How much do recruitment agents take?

[XLMonkey]

Is it me or does anyone else think this is scandalous - I dont mind them making a fee, but 27% i think is excessive.

Scandalous, shmandalous. The important questions are:
- is the rate that you are getting "enough"?
- is the margin "normal" as defined by the market?

On the first point, only you can decide.

On the second - if you look at the margins earned by the major agents (i.e. those that publish accounts, like Hays, S3 group etc) , then you'll find that the "normal" margins tend to be between 10-25% of the total fee paid by the client (so, if the client pays 500, and you get 425, then the margin is 75/500 = 15%).
So, its high for the market, but by no means unusually high. I think most long term contractors will have seen substantially higher during the course of their careers.

Generally, getting upset about the agents slice of the cake is unproductive - like a knife fight in a phonebox, everyone gets hurt. Just file the information away and remember it when renewal time comes around.

Good luck with the interview, btw

[beaker]

I popped by an agent's office last week and overhead them mention they charge between 17 - 22.5%.

[daviejones]

I think we all agree that they take the p*ss... where is DA anyway?

[WetBehindTheEars]

Do we need recruitment agencies?

What do recruitment agencies do for us contractors?

They took my CV and forwarded it to the client. Not a particularly challenging task, I'm sure you'll agree.

Since this they appear to have done precisely nothing.

If they are taking around 25%, then unless I am missing something this is daylight robbery.

Does the recruitment agency benefit the client or the contractor?

When I was up for renewal recently the agency hadn't even realised.

[oracleslave]

What do recruitment agencies do for us contractors?

They took my CV and forwarded it to the client. Not a particularly challenging task, I'm sure you'll agree.

Since this they appear to have done precisely nothing.

If they are taking around 25%, then unless I am missing something this is daylight robbery.

Does the recruitment agency benefit the client or the contractor?

When I was up for renewal recently the agency hadn't even realised.

Denny, is that you?

[Ardesco]

What do recruitment agencies do for us contractors?

They took my CV and forwarded it to the client. Not a particularly challenging task, I'm sure you'll agree.

Since this they appear to have done precisely nothing.

If they are taking around 25%, then unless I am missing something this is daylight robbery.

Does the recruitment agency benefit the client or the contractor?

When I was up for renewal recently the agency hadn't even realised.

One word for you, factoring!

Very useful service, look it up if you're not sure.

[oracleslave]

One word for you, factoring!

Very useful service, look it up if you're not sure.

How is that useful to a contractor?

[Ardesco]

You get paid quicker.

[oracleslave]

You get paid quicker.

Not necessarily

[Ardesco]

Well there are always exceptions but generally speaking factoring means you get paid regularly and don't have to wait too long. Without it the end client could leave your invoices in limbo for a few month before they pull their finger out which would not be fun.....