After a lifetime of helping recruiters more than they ever helped me...well, you get the idea.

This could very well be the worst advice on the www. A reminder to always question anyone who confidently tells you what you should do.

I had an interview today with a gun company. I wasn't looking and have only been in my current job for four mos. But, c'mon! It's a gun job, a short commute, includes a lot of range time, selling to gun stores and gunsmiths and is better money. I had to check it out. I didn't have my current job on my resume, but told him right up front that's because I wasn't looking. I just applied for this job because it would be such a hobby/passion job, but was otherwise not looking. If I get and take it, I wouldn't put the current job on my resume, but I would hope I wouldn't be looking again for a long time.

I did it once with great success. I used an offer to get a counter offer to stay. I got a 40% raise on the spot, made retroactive to the first of the month and a reduced quota for the next 18 mos.

Give it two years.

We all have advice. The only ones I have seen do well in skipping are those with brutally strong technical skills in demand (e.g., SAP - well, in my time) or those managers possessing brutal linear thought or brutal lateral thought. Smarties with a genuine mission.

Anyone heard of or know of an employer that put a recruiter up to asking his employees to test their loyalty? If so what would that gain the employer? Ticked of employees for sure it they found out.

I think quota carrying sales jobs are unique. Everyone knows reps are coin-operated, no coin no rep.

I always figure it can't hurt to listen. I killed myself for eight years at a job, the company was acquired, and I was laid off by a new manager that never even took the opportunity to get to know me or my abilities. I was outperforming counterparts that were 20 years my senior, and he never bothered to spend 5 minutes talking with me. Sorry but for the vast majority of companies, loyalty to employees is a smoking hole in the ground.

Then you are the exception. As general advice, it's horrible. Any leader worth his/her salt would not take that bait.

It is potentially a good opportunity. Would be mid five figures more $ in a substantially larger organization. That's not enough to shake me loose. But might be a good job for two to three of my friends who are looking. So I asked recruiter to send me more info.

Edit: potentially low six figures more $.

I absolutely had planned to leave, but did like my then job. Problem was that I was crushing my numbers and not making close to what the boss said I'd make if I "were any good." I took a big pay cut to go there in the expectation that I'd make it back quickly. After almost two years, I was tired of struggling to pay the bills. I loved the company and my boss. My mom said I really should give him a chance to counter. I was so sure they couldn't match the offer. But I was wrong and I ended up staying there another 10 years.

I know people who, at the company that later acquired us, used the countering game to even go back and forth between current and future company, got another counter and kept playing the game. It's dicey, but you gotta look out for #1 and get paid what you can command in the marketplace.

Actually I completely disagree.

There are a lot of times when Dept Heads / Managers are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

They have good people who everyone knows is underpaid but are dealing with an organization that will only address it when push comes to shove.

It's often the ammo the Manager needs to get equity for their people.

BTDTGTS.

The best approach for the employee is always to present it as "I need help, got this great offer, really want to stay here, love my job, can we figure something out?

Only if you're really prepared to walk. I've seen it work out very well for people who really had better offers and were ready to give notice. Absent that, it's a dangerous game of chicken.

Well that's a given.

Of course you only bet that hand if you are willing to have it called.

I've worked with a few headhunters, they made used car salesmen look like saints.

Keep in mind all they care about is their commission. that's ALL.