Reply to: No confidence in agent

[Wanderer]

You can do what you want. Talking to an agent does not make you his wife! HTH

No, it doesn't help at all really.

Manz is worried that talking to an agent could form a verbal contract for that agent to exclusively represent the contractor to the client.

It is possible that the agent is on a preferred suppliers list and the "NO AGENTS" message means "NO AGENTS other that the ones who we already deal with".

Apply through the agent and if you get nothing after a few days then apply direct....

[psychocandy]

Only today, I had an email with the usual 'I found your cv it's interesting for a role blah, blah xxx rate'

It was quite an interesting role but low rate and in Wales so hotels for me, I emailed back and said I want xxx times 2 and then prepared to forget it. Within an hour agent was on the phone putting me forward. Still don't want to go that far but now the rate is tempting

Cymru am byth!!!!!

Think of the sheep mun.

[kal]

I saw a role that I'm interested in and contacted the agent and we spoke for 10 mins going through it, then he sent me a job spec with the company details etc, then I went on the company site and saw the role on there and it said "NO AGENCIES" and that they don't take applications from agencies. I replied to the agent saying that he can forward my CV on, but should I also apply for it directly from the company site?

A mistake, he will now try and shoehorn himself in, he will probably be rebuffed. Why not ask him what he is playing at?

[tractor]

...

I saw a role that I'm interested in and contacted the agent and we spoke for 10 mins going through it, then he sent me a job spec with the company details etc, then I went on the company site and saw the role on there and it said "NO AGENCIES" and that they don't take applications from agencies. I replied to the agent saying that he can forward my CV on, but should I also apply for it directly from the company site?

You can do what you want. Talking to an agent does not make you his wife! HTH

[Manz]

I saw a role that I'm interested in and contacted the agent and we spoke for 10 mins going through it, then he sent me a job spec with the company details etc, then I went on the company site and saw the role on there and it said "NO AGENCIES" and that they don't take applications from agencies. I replied to the agent saying that he can forward my CV on, but should I also apply for it directly from the company site?

[tractor]

..

He's said he's put you forward, sometimes I wonder if they are sat there thinking "how can I get him to reduce his daily rate thus more margin for me?"

qh

And if he didn't? Who cares. I'm not hanging around and I won't lose any sleep. It's a long journey so /shrug.

[quackhandle]

Only today, I had an email with the usual 'I found your cv it's interesting for a role blah, blah xxx rate'

It was quite an interesting role but low rate and in Wales so hotels for me, I emailed back and said I want xxx times 2 and then prepared to forget it. Within an hour agent was on the phone putting me forward. Still don't want to go that far but now the rate is tempting

He's said he's put you forward, sometimes I wonder if they are sat there thinking "how can I get him to reduce his daily rate thus more margin for me?"

qh

[tractor]

..

I have to admit that when I don't want the contract and tell them my rate, they more often than not will give me what I want.

Money talks so I took the contracts

Only today, I had an email with the usual 'I found your cv it's interesting for a role blah, blah xxx rate'

It was quite an interesting role but low rate and in Wales so hotels for me, I emailed back and said I want xxx times 2 and then prepared to forget it. Within an hour agent was on the phone putting me forward. Still don't want to go that far but now the rate is tempting

[quackhandle]

, so I think the best way forward is honesty.

Contracting is going to be quite painful for you, my friend.

qh

[TheFaQQer]

I tell the agent my rate: £XXX - the agent says 'what the minimum you would accept?' - I say £XXX.

If the role is different, or it's a London contract then my reply is £ZZZ (usually higher, occasionally lower). I have my minimum but I would NEVER tell that to the agent.

I tell the agent my rate. Very occasionally, I will accept lower than this - after a long time out of work, I got haggled down by £10 a day to get below the budget threshold, but lasted nearly a year there.

If the role changes between initial discussion and offer, then the rate will change as well, though.

[northernladuk]

I wish this were in General.

Chicken!!

[barrydidit]

you have clearly left him too much wiggle room so he will make a decision on how much he can fleece you for when he has assed the other candidates.

I wish this were in General.

However, OP if you've not committed to anything in writing then the rate is 'around' what you've quoted. First get the gig, then start worrying about the rate - if it isn't at or above your minimum then don't sign the contract.

And don't forget to keep looking for other stuff at the same time.

[cojak]

I have to admit that when I don't want the contract and tell them my rate, they more often than not will give me what I want.

Money talks so I took the contracts

[JRCT]

And don't be surprised if an agent reacts with rage when you do that. My response is .

He's already told me he's on a fixed margin. Now, whether that's true or not he can't then be annoyed with me for that. And besides, I once accepted a contract at a lower rate than I said I would. It was only £25 a day less, but it never sat well with me throughout that whole contract, so I think the best way forward is honesty. I'm not asking for anything more than the going rate, just not going to be squeezed when I don't need to be.

Of course I would take a different stand if I had been benched for a while and money was tight, but thankfully that's not happened to me yet...... not yet.

[northernladuk]

An agency that I use has contacted me about a potential contract.

How do you mean use? Anyway, starting well.

I've never spoken to this particular agent before and he sounds like a @&$%. He forgot what I told him on the phone last week, so I had to repeat it all.

He probably speaks to 100s of contractors a week and doesn't really give a chuff about them unless they earn him cash and even then I wouldn't hope for too much from him. Wouldn't be overly bothered about this point at the moment.

He keeps pushing me for references which I've refused to give right now

Fair enough, just part of the game. You could advise him you will only be giving the names of the two agencies you worked for so are of no sales use to him so he might back off. Either way stick to your guns.

and despite the fact I've told him what my minimum rate would be, he keeps saying 'about that'.

Oops. First big mistake on your part. How on earth are you going to get your maximum rate when you have told him what the least you will work for is? You don't think he is going to stick another £100 on it which will come straight out of his pocket do you? He is saying 'about that' as you have clearly left him too much wiggle room so he will make a decision on how much he can fleece you for when he has assed the other candidates.

The contract itself however is quite interesting, but if he annoys the client as much as he has me, then he's going to harm my chances of getting it.

He has a very different relationship with the client than he does the contractor. They will say here is a role, we will pay £XXX go sort it.

I want to say no to him, and go to another agent that I do like who has a good relationship with this client.

It's probably not the done thing, but I think I'm justified in these circumstances.

If anyone's done the same, would appreciate tips on how to handle it professionally.

Absolutely nothing wrong with this but you are banking on the fact that there is a) Another agent on the PSL b) The other agency has view of this contract and c) You can actually find who this other agent is in time.