Hello all!
I came here through the following thread http://www.manager-tools.com/forums-6049 but need advice on my particular situation.
I have been employed at my current company for almost 2 years. In that time 2 supervisors have come and gone and I am currently on my 3rd who started just last month. In that time I have performed exemplary and my performance review reflects that. Our small team has scored big on every challenge that has come to us. However it is becoming clear that there is a lack of transparency and that our achievements are becoming lost in the shuffle. The best example is that they hired a Director position for a task that I have been handling for the entire company without posting the position internally or considering me. We have also recently learned that they are hiring for another supervisory tier between myself and my current manager which means I have to start all over again.
Thus my situation: An opportunity has found me that offers a higher position and room to grow. I thought I had that in my current company but I feel like I can't wait for them to get their act together and don't want to throw the last 2 years out of the window with these new supervisors. However I really do like the companies atmosphere, our mission, and more importantly the team I'm working with. What I would like is to have my current company create a title that is appropriate for the true scope of work that I do and secondly compensate accordingly, basically match the offer.
From what I've read the best approach to not tell them I have another offer, but to air my concerns, explain how great I am doing, and propose a way to do more. However my new supervisor does not know my history first hand and I am not sure how effective it would be to explain to her why I feel like I deserve more. I have considered going to an executive who is more familiar with what I've done but has historically been more reactive (countering with job offers when people threaten to leave) than proactive.
So it seems to me that my best approach to accomplishing what I want is to put it on the table that I do have another offer that I am considering, explain why I am considering it, tell them that I do want to stay, then ask if they can match the offer. Is this a logical approach?
There's also the resign and see if they counter approach (which has worked recently for a couple of people) which I am ready to do but might not accomplish what I want in the best way.
Sorry for the long read. Thank you sincerely for your time.
go for the proactive offer
Hi -
If I were you, I would go the the executive you say is familiar with what you've done, and lay out your concerns, but don't bring up the other offer. If they are not able to meet your needs, accept the other offer.
The reason is that if they only offer you more if they think you will leave otherwise, then 1) they will likely feel you are overpaid at that point and 2) they won't trust you. They may be willing to meet your needs/demands in order to keep from having to hire and train someone new, but you will have lost something that is hard to get back. And certainly don't expect a raise any time soon after that. However, if you accept a new job and perform well there, your initial offer becomes your entry level in that position.
Just my 2 cents, good luck!
Robin, Thanks for your
Robin,
Thanks for your input. I failed to mention that I only have 3 days to accept the offer and I do not believe that there will be any immediate action if I go to that exec to bring up my concerns with or without my expectations. This will end up with me putting in my 2 weeks in 2 days which seems to me would have the net effect of saying I have an offer or threatening to quit. But I can see how that is the proper way to cross that bridge.
Thanks!
Most important goal is to leave on good terms
Weigh the new role against your current position, not against what you hope you can get. At this point, I think you're right to be concerned about bringing up your concerns, since you're almost certainly not going to give them enough time to do anything about it. To some extent you'll be starting over in both roles, but if your new role includes some of the things you're missing now, perhaps it's the better option.
Assuming you really do prefer the new opportunity to your current position, then you should 1) leave, and 2) leave on good terms. You never know -- I've seen a lot of people come back to the company later on, and if you keep in touch with some of the people at your old company you might be able to come back in a more fulfilling role later on. It's generally a bad idea to accept a counter-offer, because there's always a risk you'll be seen as a flight risk. But for some reason boomerang employees don't seem to carry the same stigma (almost as if the fact that you came back somehow proves you really were more loyal to the original company).
In the meantime, obviously put your full effort into your new company -- there's good reason to believe you'll enjoy your new environment just as much.