I wouldn't mention it... get to find out more about each company first as well as the salary offered. You are allowed to wait a week before giving your answer to the company you want to work for.

If one provides a higher salary and the two companies are otherwise on equal grounds regarding benefits, environment etc, then you can tell the other company that you've received another offer which is higher. At that point (if you do your stuff right), this other company may offer a higher salary to keep you. If they do, tell them you'll give it a day and go back to the other company telling them that you got a higher offer from them (makingit seem like they were all along giving the bigger offer). Who knows company A may then counter offer which you can take and come off better

If company B tells you they cannot offer higher then company A, then just go work for company A.

I've done this before, you just need to word yourself veeeery carefully so that the companies don't think you're bluffing, and so that you don't insult them in any way.

 

Very well put. Good workers are well worth the extra pay and any smart company will realize it. That said, I've found that the highest paying company isn't always the best one so definitely try and get a feel for the work atmosphere and general feel of the prospective company. I'll gladly take a 10% or 15% pay cut to work in a relaxed atmosphere over a higher paying job in a humourless, unhappy environment.

 

[QUOTE=JonBoy,Jul 31 2008, 07:30 AM] Very well put.

 

Interesting point I think. The funny part of what I've seen is that IT is an industry in which people will jump ship for minuscule increases in income. I'm always amazed when someone has been at a company they like for a couple years and decide to make a lateral move for an extra $3-5k. Granted, sometimes there are other factors such as a "glass ceiling" and their thought is perhaps a lateral move will allow them to break through but I doesn't seem to be the predominant reason for their shift most of the time.

Definitely different from O&G where people are making enough money already and they are more concerned about atmosphere, coworkers, and job functions.

 

I'd never consider a lateral move to another company for under $5K (more like $10-$12K, really). Why? If you stick with a company, you tend to have some intangible benefits plus it's good to show some roots in a company. Jumping ship every two years isn't exactly showing stability or job commitment.

 

Then again, for younger guys making $30K-$40K a year, getting a $5K raise is a big jump (nearly 13-17%). For guys making $80K a year, $5K is just a 6% raise, or about what you'd get if you stayed for another year... When you're a young employee, $5K is a lot. When you're an older employee, it's peanuts.

 

Absolutely right.

The oil and gas industry salaries became so falsely inflated with everybody chasing 1-2 dollars per hour that it had to stop. It was like musical chairs on a monthly basis with everybody floating from one company to another and back to their old employers even with completely unjustified raises.