Sigh - agents (again)

[BrowneIssue]

So - just had a cracking interview. Agency put me in at a rate I was happy with. Now they are on the phone saying that the company has interviewed someone else at a much lower rate. If I can lower my rate they will go for me - but the agency won't give any figures.

Waddya reckon - is the agency ( a well known one) taking me for a ride ??


Peegee

Hays did that to me a few weeks ago. Go on, name & shame.

I phoned the client and told them my end of it. I'm still without the contract but Hays are a step nearer losing a PSL client.

[thunderlizard]

RSoles is probably right. It's an old agency trick, fortunately nowhere near as common as it used to be, but it does still get tried sometimes especially with inexperienced contractors. I'm assuming that you told them your rate at an earlier stage so there's not much excuse for money to be a problem all of a sudden.

What they are expecting to happen is this: the client has already said either "yes we'll definitely take him" or, just maybe, "yes we'll definitely take him, but could you see if you can get him a bit cheaper?

Agent: The client really liked you but the budget's been suddenly cut by 20% (or somesuch) - you need to drop your rate by 20%
You (slightly ruffled at having had this dead-cert bit of cash threatened): oh no! well 20% is too low, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to drop by 10%. Would that be OK mr agent sir?
Agent: Blimey you're a tough negotiator! well I'll have a word with the client but I can't make any promises.
(agent goes & has himself a cup of nasty agency coffee, and a laugh at you with his agent mates).
Agent: OK I've talked to the client, they've accepted 10%, congratulations!
--and thus an extra 10% goes to the agent, of which he maybe passes 2% on to the client if he absolutely has to.

If you want you can go along with that, but you can also stick to your guns. Say something like "they knew what my rate was all along, I never pretended I was the cheapest. If they want to go for the cheapest at the expense of quality, that's their decision".

Of course there's a 10% chance that the agent is telling the truth, but even then if you've priced yourself reasonably and have some pride and/or spare cash, probably stick to your guns anyroad.

good luck with it.

[NotAllThere]

Always remember, where negotiations with the agency fail, write a letter to the hiring manager at the client, thanking them for their interest, sorry that you couldn't work together etc. etc., making sure that you drop the agency firmly in the poo if they've been lying to you.

This is precisely what a colleague of mine did, via email, in the situation of the original poster. Agent came back to him the next day - "the client have changed their mind".

[DodgyAgent]

Always remember, where negotiations with the agency fail, write a letter to the hiring manager at the client, thanking them for their interest, sorry that you couldn't work together etc. etc., making sure that you drop the agency firmly in the poo if they've been lying to you.

This is precisely what a colleague of mine did, via email, in the situation of the original poster. Agent came back to him the next day - "the client have changed their mind".

Why not just call the client? keep the call to the point and brief though.

[NotAllThere]

Calling will work of course, but an email or letter allows more time to think, and make sure you get it right. I always exchange business cards at interview anyway, but often contractors forget to get contact details like email addresses and phone numbers. Then a letter is the only option.

The advantage of a letter is that you receive them so rarely, that you're liable to make a very good impression on any hiring manager. Even if he knows you're doing it solely for that reason.

[DodgyAgent]

Calling will work of course, but an email or letter allows more time to think, and make sure you get it right. I always exchange business cards at interview anyway, but often contractors forget to get contact details like email addresses and phone numbers. Then a letter is the only option.

The advantage of a letter is that you receive them so rarely, that you're liable to make a very good impression on any hiring manager. Even if he knows you're doing it solely for that reason.

Sorry to disagree. I am not saying you are wrong to write (), but a phone call enables you to interact and find out what is going on immediatly. just call, say you are awfully sorry about taking the PMs time, could he spare a moment, and then just check the facts with him ("my understanding is blah blah) and then say "I really wanted this contract and wondered if there is anything we could do". Dont talk about anything else unless prompted by the client.

[Churchill]

Sorry to disagree. I am not saying you are wrong to write (), but a phone call enables you to interact and find out what is going on immediatly. just call, say you are awfully sorry about taking the PMs time, could he spare a moment, and then just check the facts with him ("my understanding is blah blah) and then say "I really wanted this contract and wondered if there is anything we could do". Dont talk about anything else unless prompted by the client.

You're going soft in your old age.

[NotAllThere]

I don't think we disagree. Sometimes phoning is the right approach, sometimes not. Especially with a PM who doesn't want to be bothered with phone calls. As a hiring manager the last call I'd want to take would be from a failed candidate - they might be taking out the other sort of contract on me. I'd rather talk to an agent!

[Sausage Surprise]

So - just had a cracking interview. Agency put me in at a rate I was happy with. Now they are on the phone saying that the company has interviewed someone else at a much lower rate. If I can lower my rate they will go for me - but the agency won't give any figures.

Waddya reckon - is the agency ( a well known one) taking me for a ride ??


Peegee

Agents did something similar to me in my current gig. I asked for X per day they said "Oh we'll get you X+20 for this one". I got interviewed and was told then and there by the client that I had got the gig. Agency phoned me 2 days later "Congrats, however there is a slight problem in that they are only prepared to pay X per day now.

I knew what they were up to (Elan by the way) but as the gig was 10 miles from where I live and my last one had been 300 miles away, plus, it was what I originally asked for, I agreed. Of course what I should have said was "OK then, you reduce your cut by 10 and I'll do the same"

[arthur_cider]

peegee, you’ve probably already reacted by now but if not then what's more important to you, the contract role or the revised lower rate?

Don’t hang around with this for too long, if the agent had the 'ghoul' to make that call to you then there’s probably another option open to them

Do not call the client that interviewed you directly, they are not interested in the politics, they just want to fill that empty chair, the other interviewed contractor(s) are probably just as worthy but cheaper