<prompt> Human: I wanted to give an update on my situation from a month ago, since I am sure many go through the same process and it may be something that people can learn from.This was my original question to the sub:I have a job that I really like, but I know Im not getting paid market value. I recently was contacted by a recruiter for a much larger company that seems to be in a open up the checkbook path. Assuming I am given an offer, and it is for a considerably larger amount of money, is there a safe way to leverage that into a promotionraise at my current job? Or is that just asking for trouble down the road? Under what conditions would you do that? For reference, I am well regarded in my current position and all my performance reviews have been very good. My boss has said that she will be pushing for a promotion during the next cycle, which would be well ahead of schedule, but given the raises I have received so far, I know that still wont bring me up to market value.I did receive an offer from the employer I interviewed for, and it was originally a promotion from X to Senior X, a 20 increase in salary and eligible for a 10 yearly bonus based on company and department goals pretty standard for large companies from what I understand.I pushed back saying that based on my market research and what I brought to the table, I expected a 30 raise really expecting a 25 raise as a counteroffer, and made it a point to say that I was going to come in ready to bust my ass and show them what a great hire they were making.Apparently I was convincing, because they offered me a 25 raise, a promotion to Manager and eligibility to a 15 yearly bonus because of the promotion.At this point, I called a meeting with my current boss and, without telling her I had another offer, made my case for why I deserved a raise not at market value, drive a lot of value for the company, taking on responsibilities above and beyond my title, etc. My boss then told me that she didnt think it was possible that our VP would consider it even at our upcoming review period in a couple of months. Her message was to keep working hard and ayear from now we could be talking about a promotion.I gave her a couple of days just to see if anything developed, and then I called a meeting with her and told her I was putting in my resignation. Over the next couple of days, I fielded about 3 different counter offers in terms of role, and heard a ton about how much they wanted me to stay and how many conversations have been had about how good of an employee I was. The counteroffers almost matched all the terms of the new offer, but I declined them all.Advice: dont fall for any of it. For two reasons:1. At this point, they may just be telling you whatever you want to hear because they want you to stay. Although I dont think theyd retain me and fire me within the year which could certainly be the case for other people, I still think that a desperation move like this is bound to come bite you back in the form of we already gave you a HUGE promotion, why do you think you deserve another promotion... ever?.2. If they valued you so much and thought you were such a great employee, do you really want to work for a company that does nothing to keep their best employees around until they threaten to leave?Looking back, there are two items I would have potentially done different, but this is all depends on the specific situation:a I did not play hardball on the negotiations. If I truly wanted to, what I could have done is taken the second offer from my future employer and say Ok, I think this is a fair offer but I will have to see what my current employer can do in terms of matching, and then play the negotiation game. I didnt want to do this for a couple of reasons, but I do think I could have gotten more money out of the deal had I approached it this way, especially knowing the counteroffers that my current employer was going to make.b Regarding my current employer, I would have pushed harder from the beginning to establish what I thought was fair advancement. For the first 2 years, I let my employer take the lead on when I should be considered for promotions. What I learned from that is that you always have to be on the offensive to make sure that your boss understands where you currently sit and where you think you should sit.Assistant: a seems like bad taste imo and good way to get a lot of people to rescind. I think you did things fine in terms of this negotiation.Human: Agreed. I am involved in candidate selection and offers at my company, and I would have pulled the offer if someone came back with I will have to see what my current employer can do in terms of matching. Assistant: This is certainly the risk you take, and certainly why you have to assess the individual situation you are in.In my case, I had told the recruiter what my salary range would be, and this offer was at the absolute bottom of it. I think it was possible for me to say something like this is at the very bottom of the range we discussed, whereas the job has a lot of risk... if this is the best offer you can put on the table, I will have to take some time to think about what my other opportunities are.What I would be banking on here is that I knew that a I was the first candidate that they have offered, b They are planning to hire several more people in this group, c it is really tough to hire people in this field Data Science.At the stage that we were at, I am fairly sure that I could have pushed for a higher salary. But what you mention i.e., that some employers may not be willing to play that game is exactly why I didnt do it. I liked this opportunity enough that my objective was to get the best deal I could without risking losing this opportunity.Human: And thats exactly why when you give the first number, you lose. Why would they pay you any more than what youre willing to accept? Assistant: And that is why you give a range where the lowest end is the highest end of what you think you should be offered if you are forced to give a number.In this situation I had to give a range because I basically told them the range they had the position advertised for initially was something I wouldnt consider. So obviously they replied what would you consider?.At that point, you cant tell them if you dont know what Im worth, then I dont need to be telling you like I am some passive aggressive teenager. So I gave them a range where even at its lowest, I would certainly be happy to take it.Human: Im actually going to be in the same situation. My boss came to me last week stating that she wanted to keep me and is going to be working on a promotion I havent said anything to her about looking. I had an interview last week and the hiring manager basically told me that I was his candidate. For this position I was initially contacted by a recruiter 3rd party recruiter stating that the salary range 75-87 or something, I know the top was 87. I told them that I wouldnt even consider the interview for anything less 90. They said ok, but that may be where I messed up. I want more than 90, so if the offer comes I expect it to Ill expect it to come in at 90, maybe less. I guess I just state that I want more than I want in this case and hope they come up. Ive pushed off the second interview until Friday to give my boss some time to get the ball rolling on my promotion she talked to HR last Friday, no Idea how this process works, or how long it will take. The benefits at my current company are way better 8 401k match, if I get a promotion Ill be eligible for a 10 bonusIn all honesty, Im bored with my current job and Im not learning anything, the group is too small to really do anything else. This new position will have a lot of benefits, although the team isnt much bigger, but there will be a junior analyst, so the potential to be promoted to a manager within a year or 2 is certainly not out of the picture.The only difference that I have with you is Im at the top of the range for my grade, so even going up a grade Im still close to the top. Im not like to see more than a 5-7 bump, if Im lucky. Well see.Congrats on your new role then!Assistant: Actually, I was already at the top of my range, so very similar situation.One advice: if the offer from the other employer comes low, dont bargain - negotiate. That means that you want to highlight WHY you deserve a higher salary, not just that you want one. Sell them again on everything you sold them on originally, and make sure to say something to the effect of the responsibilities in this role as i understand them after the interview exceed what I based my 90k lower bound on.That gives you the best shot at a better offer.Having said that: if youre bored at your current job and youd like more room for growth and improvement, make sure you dont get too greedy. A couple 1000k a year is not going to make or break your career. Not now. Make sure you make the decision that puts in the best long term position.  <response>: A couple 1000k 1000k1,000,000.00 damn well would make or break my career. 