> I've been thinking about interviewing for jobs that I don't plan on getting, just to get a better offer and force my boss hand, does that sound like a decent idea?
This is a really terrible idea. Don't do this. Employers know this trick, and neither your current employer nor the one you're trying to use as leverage will appreciate your doing this.
Don't burn bridges, and do assume these companies talk. Our industry is smaller than many people think.
> What do you usually do in this kind of situation?
I've done a self-evaluation. Is my current job worth working at with my current pay rate? If so, then I stay at my current pay rate. If not, then I start looking for another job -- but I do it seriously, not as a trick to try to coerce my employer.
Nice /s. Regarding "forcing boss hand" you just wrap it in nice words "Hey John! I just got this juicy offer and I don't know what to do! I really love working with you and I prefer to stay here but they gave me the offer that is hard to reject."
Its a question of intent. If I'm going out and getting offers but I'm not really wanting to find another job, I just want the offers to give me leverage in negotiations, that's a bad thing. Even ignoring ethical considerations, in the medium-to-long term it will damage your reputation and reduce your prospects. If nothing else, it's just unprofessional.
If I'm looking for another position for real, and mention it to my employer, that's fine.
> I really love working with you and I prefer to stay here but they gave me the offer that is hard to reject.
I've had people come to me twice with that sort of message. I assumed that they were earnestly looking. For both of them, I told them that they should take the offer. If they were so unhappy working for me that they went to all the trouble to look for another job, and the money alone is enough to sway them, then matching the other offer is not likely to improve their job satisfaction with me. They should go where they're happier.
Well, every case is different. I had same situations but employees were made happy (money and role are still good motivators), some left sooner, some later but they did the job well in the meantime. In one case I said "go for it" because the position was much better (an employee was telling me about every stage of the recrutation from the beginning, I lost great guy but it was indeed better for him). Generally, I agree to be honest, every single time when I was leaving I wasn't negotiating for a counteroffer. But if somebody wants to stay and have better terms, it's a valid strategy.
This is a really terrible idea. Don't do this. Employers know this trick, and neither your current employer nor the one you're trying to use as leverage will appreciate your doing this.
Don't burn bridges, and do assume these companies talk. Our industry is smaller than many people think.
> What do you usually do in this kind of situation?
I've done a self-evaluation. Is my current job worth working at with my current pay rate? If so, then I stay at my current pay rate. If not, then I start looking for another job -- but I do it seriously, not as a trick to try to coerce my employer.