Agents commissions

[Liability]

A lot
there
you've
Bob's
industry
,
believe
monkeys
don't
don't

What value do you, as an agent personally provide? I suggest they spend some time correcting spelling and poor punctuation in CVs.

when I want your opinion, Ill give you it. Untill then - remain seated and retentive oh young oxygen stealer.

[Stan.goodvibes]

OK, I'm sensing a lot of hostility on here

Personally I feel that a rate of 10-15% is fair. If an agent charges the client 500/day and I get 450/day, thats 250/week for the agent over a period of anywhere from 3 months to several years for one placement.

Sure, it may have been involved a fair amount of work to get that placing, but 250/week is a pretty good 'return' on that initial investment of time and effort.

The whole agency/contractor relationship sounds like it needs some sort of overhaul in the UK. Here in the australasiazone the relationship is considerably more cordial and professional. I dealt with several agencies while looking for my last contract - all of them were professional, only asked me if another agent had already sent my CV to the clients they were putting me up for, didn't phish for contacts (the ultimate unprofessionalism) and were honest about rates and skills.

No false jobs, no sudden rate changes, didn't send me to interviews for jobs I was unsuitable for etc etc etc.

Pretty simple stuff really

[DodgyAgent]

OK, I'm sensing a lot of hostility on here

Personally I feel that a rate of 10-15% is fair. If an agent charges the client 500/day and I get 450/day, thats 250/week for the agent over a period of anywhere from 3 months to several years for one placement.

Sure, it may have been involved a fair amount of work to get that placing, but 250/week is a pretty good 'return' on that initial investment of time and effort.

The whole agency/contractor relationship sounds like it needs some sort of overhaul in the UK. Here in the australasiazone the relationship is considerably more cordial and professional. I dealt with several agencies while looking for my last contract - all of them were professional, only asked me if another agent had already sent my CV to the clients they were putting me up for, didn't phish for contacts (the ultimate unprofessionalism) and were honest about rates and skills.

No false jobs, no sudden rate changes, didn't send me to interviews for jobs I was unsuitable for etc etc etc.

Pretty simple stuff really

Have you ever run a proper business ? Who are you to dictate "what is fair" to people who run businesses. What is so galling is that you people presume to have some sort of moral high ground that entitles you to decide "what is fair" when you yourselves are so overpaid in relation to what you do.

You will argue that you are paid according to what the market dictate yet we are not allowed the same privilige because you think "its not fair".

Whilst I would agree that in todays market 10%-15% is a reasonable return on our efforts it is for us and the markets to decide, not some overpaid glorified fu**ing plumber to tell us "what is fair"

[basshead]

Have you ever run a proper business ? Who are you to dictate "what is fair" to people who run businesses. What is so galling is that you people presume to have some sort of moral high ground that entitles you to decide "what is fair" when you yourselves are so overpaid in relation to what you do.

You will argue that you are paid according to what the market dictate yet we are not allowed the same privilige because you think "its not fair".

Whilst I would agree that in todays market 10%-15% is a reasonable return on our efforts it is for us and the markets to decide, not some overpaid glorified fu**ing plumber to tell us "what is fair"

Who are you to say who is overpaid? :P

I'm sure you don't need me to remind you that contractors pay for their own sick, holidays, insurance, training and bench time

[DodgyAgent]

Who are you to say who is overpaid? :P

I'm sure you don't need me to remind you that contractors pay for their own sick, holidays, insurance, training and bench time

And who pays us whilst you are sitting on your fat arses warming the benches?

[basshead]

And who pays us whilst you are sitting on your fat arses warming the benches?

You need to keep some of your 'fair share' to one side

[DodgyAgent]

You need to keep some of your 'fair share' to one side

touche

[Another Dodgy Agent]

What never fails to amaze me is why this is such a hot topic of debate when the actual reality of the situation is very simple.

The agent works for the client and the contractor works for the client. The agent is paid for finding a suitable candidate for a position the client has and the contractor is paid for providing the skillset required for that position. In other words the money we both get is from the client. Clear so far?

The model most temps (sorry, professional contractors) automatically resort to is - the agent is taking a cut from my daily rate and if the agent was only taking 1% as opposed to X% then that contractor would have a higher daily rate. Complete tosh, the client would just be more quids in.

When the actual reality is both parties (contractor and agent) should really have the hump with the client for being tight. When the agent takes the role on of finding candidates for a suitable role a percentage charge is agreed between agent and client, likewise when the contractor is offered a role a daily/hourly rate is agreed between contractor and client.

[pmeswani]

We may be as slimey and odious as Robert Kilroy-Silk but we still have to work very hard to make it in what is one of the hardest and most competitive businesses.

Sales people work a lot harder than recruitment consultants.

[DodgyAgent]

Sales people work a lot harder than recruitment consultants.

How do you know that?