Getting recruited. Should I tell my boss?

[Roober]

In the last 3 months, I have had several phone interviews with recruiters/head hunters. Is this something I should bring up to my boss, at least casually? I know I am underpaid for my role, so just curious how to go about this...

 

[speed dawg]

If you have zero plans for jumping jobs, sure tell him the recruiters are coming after you.

If you are interested in talking with them, I would most certainly NOT tell them. My rule of thumb is that if your current employer wanted to pay you such and such, they should already be doing it. If you talk to the new company and want to jump, then make your mind up beforehand. Being wish-washy makes people lose trust in you and think you aren't committed. It's weak leverage, and it will be remembered.

Now, I've seen instances where a valuable employee goes in to resign, and a company simply does not accept their resignation, and nearly breaks the bank to keep them. That's different. Of course that's an extreme example where the market corrected itself. Your motivation can't be to secure a raise from your current company, it has to be to resign.

 

[amoka]

At times, it's better to make less and be happy than to make more and not be happy. My advice is to do the interviews and get an offer before letting a single soul known of your intentions. Then use that offer to negotiate with your boss.

 

[sazc]

No, did not tell anyone at your present employment. I'm sure they are all good people but you have to understand and know, if they needed to let you go, they wouldn't be loyal to you, they would let you go.

You do you. Get the right offer in hand and give the appropriate notice. That is the only respectful move your current employer would like

 

[BeExcellent]

The advice given is solid.

Here's my 2 cents: You know you are underpaid. The bigger question is does your employer see your value? The surface answer would appear to be NO or you would be paid better...but it's not that simple.

Employers will get away with paying you below market for as long as your fear allows it. I know I do that with people who work for me. You fear being job-less compared to being under paid. See your fear of lack there? By staying in the underpaid role you are choosing the lesser of 2 evils (under paid job versus no job).

Rather you need to be aware of the strengths you personally bring to the table in your current role. You need to be able to articulate them.

You need to fix your thinking.

Talk to any and every recruiter. Interview. Get an accurate snapshot of your value in the marketplace. Apply for positions that would advance you. See what sort of offers you get. Once you do that you turn in your notice. At that point you are in a strong negotiating position with your current employer.

You can go to your employer currently with a market analysis and make a pitch for a raise...but I would not advise this route unless you know you are seen as valuable in your current position and you know that paying you more is cheaper than replacing you.

If your current employer won't give you a raise then they confirm that they don't appreciate your value and they are also put on notice that you are unhappy.

So you have to weigh things carefully. It all starts with your perceived value. Internally within yourself, by your current employer, by your prospective new employers. You must learn to broker this value.

 

[BeExcellent]

Final thought: Recruiters earn a living placing people. They run on volume. You don't know how well they do at placements. They will blow sunshine up your butt all day long and Sunday too because you represent a meal ticket to them.

So take them with a grain of salt until you have an offer in hand that reflects your worth.

 

[Roober]

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals!

I talk to recruiters, but nothing has really come to fruition yet. Still feel like I have a lot to gain at my current position with certifications, training, and development. I hope to gain as much development as possible in the next year or so, when it owuld be more ideal to look at other opportunities.