks the job has long-term potential...it's worth it to stay put. But if the Money is more important, and she thinks she could be happy there (in time)...then look...before...you leap. But Leap.

Company loyalty is so rare these days...I'd be amazed to find any instance of it anywhere.

[propagandafreegal]

12. Based on your excellent criteria she should leap. She sees no growth

where she is now pay wise or career wise..