Have you ever used a job offer to push for a salary or title boost? How did it work out?

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I accepted a better offer and when I told my agency, they were upset that I didn’t give them a chance to beat it. This was of course after I had two conversations months prior about a bump with zero results.

It’s funny how the money can ~magically ~ appear once you’ve got one foot out the door.

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THIS

Be prepared to leave if you’re using an offer. If you go into it with that in mind, you will always win.

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This. 100%. A lot of people have a mindset that they just absolutely won’t counter and will show you the door if you try this. Others value you and will at least try to keep you. But you never know which it is until you try so you have to be prepared for them to show you the door. So make sure it’s an offer you’re ok taking.

If you're unhappy, more money won't make you happier. It rarely does. Because the underlying problems are still there.

I took the more money once, only to still leave 6 months later cuz the slight bump to my paycheck didn't make up for how much I didn't like my boss or the briefs I was getting.

Also, be prepared to leave and take the other job if they don't match. So make sure it's the right job, not just a convenient out of your current agency.

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It worked the first time, stayed. Didn’t work the second time, took the offer. Was happy with both outcomes, which I think is important to know before you start this tactic.

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I personally don’t like what it does to the dynamic at my current place.

It’s good leverage if you feel stuck or unable to ask for a raise. But I really really would always just ask your current job first. You’d be surprised.

And they will respect you more for just having a conversation about how you think you’re bringing lots of value and you’re worth more money. No one likes to feel strong-armed or like there’s an ultimatum.

Yes, people do it. Yes, it works.
But it can make things a little weird, too.

If you ask, and they say no, then go after the new gig and don’t look back.

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But also, if you ask and they say yes ... be prepared to stick around for a little bit.

It’s uncool to get them to say yes, then take another offer right after.

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Many frown upon this so use this tactic carefully and be genuinely prepared to leave. A softer way to do this is to keep the offer in your back pocket and bring it up at your next review.

Having said that, I recently got a couple other offers and it did work out to my advantage, with an offer for a 25% increase and title change. My goal wasn’t to get a counter offer however and ultimately, I moved.

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Didn’t work, and the ecd hated me for doing it. Took the other offer, best decision for my career I ever made. Looking back, I can’t believe I tried to stay.

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Nah. If you interview and get a job, either take it or don’t. If you stay for more money there’s a target on your back.

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It depends on the circumstances, but oftentimes accepting a counteroffer creates resentment on the part of the countering employer and hinders future raises and bonuses because they always remember "the counter." Use this tactic with caution. Better to leave and come back at a higher rate of pay.

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It works.

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Some big shops explicitly don’t counteroffer. Like my current shop. However, they end up hiring people back and giving them a bump in not just pay, but title! So people look at leaving as the only way to really move up. It’s messed up.

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It’s the money coming from different places. Investiment $ is different than raises $. It’s stupid but it is all split.

I asked my current employer to make a counter offer after I received one from a new agency. I hadn’t received a raise in two years despite being on the agency ‘highest performing employees’ list. My current/old employer didn’t even make an attempt to give any more money.

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Sometimes you are not unhappy with the work and place but raises as hard to come. So you don’t want to leave and that offer can help you get that bump. I don’t see as a problem but make sure the offer is something you would be ok on taking, because if there is no bump, staying will only delay your leave.

Exactly

I’m starting down exactly the same path as @C1 right now.

This is a valuable tool in an industry that will almost never proactively do that for you. Bringing an offer essentially shows your current employer that you know your worth and you have a tangible evidence of it. But as mentioned by others on this thread, there's an etiquette to it. It can be done with grace, professionalism and honesty and in my experience you can only do it once at any given place before it starts messing up with the former.

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