re: Anyone ever use another job offer as a tactic to get a raise/promotion?

I had an offer from a competitor that’s was pretty damn impressive but their reputation in the industry was crap. I went to my direct report and he decided to get president of company involved. It was an exhausting situation because the competition kept raising the offer. Ultimately I got our management team involved. And our management team didn’t believe the offer, so I produced the offer.
My company matched about 50% of the offer and offered me a contract signing bonus which included another 25% from what I recall. It also included a non compete which I was more than happy to sign.
It was an emotional experience because I had put so much work with my current employer ( who doesn’t) that the only reason I was considering it involved money and I didn’t want to make the move because of money.

I’ve had employees approach me that way and I always respond the same way. “You have to do what’s best for you and your family. While I’d appreciate you staying, we can depart on good terms. I wish you nothing but the best of luck.”

To date, I’ve not lost someone that I couldn’t replace. If Joe Montana can be replaced, then Joe Blow sure as hell can!

Never. When I look for a new job, I plan on leaving, not leverage my current employer into giving me more money. I started a new job in May and took a 5% pay cut. When I put my notice in my employer at the time offered me a 20% raise. I was informed Friday that I would be getting a 6% raise plus a 7% bonus for the year. This is the first time in my career I have ever received a bonus. I have zero regrets. I have time for hobbies and my health is better since we have an employee gym.

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The boss gave her a 25% raise with the promise she will stay a minimum of two years and they will find her replacement.

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Good luck enforcing that unless it's directly connected to a signing bonus.

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Good luck enforcing that unless it's directly connected to a signing bonus

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It was more of a "I need you here for two years so we can find your replacement and train". She can leave whenever she wants. There's nothing in writing. She's enjoying the extra $1200 or so extra per month.

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've leveraged it. I didn't ask for a counter. They did. I accepted.

Couple things...never stay. You burn good will even if its amicable. Trust is gone. You'll constantly compare your "lost" opportunity. Eventually you'll sour on the job even if there is no functional change.

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This. If you're motivated enough to look for another job and you note a massive discrepancy in pay... You've already made your decision.

Yeah. I had been promised a position for a while and kept getting the 'it's going to happen' (let me preface by saying the job had to be 'pulled' and posted but I was the only person who would have been able to get it)..after a while I got fed up and called a place offering the same position I wanted. It was going to be a small pay cut until I got off probation then was going to get bumped up to more.

I told my initial boss that I had been offered the job and he said that he himself couldn't offer more so he told me to go to his boss.

That boss said to give him a week. After the week we had a meeting and the position was active and all I had to do was sign it.

I hated to threaten leaving but I was already doing the work (plus work for my old position) and I just wanted the title.

That other place just told me that in January/February they will be calling me again to offer me once more.

It is called having a "frick you" job

Yes, but never as a demand or ultimatum.

Always brought it up as a conversation or even as, admittedly false, "seeking advice" to bring it to their intention.

If you truly wanted to leave, you'd just say nothing and take the new job.

If you want to stay, you don't threaten. You just might get a lesson in leverage.

The "safest" is to try and use it with the new employer, not the current by the way. If you're happy staying you have nothing to lose. You just might get an offer you can't refuse.

* Timing matters too if your current company does annual reviews also. Many supervisors just can't pull a raise out of a hat and would need to wait for review time so temper your expectations.

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Anyone ever use another job offer as a tactic to get a raise/promotion?

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I don't recommend it.

If the money is the most important thing to you, take an interview with the other company and get an offer.

If that happens, go to your boss and ask for a raise, but don't bring up the other offer.

If they agree to a raise, you then have options. If they turn you down, hand in your resignation and accept the other offer.

That way if you stay, you stay on good terms. If you try to hold them hostage and stay, you will eventually end up gone anyway because you will no longer be on good terms there regardless of what they say to you about it.

As a person who owned a company for 20 years, trust me on that.

When you walk in and try to leverage them for a raise, they do not appreciate that sort of move, nor do they trust you after that, and more than likely they will go to work to plan for your replacement. Doesn't mean they will actively get rid of you, but there are ways of getting rid of someone without taking direct action to do so.

The exception to that rule is if you are so valuable to the company or would be so difficult to replace that they are highly motivated to keep you. And of that's the case, they'll give you the raise you ask for without you having to threaten them to do so.