Current Events > Got a job offer that pays 20k more than my current job

(+) Yeah! (+)

But I dont think Im gonna take it. Getting 71k, and this offer is for 90k/year with a different company.

Has anyone ever used a job offer as leverage with a company youre currently with to get paid more? A friend told me to do this basically.

$20,000, thats a lot of pizzas

R1masher posted...

$20,000, thats a lot of pizzas

Thats like 4000 hot n readys

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Has anyone ever used a job offer as leverage with a company youre currently with to get paid more? A friend told me to do this basically.

You can do this but it's risky. Even if your current company gives you a raise based on that offer, you're basically telling them you're one foot out the door already. They might take the initiative to replace you.

What's keeping you from taking the offer at the new company?

The leveraging tactic only works if you're the shit.

As long as it doesn't involve bear traps, or having sex with old ladies for money, you're golden

Personally, those are my 2 bugaboos

BlazinBlue88 posted...

You can do this but it's risky. Even if your current company gives you a raise based on that offer, you're basically telling them you're one foot out the door already. They might take the initiative to replace you.

What's keeping you from taking the offer at the new company?

Ive already told my current company Im applying elsewhere. Ive been working for then under contract a year now, but was supposed to be converted over months ago. The company is under a hiring freeze, and has been since January.

new job is also contract to hire, but with no guarantee of conversion. They have converted others to FTE recently in the past, but its a gamble for me to leave a guaranteed conversion that will come with like a 35k raise

MrResetti posted...

The leveraging tactic only works if you're the shit.

Id agree. My current company is doing everything they can to get me to stay. As a contractor I dont get holidays or PTO. But theyve moved my schedule around so I dont have to work holidays coming up, and even found a way to give me unofficial PTO by signing off on hours I dont work lol

so they really like me. And have told me straight up Ill be hired on direct the second the hiring freeze lifts

Id only use it for leverage if youd actually go to the other job if they dont give you a better offer than you already had. Or if youre confident that you can get a better offer that you want elsewhere without too much difficulty.

With all of the restrictions they have going on, can they even offer you higher pay? It seems like it might be a situation where their hands are tied

Jiek_Fafn posted...

With all of the restrictions they have going on, can they even offer you higher pay? It seems like it might be a situation where their hands are tied

The contracting company definitely can. They gave me a $3/hr raise like a month ago since I hit over 12 months. The original contract was 12 months so they had to extend it.

didnt get to negotiate any for that, they were just like hey youre getting 3 more dollars per hour

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Ive already told my current company Im applying elsewhere. Ive been working for then under contract a year now, but was supposed to be converted over months ago. The company is under a hiring freeze, and has been since January.

new job is also contract to hire, but with no guarantee of conversion. They have converted others to FTE recently in the past, but its a gamble for me to leave a guaranteed conversion that will come with like a 35k raise

Ok so any idea how long the hiring freeze will last? I'm not sure what leverage you are attempting to get out of this deal when 1. they can't hire you full time right now and 2. you are on a contract. They aren't going to bother doing up a new contract for a C2H person to give them more money. The point of C2H situations is to give the person a trial run before hiring them.

Is there a difference in job responsibilities between the two? While the $21k is less money, going to a new company with different job responsibilities provides a lot of experience that will help your career/salary in the long run. The person who's worked for 20 years at 10 jobs is more experienced than the person who's worked for 20 years at 1 job.

meatlesshotdogz posted...

The contracting company definitely can. They gave me a $3/hr raise like a month ago since I hit over 12 months. The original contract was 12 months so they had to extend it.

didnt get to negotiate any for that, they were just like hey youre getting 3 more dollars per hour

That extension is basically a new contract which they can then apply the new pay rate. Probably won't be able to give you a counter offer until the time on the extension is done.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Ok so any idea how long the hiring freeze will last? I'm not sure what leverage you are attempting to get out of this deal when 1. they can't hire you full time right now and 2. you are on a contract. They aren't going to bother doing up a new contract for a C2H person to give them more money. The point of C2H situations is to give the person a trial run before hiring them.

Is there a difference in job responsibilities between the two? While the $21k is less money, going to a new company with different job responsibilities provides a lot of experience that will help your career/salary in the long run. The person who's worked for 20 years at 10 jobs is more experienced than the person who's worked for 20 years at 1 job.

Dont the contracting companies decide pay for contractors independently from their clients who they hire for? But no idea when the freeze will end. Apparently theyve started doing internal promotions again, which had been stopped all year until recently.

Both roles have similar responsibilities, and are for large corporations that operate globally. Youre right though, its additional new experience Id have. But Ive sometimes thought employers dont like seeing people hop around jobs? Leaving after only a year doesnt always seem like the best move IMO

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Im actually considering the offer for sure. 20k is a big raise

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Dont the contracting companies decide pay for contractors independently from their clients who they hire for?

Depends on the situation. Sometimes yes though.

meatlesshotdogz posted...

But Ive sometimes thought employers dont like seeing people hop around jobs? Leaving after only a year doesnt always seem like the best move IMO

Depends on the field. I work in IT so you can job hop every 1 1/2 - 2 years without issue. I did that for several years each time getting at average 25% pay bump and a bigger job title before landing in my current role.

Nah, never had an opportunity. My job hunts have rarely ever resulted in an offer coming in during my tenure at my current role.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Depends on the situation. Sometimes yes though.

Depends on the field. I work in IT so you can job hop every 1 1/2 - 2 years without issue. I did that for several years each time getting at average 25% pay bump and a bigger job title before landing in my current role.

ya this is a tech job as well. Honestly I just want a stable job where I dont have to keep thinking about whats next. I just dunno if a freeze will be lifted anytime soon.

meatlesshotdogz posted...

But I dont think Im gonna take it. Getting 71k, and this offer is for 90k/year with a different company.

Has anyone ever used a job offer as leverage with a company youre currently with to get paid more? A friend told me to do this basically.

Using the new offer as leverage against your current company is risky.

You'd need to factor just how does the company need you. I'm not saying this to be mean, but evaluate just how much does the company need you.

Assuming you stay
If they really need you, they will try to match it, with no problems for you to worry about.
On the other hand, if they deem you as easily replaceable, they might match the other job temporarily, hire your replacement, and find some reason to let you go once they feel it's suitable to drop you.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


I always make it clear to employers that Im on the lookout for better offers. It tends to get me a higher salary and better package.

The way Ive done it in the past, Id go to my current employer and phrase it like youre quitting, but its not because youre unhappy, this other place offered you money that would be too good for your family to pass up. A lot of places will take the bait and make you a counter offer.

But Ive never accepted a counter offer because it just feels shaky to me. Theyll always see me as the guy that tried to leave or something.

But I really think it was my ability to bounce around from job to job that allowed me to keep getting higher and higher pay.

NatsuSama posted...

Using the new offer as leverage against your current company is risky.

You'd need to factor just how does the company need you. I'm not saying this to be mean, but evaluate just how much does the company need you.

Assuming you stay
If they really need you, they will try to match it, with no problems for you to worry about.
On the other hand, if they deem you as easily replaceable, they might match the other job temporarily, hire your replacement, and find some reason to let you go once they feel it's suitable to drop you.

these are all valid questions and good to think through for sure.

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Id agree. My current company is doing everything they can to get me to stay. As a contractor I dont get holidays or PTO. But theyve moved my schedule around so I dont have to work holidays coming up, and even found a way to give me unofficial PTO by signing off on hours I dont work lol

so they really like me. And have told me straight up Ill be hired on direct the second the hiring freeze lifts

Take the other job. If you stay you will be constantly underpaid your the company will see you are loyal and can take advantage of you.

Way back I was in a similar position. Was a contractor at a company. They had a hiring freeze. I was great at what I did. got an offer elsewhere. Tried to leverage it. Company couldnt do anything so I took the other offer. Ended up back at the original company 4 years later as a regular employee but making a lot more.

For your career the smart thing is to take the offer. You can always come back but only as a regular employee not a contractor.

Cuticrusader09 posted...

Take the other job. If you stay you will be constantly underpaid your the company will see you are loyal and can take advantage of you.

Way back I was in a similar position. Was a contractor at a company. They had a hiring freeze. I was great at what I did. got an offer elsewhere. Tried to leverage it. Company couldnt do anything so I took the other offer. Ended up back at the original company 4 years later as a regular employee but making a lot more.

For your career the smart thing is to take the offer. You can always come back but only as a regular employee not a contractor.

While I do agree its probably better for my career to take the offer. But itd be starting over for a bit, which sounds tiresome. Would have to go through some training, meeting a bunch of new people, work different hours than I currently am now, etc..

meatlesshotdogz posted...

ya this is a tech job as well. Honestly I just want a stable job where I dont have to keep thinking about whats next.

Then the new company will be good for you. Both places can use the same technology but in completely different ways which helps you become more knowledgeable.

Regarding your second statement, you'd need to get into a more senior role like engineer or architect level before you can coast in a job without worrying what's next. As much as IT likes to automate themselves out of a job, you don't want to be in a entry or mid level position that can be made redundant by technology. You want a job that has you making decisions on policy/infrastructure/code/whatever field of tech you're in that'll make you invaluable.

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Thats like 4000 hot n readys

That's like 110 pizzas a day.

Don't believe anything companies tell you about job security and negotiating, etc. Just take the raise and do your thing until they tell you otherwise.

Loyalty to the employer or the process is the most nearsighted horseshit mistake workers still make often so don't fall for it

meatlesshotdogz posted...

but itd be starting over for a bit, which sounds tiresome. Would have to go through some training, meeting a bunch of new people, work different hours than I currently am now, etc..

Your complacency shouldn't be a factor in this decision. If it was, then you'll never leave your current job.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Then the new company will be good for you. Both places can use the same technology but in completely different ways which helps you become more knowledgeable.

Regarding your second statement, you'd need to get into a more senior role like engineer or architect level before you can coast in a job without worrying what's next. As much as IT likes to automate themselves out of a job, you don't want to be in a entry or mid level position that can be made redundant by technology. You want a job that has you making decisions on policy/infrastructure/code/whatever field of tech you're in that'll make you invaluable.

damn I wasnt so sold on taking this job at first, but you all are quite convincing. I do agree that loyalty to a large corporation is kind of silly, even if I like my current team.

I just told my current boss about the offer and the details. Hes reaching out to higher ups to see what they can do to keep me.

if they cant do anything or he gets offended somehow, then itll make my decision much easier to just jump ship

meatlesshotdogz posted...

But itd be starting over for a bit, which sounds tiresome. Would have to go through some training, meeting a bunch of new people, work different hours than I currently am now, etc..

So this minor inconvenience isn't worth $20k to you?

bluezero posted...

So this minor inconvenience isn't worth $20k to you?

If the freeze were to lift tomorrow Id get converted over and get a 35k raise

I wouldn't try to leverage the job offer that is offering you a higher salary for leverage unless the company really wants to keep you or sees value in you for the company. Otherwise they'd probably try to fire you later down the line if they grow, but that's just my guess. But it is a smaller company, so they may need people like you. I'd probably say go for it. For me if I do like the smaller company better, nah screw it, I need the money to make purchases for the rooms I want to make, like a fitness room or a game room.

As for being worried about jobs automating themselves out of the market, well...

For accounting departments. Unless all companies are switching to digital data, there are still some functions that require humans to do the task. For instance, companies still like to send their own types of invoices, so unless the intelligent machines are able to pick up data from invoices with 100% accuracy without screwing up orders from all these different looking invoices, or until we get to the age where they have to be given standardized data that is easily readable to them, accountants and bookkeepers that do manual entry or semi-automation through programs like Excel will still be able to keep their jobs without losing too much sleep.

Is this an entry level tech position? If it's at a big firm offering you close to 6 figures than the smaller more personal company, that's a tough one. $71k sounds like something developed business majors would get. Surprisingly CPA Accountants may start with an average salary like that, even some engineering majors depending on where you're at, which is weird cause they develop analytical skills that are still valuable in shaping company policy. It's still valuable to learn basic things like FIFO/LIFO for analysis, as well as estimating book values to get the bottom line balance that's used for decision making.

And I'm not talking about the accounting systems they learn that is also similarly based on algorithms like data structures, FIFO queues or LIFO stacks, or the accounting method from amortized analysis. And even though Computer Science may automate themselves out of the job market, they still obviously can apply the useful skills and knowledge they've learnt to troubleshoot or problem solve in other areas that school has helped them develop.

Ranzoh posted...

I wouldn't try to leverage the job offer that is offering you a higher salary for leverage unless the company really wants to keep you or sees value in you for the company. Otherwise they'd probably try to fire you later down the line if they grow, but that's just my guess. But it is a smaller company, so they may need people like you. I'd probably say go for it. For me if I do like the smaller company better, nah screw it, I need the money to make purchases for the rooms I want to make, like a fitness room or a game room.

As for being worried about jobs automating themselves out of the market, well...

For accounting departments. Unless all companies are switching to digital data, there are still some functions that require humans to do the task. For instance, companies still like to send their own types of invoices, so unless the intelligent machines are able to pick up data from invoices with 100% accuracy without screwing up orders from all these different looking invoices, or until we get to the age where they have to be given standardized data that is easily readable to them, accountants and bookkeepers that do manual entry or semi-automation through programs like Excel will still be able to keep their jobs without losing too much sleep.

Is this an entry level tech position? If it's at a big firm offering you close to 6 figures than the smaller more personal company, that's a tough one. $71k sounds like something developed business majors would get. Surprisingly CPA Accountants may start with an average salary like that, even some engineering majors depending on where you're at, which is weird cause they develop analytical skills that are still valuable in shaping company policy. It's still valuable to learn basic things like FIFO/LIFO for analysis, as well as estimating book values to get the bottom line balance that's used for decision making.

And I'm not talking about the accounting systems they learn that is also similarly based on algorithms like data structures, FIFO queues or LIFO stacks, or the accounting method from amortized analysis. And even though Computer Science may automate themselves out of the job market, they still obviously can apply the useful skills and knowledge they've learnt to troubleshoot or problem solve in other areas that school has helped them develop.

both my current company and the offer company are large corporations. Its not an entry level tech job either.

im not worried about automation, as my field utilizes and takes advantage of automation and machine learning as part of the field in general lol

meatlesshotdogz posted...

Has anyone ever used a job offer as leverage with a company youre currently with to get paid more? A friend told me to do this basically.

I did it once. My company matched the raise and I stayed (though I left ~6 months later for a much better opportunity). It was a weird situation, I was a consultant and was seconded at a client's site. I was filling in a position while they searched for someone to fill the role full time. They had an agreement not to poach me but since they were a large client our company couldn't really say no. The environment was pretty toxic and I wasn't super thrilled about the job but probably would have taken it if they didn't match.

Told my boss about the offer this morning, as well as my current contracting company.

theyve been having meetings all morning trying to figure something out. Meeting with my boss in a bit here, guess well see how things turn out

Yeah I was making 72k and got an offer from another job with same responsibilities offering 90k but worse benefits. I wasn't going to take it regardless since that company told me they were planning to return to office a few months after I'd start.

I still let my boss know I got an offer for 90k but I don't want to leave, is there a possibility to get a raise or other incentive? They came back same day with a bump to 83k.

Yo_D_oY posted...

Yeah I was making 72k and got an offer from another job with same responsibilities offering 90k but worse benefits. I wasn't going to take it regardless since that company told me they were planning to return to office a few months after I'd start.

I still let my boss know I got an offer for 90k but I don't want to leave, is there a possibility to get a raise or other incentive? They came back same day with a bump to 83k.

oh damn! Yeah I really did this because I have a friend who works for AWS who suggested I get some offers and use them as leverage. Its proof I can go elsewhere and still be successful, so keeping me would be in their best interest basically

If it helps TC, I went through something similar about 2/3 months ago.

New company offered me more to switch jobs. My employer caught wind somehow I was job shopping, and my PM reached out to me asking my price to stay. In the end I get exactly what I asked for.

Long story short, I had strong negotiation power given the customer likes me, there's a shortage of people who can do what I can do where I live, and they are trying to win a contract renewal which requires bodies already with them.

The only thing I'm kicking myself on is my piss poor negotiation skills of shooting too low. Dont get me wrong, Im grateful and happy they met my offer, I'm just confident I could of gotten a lil more if I had asked in the first place.

Regardless, I'm happy because I got a nice jump, and I got to stay remote.

Anyway the point of the story was, this will really come down to how much negotiation power you have (how much they really need you), and your negotiation skills.

NatsuSama posted...

If it helps TC, I went through something similar about 2/3 months ago.

New company offered me more to switch jobs. My employer caught wind somehow I was job shopping, and my PM reached out to me asking my price to stay. In the end I get exactly what I asked for.

Long story short, I had strong negotiation power given the customer likes me, there's a shortage of people who can do what I can do where I live, and they are trying to win a contract renewal which requires bodies already with them.

The only thing I'm kicking myself on is my piss poor negotiation skills of shooting too low. Dont get me wrong, Im grateful and happy they met my offer, I'm just confident I could of gotten a lil more if I had asked in the first place.

Regardless, I'm happy because I got a nice jump, and I got to stay remote.

Anyway the point of the story was, this will really come down to how much negotiation power you have (how much they really need you), and your negotiation skills.

Thats awesome!

current job is gonna bump my pay to $43, give me 10 PTO days(was getting zero as a contractor), guarantee conversion once the freeze is lifted(to a higher tier role too).

I cant believe that worked. Thats pretty wild, honestly

meatlesshotdogz posted...

oh damn! Yeah I really did this because I have a friend who works for AWS who suggested I get some offers and use them as leverage. Its proof I can go elsewhere and still be successful, so keeping me would be in their best interest basically

Yup but be prepared for the possibility they say no and are passive aggressive about it, tends to happen in toxic workplaces. But at the least you'll have another offer you could take.

So they officially gave me 10 PTO days, as well as the raise to up to $43/hour. And will put me on this new project so I can get additional technical experience Ive wanted.

Playing the game definitely paid off. Not sure it was going to, but damn they were quick to figure something out

meatlesshotdogz posted...

leverage with a company youre currently with

I don't see it as leverage and I think any manager that does is a sap. Barring the conniving schemes that C-suites take part in, of course.

In fact, as a boss, i'd want to know if my people are getting poached and then do my best to retain. If that's the rate, then we'd rather keep the employee because they know our systems. A lot of companies are anti-this, either because they are cheap (hoarding money up top), or, they take it personally. no rational employer would give the figurative "you can't quit you're fired". Though I have seen it before, from a very irrational owner

meatlesshotdogz posted...

So they officially gave me 10 PTO days, as well as the raise to up to $43/hour. And will put me on this new project so I can get additional technical experience Ive wanted.

Playing the game definitely paid off. Not sure it was going to, but damn they were quick to figure something out

this is a win but remember that you went to them, they didn't come to you. i personally would have left that offer for the 90+, but there are pros and cons to both.

If you arent in a position where you can actually negotiate for a raisei.e: a software dev, engineer, etcits unlikely to work. Most companies have set salaries/ranges for standard office work but give it a shot if you think you can finagle it.

BearlyWilling posted...

If you arent in a position where you can actually negotiate for a raisei.e: a software dev, engineer, etcits unlikely to work. Most companies have set salaries/ranges for standard office work but give it a shot if you think you can finagle it.

i am in one of those positions and it did work lol

meatlesshotdogz posted...

So they officially gave me 10 PTO days, as well as the raise to up to $43/hour. And will put me on this new project so I can get additional technical experience Ive wanted.

Playing the game definitely paid off. Not sure it was going to, but damn they were quick to figure something out

Damn, awesome things worked out for you, TC! I was going to recommend doing it. It's just business, you likely won't be put on any watch list or anything like that. Some of the advice above about phrasing it in a way that's not too confrontational was spot on.

Sansoldier posted...

Damn, awesome things worked out for you, TC! I was going to recommend doing it. It's just business, you likely won't be put on any watch list or anything like that. Some of the advice above about phrasing it in a way that's not too confrontational was spot on.

Thanks! Yeah some of the advice here was legit helpful. Luckily my boss and I have a great relationship and I knew he values me a ton. I told him I didnt wanna leave, but a 20k pay raise is very hard to pass up.

And since I was so upfront and transparent with him about things, he went above and beyond to find a way to give me this raise/PTO/added benefits.

Im new to the corporate world, so def will have to keep this tactic in mind for the future haha