What do I do in this job-offering situation?

Know your value. Stick to your laurels. Let them know that you know your worth. Now, you also have to consider what your entry level wages at your previous job were. Also, give your current employer a chance to counter.

You just tell them they need to improve their offer because you won’t change jobs for a less payed job. Is that simple.

@atch, @Hibernate thank you for your answers!

So you are saying that i should be as straight-forward as possible? I was thinking just about the same thing (I have indeed been honest with them so far and i wouldn’t want to go other way around now)

But should i also let them know how much i’m making right now? Should i also give them a suggestion on how much to offer me?

What do you think?

@atch “Also, give your current employer” – i was also planning on doing that, but i’m a bit afraid that the manager will go crazy on this one, as the guys with the offer are our direct competitors on the market. Any advice? :)

Yes, you should make a counter offer to the new employer. Give them an idea about how much you would like to make to accept their offer and wait for an answer.

I do not recommend that you let your current employer know in any way at all that you are in the market for a new job.

@Hawaii_Jake thanks for answering. Point well taken: I’m not going to let my current employer on this one, until I get a good, concrete offer from them :)

Okay, i just sent them an email, thanking them for the offer, letting them know how i can further bring benefits to their company, and asking them to reconsider their offer (i have also suggested them my upper salary expectations :D )

Now we play the waiting game :-)

Give them a salary range which you are expecting, usually about a three-thousand dollar range. Say something like, “That’s a very attractive offer, but I was looking for something in the 60,000 to 62,000 dollar range.”

If they balk, you have to decide what’s more important to you, the job or the pay.

OK, you have done it. Now think about what is the bottom line number that you will change jobs for. Figure that out and stick to it.

Do not tell your current employer that you were job hunting. Tell them only when you resign to take the other job. Make sure the new offer is in writing.

Just tell them. Tell them, hey I make “X” at my current job, and I need a bare minimum of that just to live off of. If you can bump me up to at least X, I will take the job today.

They’ll say no or yes, but if you can’t take the job for less money, then you really have nothing to lose.

Do not tell your current employer. You either make the move or you don’t. Unless you’re a rock star in the IT field you are seriously risking being “walked out the door”.
Tell the new place what you expect, look at their offer, and then either take it or leave it.
Consider it practice for the next job interview.

@worriedguy

I diagree about the “take it or leave it” approach. Depending upon the level, employers expect you to negotiate for salary. I have applied for jobs where they have told me after hiring that it was my skill at negotiating salary which convinced them I was the person for the job.

Negotiate, with the HR person for a higher salary…. know your number that you want and let them know you would love to work for such a wonderful company but you need to be making at least that much in order for you to be able to switch. There is a possibility they may counter offer with something inbetween the two numbers.

Tell them how you just told us. I work in HR. People have told me “I REALLY REALLY want to accept this position, but financially I have to earn what I am earning now, or more. Is there any way you can offer me that amount?”

Be ready to handle their answer. If their answer is yes, well then you got what you asked for!!! If they say no, then be mentally prepared to hear it and move on if, in fact, you truly can’t take less than you are earning.

Sometimes they will be able to meet you, sometimes they won’t. Companies have a high rate which they can offer, or a standard rate, and if that’s what they are offering they won’t be able to flex. Also, for certain positions, there simply is no negotiation b/c it has too many applicants.

Let us know what happens.