Contract Role: Client re advertising with new agency

**Fred Bloggs** · 18 April 2011, 14:07

In this situation you may find that in a few weeks time the agency gets back to you offering you the role at the agreed rate after the client fails to find a cheaper candidate. It happened to me a few years back.

**pmeswani** · 18 April 2011, 14:13

Originally posted by madsween View Post

Hi,

I had an interview with a consultancy which went well, they even passed my CV to their client who liked it. Agency and consultancy got together to discuss rates etc and as far as agency were concerned had agreed and everyone happy..
That was a couple of weeks ago and latest is hang on end client is messing around will get it sorted this week but it appears that they have advertised the role again via a new agency. They do need 2 or 3 people but my fear is that I may loose out on cost..(Cost seemed to be main concern)

Not sure how best to proceed so I don't loose the role but also don't drop my rate if no need..I guess my options are ...

-Call my agency tell them what I know and get them to reduce margins and maybe my rate a bit?
-Try calling consultancy direct and asking if its same role and if so has the clients requirements changed, if so can we work it out? (guess this ones a bad idea!)
-Do nothing and hope for the best..

any thoughts as pretty new to all this really...

cheers
mark

My first reaction to this post is to assume that you have lost the role and look elsewhere for an opportunity. Don't contact the client directly under any circumstances as your relationship is currently with the agency and not with the company.

Phone the agent and ask them if they have an update and advise them that if an offer is not been put by a given date, you will reapply for the role via a different agent. However, this may prove complicated as the original agent may state that they represented you to the client and that they have lost out financially and may seek out compensation from either you or the client.

Going back to my initial reaction, assume you have lost the opportunity and move on.

**Wobblyheed** · 18 April 2011, 19:12

Lose.....

**Wanderer** · 18 April 2011, 20:13

Originally posted by pmeswani View Post

Don't contact the client directly under any circumstances as your relationship is currently with the agency and not with the company.

I know lots of people will disagree, but I don't think there's any harm in contacting a client directly after you have been introduced to them by the agency. I'd say go for it, the worst the client will so is say "talk to the pimp (agency)".

That's not to say that I would try and cut the agency out completely, just that I would try to negotiate the deal direct with the client if possible and let them present it to the agent as a done deal. In this case, the agency claims to be on a fixed margin so there's no problem, is there.

It also keeps the agencies honest and stops them from bulltuliping both the contractor and the client. Quite often the client will drive a much harder bargain with the agency on your behalf too. eg, they may tell you that the typical agency margin is 7%, so you can get the rate you want.

Too many shrinking violets around these days, you need a hard nose an a thick skin to do business these days, especially when dealing with pimps.

**pmeswani** · 19 April 2011, 08:44

Originally posted by Wanderer View Post

I know lots of people will disagree, but I don't think there's any harm in contacting a client directly after you have been introduced to them by the agency. I'd say go for it, the worst the client will so is say "talk to the pimp (agency)".

That's not to say that I would try and cut the agency out completely, just that I would try to negotiate the deal direct with the client if possible and let them present it to the agent as a done deal. In this case, the agency claims to be on a fixed margin so there's no problem, is there.

It also keeps the agencies honest and stops them from bulltuliping both the contractor and the client. Quite often the client will drive a much harder bargain with the agency on your behalf too. eg, they may tell you that the typical agency margin is 7%, so you can get the rate you want.

Too many shrinking violets around these days, you need a hard nose an a thick skin to do business these days, especially when dealing with pimps.

I guess your comment should only hold true if you don't mind upsetting the agent. Even though I have been only contracting for 3 years, I am still relatively new to the game. I am yet to experience a lot of the stuff the seasoned contrators. I would still be nervous about going direct to the client. But there again, it depends on how well you got on with the client at the interview stage. I guess it's a judgement call that is needed to be made by each individual. Over time, I will hopefully have larger grapefruits to be that bold.

**Wanderer** · 19 April 2011, 17:46

Originally posted by pmeswani View Post

I would still be nervous about going direct to the client. But there again, it depends on how well you got on with the client at the interview stage.

Yes, fair comment. You have to try and read the situation.

Don't be afraid of upsetting agencies though. They make a lot of noise, "You'll never work in The City again!"

but don't forget that this is the way they do business and their bark is worse than their bite. It's good for agency business (though not for the client or contractor) to try intimidate clients and contractors so they can take a bigger cut.

**SueEllen** · 20 April 2011, 11:20

Originally posted by pmeswani View Post

I guess your comment should only hold true if you don't mind upsetting the agent.

Most agents, except if they are new to the game, have incredibly hard skins so you shouldn't worry about upsetting them.

There is nothing wrong in ringing the client up and tell them that you are interested in the role if you think you have got the role and are actually interested in doing it. However mentioning rate with a client only tends to work if the client has shown you/discussed the rate at interview.

Hence it's always worthwhile getting the client contacts details at interview.

**BA to the Stars** · 20 April 2011, 19:37

Keep applying for other roles. You are a business - why should you wait on 1 potential client to make up their mind. If cost is an issue to them use this as a warning sign, if the project goes over budget will they can it?

Contract Role: Client re advertising with new agency