Discuss the fact that another company offered you a job with your current manager?

[TheNinja]

So if you have a job and someone comes to you and makes you an offer. I did not go out searching for it. Would it be OK to talk to your current manager and ask about your future, stability, plans, etc.? If there is restructuring in the plans in the next year I'd like to know so I can go to the new job rather than have nothing. However I prefer to stay at my current job. Or would he/she pretty much look to lay you off in the future b/c they think you are "looking around"?

 

[Patranus]

Better make sure you have that other offer in writing if you do.

 

[rasczak]

Or would he/she pretty much look to lay you off in the future b/c they think you are "looking around"?

pretty much this.

 

[bobdole369]

I've done it. I told my boss I was being head-hunted. He didn't even bat an eye. I also told him I wasn't interested.

 

[dullard]

If your current manager is smart, he'd tell you to take the offer.

Why? He now knows that he has a disloyal employee that is ready and willing to leave at any moment (such as when they need you most and put a little more work on your plate). I read a study a few years ago that showed that the vast majority of employees in your situation left the current company in the next year even if the current company bent over backwards to keep the employee. It is better to hire and train someone loyal than to waste time and money trying to placate a disloyal employee.

 

[Malak]

I actually just had same thing happened. Job offer when I wasn't looking, but it comes from a previous employer. I see my current job as stable, but there are completely different benefits to both. I will speak with the owner of the company with the offer before I say anything to my employer.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Better make sure you have that other offer in writing if you do.

This.

OP, I'm torn on your question to be honest. I have friends who were managers and they always told me that in their opinion, you should always go to your manager and have a discussion if you're unhappy with your pay, role, career path, etc. One friend remarked that he had employees leave who told them they were unhappy and he literally had no clue that they were unhappy and would have made things better if they had told him. Of course, this friend was a great guy with no political agendas whatsoever, so I think he is in the extreme minority and perhaps a bit naive. He was a great boss, though.

On the other hand, my manager at my last job told me never to accept a counteroffer if given one and that he would never extend one if an employee quit. According to him, statistics show that an employee who accepts a counter will still be unhappy and leave within a couple of years. Furthermore, from the perspective of the employer, you've already proven that you are testing the waters and aren't loyal, so they may start looking for your replacement and get rid of you at the next opportunity they have (such as layoffs).

Personally, I don't discuss these kinds of things with my managers. I feel that if they can't see if I am overworked or underpaid, they're failing at their job as a manager. What I typically do is set a course of action, achieve it without their knowledge (such as training for the PMP), and then find another job. Realistically speaking, if you have no upward mobility at your current employer, you're going to have to leave to get a significant raise.

 

[Texashiker]

Discuss the fact that another company offered you a job with your current manager?

Most of the companies I worked at, as soon as you mentioned that another company made you an offer, you were fired on the spot.

"Looking for another job? We will help you on your way - Your FIRED!!!!!!"

A lot of managers have the attitude that if you do not like your job, leave. They have a stack of resumes a mile high and can have someone to fill your spot within the hour. Rarely would I ever talk to a manager about the working conditions. Other employees like the status que, so any changes are likely to piss them off.

 

[Malak]

Most of the companies I worked at, as soon as you mentioned that another company made you an offer, you were fired on the spot.

"Looking for another job? We will help you on your way - Your FIRED!!!!!!"

A lot of managers have the attitude that if you do not like your job, leave. They have a stack of resumes a mile high and can have someone to fill your spot within the hour. Rarely would I ever talk to a manager about the working conditions. Other employees like the status que, so any changes are likely to piss them off.

The thing with my job is that there isn't a stack of applications and they are always short staff. I am not really unhappy and I scheduled a meet with the owner of the company offering the job because I really don't know what to do.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

Every time I've been headhunted I've been given a raise at my current job. I guess that isn't the norm. It's happened several times.

 

[Macamus Prime]

I would approach him/her with the notion of; "I want to be developed and progress - what can you do for me?"

Throw out this bullshit that you want to help out the company. See what they say then.

 

[TheNinja]

It's not that I'm unhappy with my current job or position or anything. I've just got another offer coming in and these new people are really after me nonstop. I get along great with the manager but just want to make sure he has a stable and secure environment for me to work in. I'd rather stay where I am, I'm just wondering that if during their restructuring I get screwed out of a job. Then I'm left holding the bag with no job. Whereas I know the new company is keeping me around long term. I'd rather have that one than nothing - 1 is NetApp Data Management for global team, the other is LAN Admin / Support for a ~100 person site.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It's not that I'm unhappy with my current job or position or anything. I've just got another offer coming in and these new people are really after me nonstop. I get along great with the manager but just want to make sure he has a stable and secure environment for me to work in. I'd rather stay where I am, I'm just wondering that if during their restructuring I get screwed out of a job. Then I'm left holding the bag with no job. Whereas I know the new company is keeping me around long term. I'd rather have that one than nothing - 1 is NetApp Data Management for global team, the other is LAN Admin / Support for a ~100 person site.

Wait, you're the guy from the thread the other day asking which job we'd take if we were in your shoes? You're taking the Netapp/data management job, correct? Is the job you're currently in the LAN Admin job?

 

[digitaldurandal]

Most of the companies I worked at, as soon as you mentioned that another company made you an offer, you were fired on the spot.

"Looking for another job? We will help you on your way - Your FIRED!!!!!!"

A lot of managers have the attitude that if you do not like your job, leave. They have a stack of resumes a mile high and can have someone to fill your spot within the hour. Rarely would I ever talk to a manager about the working conditions. Other employees like the status que, so any changes are likely to piss them off.

This could work out poorly for the company you currently work for.

Personally I am the guy with the paid off house and car, I would sit home and collect unemployment and play video games.

However I think the best way to handle the situation would be to talk to your employer about what you think would be a fair compensation for your work. Then if your employer will not budge on what you feel are your needs and your worth. Then put in your two weeks notice. There is really little reason to mention another job offer... well unless you want to laugh at home playing video games while collecting unemployment.

 

[paulney]

The loyalty thing is complete bullshit. Anyone starts telling you about it - laugh at him in his face.

Gone are the years...

Hold on brb.

 

[paulney]

All right, I'm back.

Gone are the years when you slaved away for 30 years in the same cube, or twist the same nut onto the same bolt on a conveyor belt, just like your father did, and received a gold watch as a recognition, which you could stick up your ass for all it was worth.

Companies today care only about the margins and the profits. Need to downsize? Off you go. Too much seniority, too much pay? Goodbye. No one will even blink an eye and remember all the extra effort and hours you put it. Well, maybe, when they have an option to fire you or the next guy.

You are a free agent. You work where you want to work as long as you find the job interesting and the job benefits right. If you see a better offer - take it. Just don't jump the ships too often, because it will look bad. But if you are That Old Guy who spent his lifetime at IBM and started when they were using punchcards - good luck getting hired anywhere else.

 

[TheNinja]

Wait, you're the guy from the thread the other day asking which job we'd take if we were in your shoes? You're taking the Netapp/data management job, correct? Is the job you're currently in the LAN Admin job?

Ya, trying to figure out what I want to do.

I'm currently LAN Admin but due to restructuring in the IT and me moving up, they are going to send me to training for NetApp cert and data management job. So that would be my current employer

This new company is offering me LAN Admin - jack of all trades, ad, exchange, support, voip, networking, etc. The new company just offered me 10% more base salary than I make now. My current company has bonuses of 5-10% per year a little better benefits and better 401k matching by like 2% - So I'd say money wise they are comparable, new position might be a little higher off the bat.

 

[FDF12389]

I have made it a rule to never talk career ambitions with management, as with any rule, their are exceptions. But since you had to ask us, your situation isn't an exception.

 

[TXHokie]

I used to have a boss that would give me heads up to new interesting job posting because his wife was a recruiter. At first I was taken aback thinking he was trying to give me a hint. He explained that he would like to see people get new challenge if the current job does not provide it. When he left the company, I followed and worked for him at two other different companies. He was a great boss.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Ya, trying to figure out what I want to do.

I'm currently LAN Admin but due to restructuring in the IT and me moving up, they are going to send me to training for NetApp cert and data management job. So that would be my current employer

This new company is offering me LAN Admin - jack of all trades, ad, exchange, support, voip, networking, etc. The new company just offered me 10% more base salary than I make now. My current company has bonuses of 5-10% per year a little better benefits and better 401k matching by like 2% - So I'd say money wise they are comparable, new position might be a little higher off the bat.

As we said in the other thread, stay at your current company since that is the global position and you can learn some specialties.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The loyalty thing is complete bullshit. Anyone starts telling you about it - laugh at him in his face.

Gone are the years...

Hold on brb.

What we are referring to is that companies expect loyalty but don't give it in return -- that's why if you tip your hand, you're going to be branded a "traitor" in the eyes of management. At the end of the day, everyone needs to remember that the only thing that matters in the corporate world is to look out for yourself.

At my last job, the head of the department would hold a grudge against anyone that left. He has a smart guy and nice enough, but he was a hardass and that was an extremely disappointing attitude given the fact that people were just trying to better themselves. He sure didn't stay with one company his whole career, so why should he expect others to?

I am a master of office politics and I advise everyone to learn them well. When I want to feel things out, I drop very subtle hints and play the role of naive or ignorant with regards to the "inner workings" of the department. I can tell from the reaction I get what the scoop is, even if they aren't telling me any details. Today, for example, I casually mentioned to my boss that I am planning on sitting for the PMP exam this summer and wanted to know if I could use him as a reference on the application. Of course, I had an ulterior motive -- rumors are swirling that they plan to eventually hire a full-time PM and I was hoping to gauge his interest in my pursuit and to maybe get the inside scoop. I didn't get the response I wanted, so I expect that after I get the PMP, I'm going to need to start looking and in the interim, maybe learn more skills. I am afraid maybe I divulged a little too much, but we'll see.

 

[thegimp03]

I would say a 10% raise to your base salary is not worth it to leave, especially since you're saying that your current company has slightly better benefits, etc.

On topic with the original post, I would discuss with my boss if I felt comfortable in not being thrown under the bus. In my situation my boss and I are friends outside of work, so it wouldn't really be an issue if I talked to him about another job opportunity to get his thoughts on it.

 

[TheNinja]

As we said in the other thread, stay at your current company since that is the global position and you can learn some specialties.

Definitely what i'm thinking, it's just tough when the other company really wants you and is willing to pay a little more for it. Although I did get the go ahead to start going to some courses and work toward NetApp certification if I stay.

I kind of poked around a little today and basically got the "Oh ya, we always have a position for a guy with your skillset. If for some reason in the next 3-4 months during our reorg, you aren't operations with NetApp, you'll be on the project/design team and the NetApp and your background will help there too. I can never say never, but at this point we have no plans to lay anyone off and have figured all that out already"

 

[TheNinja]

BTW - Thanks a lot to everyone who chimed. It's nice to be able to bounce things off people and get different perspectives, even if it's relative strangers on the Internet, it's still great to hear what you guys have to say.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Definitely what i'm thinking, it's just tough when the other company really wants you and is willing to pay a little more for it. Although I did get the go ahead to start going to some courses and work toward NetApp certification if I stay.

No, it isn't tough. You pick a job based on a combination of salary, benefits, misc. compensation, and how it will benefit you down the road. You don't let another company guilt you or pressure you into leaving especially when the overall compensation is about the same.