Agency offering rates they can never pay...

[eek]

There is a difficult middle ground you need to hit where the agency knows you have other options but those options aren't enough to justify the agency to put a different candidate forward rather than you.

[BlasterBates]

correction: If the agency know you're only following one lead, you have a weak hand.[

Sure you can bluff but you still have a weak hand.

[Lance]

At the end of the day you've been made an offer. You can accept or decline. If you have no other alternatives then you need to consider how long it will take you to get a contract at the higher rate. If you end up for one or two months more without a contract, you're probably still better off accepting the contract at the current rate.

In order to ensure you get a high rate you need multiple leads. If you're only following one lead, you have a weak hand.

correction: If the agency know you're only following one lead, you have a weak hand.[

[BlasterBates]

At the end of the day you've been made an offer. You can accept or decline. If you have no other alternatives then you need to consider how long it will take you to get a contract at the higher rate. If you end up for one or two months more without a contract, you're probably still better off accepting the contract at the current rate.

In order to ensure you get a high rate you need multiple leads. If you're only following one lead, you have a weak hand.

[zonkkk]

Regardless of whether they put you forward at your asking rate or not I have found more often than not, the agents would try and push your rate down.
Happened to me this week after a great interview with a client.

Agent calls the next day, says he received great feedback and he feels the client would go for me if I went for a 10% lower rate. That was definitely not an offer from the client, as they told me during the interview that they would let me know either way after midweek. I said not interested.

One day later agent calls and says the client offered me the contract... surprise, surprise I got my asking rate.

[BigDataPro]

"never split the difference" by Chris Voss is a good starting point but the rest is life and business experience.

HTH

Thanks for the book reference!

[Fraidycat]

If it is not an outright scam, it is a confidence trick, which is almost as bad.

Time wasters. Name and shame them.

If they did that to me i would string them along for as long as possible, even accept the offer subject to reviewing contract terms.
Make them draw up the paperwork. Then review the contract for as long as possible and then tell then to stuff it.

[GigiBronz]

Maybe they should go ask the employer hey...

unfortunately that is how they see it. it's not their fault because all the mixing narratives push that way but it is not the right way to negotiate your way in as a contractor.

it is the most prevalent mentality here I am afraid because that is what they've been though in school, that is what they've seen in the corporate world -> that is what they replicate. BUT IT IS ALL WRONG.

[northernladuk]

forgot to mention, in the negotiation you should try at least 2 hands. If what they come up with is not satisfactory push for another figure. Play another card. You should NEVER accept what they first push forward.

You should always be ready to move on as well because you are not a permi desperate to pay bills and keep wifey happy, YOU ARE A BUSINESS. Agency is very happy but you are not doing any good for the market as well because both the client and agency thinks: we've found a fool at this rate and he is happy, we will find another one.

It is how business works, this is not permi land. Learn to stand for yourself and negotiate.

"never split the difference" by Chris Voss is a good starting point but the rest is life and business experience.

HTH

Maybe they should go ask the employer hey...

[GigiBronz]

forgot to mention, in the negotiation you should try at least 2 hands. If what they come up with is not satisfactory push for another figure. Play another card. You should NEVER accept what they first push forward.

You should always be ready to move on as well because you are not a permi desperate to pay bills and keep wifey happy, YOU ARE A BUSINESS. Agency is very happy but you are not doing any good for the market as well because both the client and agency thinks: we've found a fool at this rate and he is happy, we will find another one.

It is how business works, this is not permi land. Learn to stand for yourself and negotiate.

"never split the difference" by Chris Voss is a good starting point but the rest is life and business experience.

HTH