Negotiating for Contractors

[theITcoach.biz]

If an agent does not specify a rate band I will ask before I send in my details. I am up front with them and I say that it’s silly to waste time on both sides if we are not talking about realistic rates. I am flexible depending on what the work is but I do not accept lower rates than what the work is worth. In the cases where the client or agent does NOT want to pay a realistic rate invariably you will see that the contractor is not suitable and leaves after a few weeks. How many contracts have I been to where the permie has messed up the project or the previous contractor could not hack it? Loads…

Clog,

Seen that loads of times too. Get someone in at a lower rate to "learn on the job" and it ends up costing them an arm & a leg to fix what was done and start again.

Half the problem seems to me is the client not really knowing what the job is in the first place. I mean, why don't they tell you that for the first two weeks you won't have a desk, an email account, and will have to wade through 12 telephone directory sized specs...because no one has got down to planning what you'll be doing!

Cheers
John

[bobsmithldn]

Bob,

Taking part.

John

To cut a long story short, it's like buying a house through an estate agent - no transparency- we're fecked unless you can get the CLIENT to confirm the rate you should be getting and unless you can get the AGENT to confirm (how to prove?) the MARGIN they are charging ...

[bobsmithldn]

AND, in my experience, most agents have some dodgy deal with the recruiting manager at the client, so there's no chance ...

[theITcoach.biz]

To cut a long story short, it's like buying a house through an estate agent - no transparency- we're fecked unless you can get the CLIENT to confirm the rate you should be getting and unless you can get the AGENT to confirm (how to prove?) the MARGIN they are charging ...

Bob,

Fair point. I have known people get to the truth:

1. Know someone in the purchase order dept.
2. Ask the client. They will sometimes say what is going to the agency.
3. Ask for agency to clarify margin and confirm with client.

I had thought that agencies were bound to reveal their margins these days - but maybe I was dreaming.

Thanks
John