In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, a reader asks:

I am curious about the mechanics and strategy of asking for a retention raise. I am a TT assistant professor. I might receive a job offer soon for another TT position. I would be willing to take the new job, but I would prefer my current position if my salary increased. How would I go about asking for a retention raise? Whom should I ask–my chair or the dean? Any other advice?

Fair questions! I’ve heard anecdotally that some institutions don’t negotiate these sorts of things at all (they will say in essence, “good luck to you at your new job”), but if you are willing to take the new job, what’s the harm simply telling your institution that you have an outside offer but would prefer to stay if they’d be willing to raise your salary $X? If you really are willing to take the other job, the worst that they can say is ‘no.’ In any case, my sense is that one should only do this if one actually has an outside offer and you’re willing to accept it.

In terms of the mechanics, one reader submitted the following reply:

go to the Dean (at least) Every campus is different, and campuses even change over time. I worked at a place where you went to the Provost. I liked it. You had to have some gumption to think they would even meet with you, but if you did, and you made a case for yourself, she was a generous and appreciative leader.

This seems right to me. Go first to your Dean. Then, depending on what they say, maybe go to the Provost. But it would be great to hear from other readers here, particularly readers who have tried to negotiate a raise like this. What was the process like, and how successful (or not) were you?

Originally appeared on The Philosophers’ Cocoon Read More