Reply to: Initial question about daily rate

[SpontaneousOrder]

It implies to me that the agency can make a bigger margin

They only get a bigger margin if I land the contract. And if I land it then I couldn't care less how much the agent is making.

Some are on fixed margins - but of course I don't always know that. Some I've worked with before I do.

[jmo21]

This is the game.

You want as much as you can get.

The agent wants to pay as little as he can.

Whether you get the interview will depend on what other candidates are available, at what rate, and by some deadline the agent gives himself to submit to client.

[SlipTheJab]

It implies to me that the agency can make a bigger margin

True, I'm betting the client isn't getting you any cheaper, that £100 a day will be going into the agents porsche fund:-)

[fidot]

Agents often tell me what they willing to pay up to, and then ask me what I'd like to set my rate at when they put me forward.

That implies, to me, that there is an opportunity to choose how competitive I want to be. Today I set my rate at £100 a day less than the agent said the offer rate was - because it was an environment I'd quite like to work in, for a particular reason. I made sure the agent understood that too.

It implies to me that the agency can make a bigger margin

[SpontaneousOrder]

Agents often tell me what they willing to pay up to, and then ask me what I'd like to set my rate at when they put me forward.

That implies, to me, that there is an opportunity to choose how competitive I want to be. Today I set my rate at £100 a day less than the agent said the offer rate was - because it was an environment I'd quite like to work in, for a particular reason. I made sure the agent understood that too.

For me if the role is good (as much as its possible to tell before you actually turn up) and I think i can save some hassle by being competitive then it's worth it to save the hassle of hunting around too much.

I'm like the Malibu man - seriously easy goin'. I'd rather just walk straight from one gig into another with as few interviews as possible.

[AnotherGuy]

he asks me about the rate I'm looking for and I gave him a top-end bracket, let's say 550 to 600 per day. Then the guy sends me a job spec that says 650.

Something similar happened to me. I said X and the agent sent me for X+50.

Is this a clue that the agency works on a % basis instead of a cut basis?

[vadhert]

Take what you can, give nothing back

[Avalonia]

400 do I hear 400,
400 400 400
400 thank you sir
450 450 450 450 450 450
thank you
500 500 500 500 500 500
500 thank you
600 600 600

...

A million

[chris6220]

Definitely makes sense, thanks you.

Chris

[BlasterBates]

Stick with your rate.

This is not trade union Britain with a rate for the job. If you're not on 650 to begin with you're probably not worth 650, well not yet.

650 means perfect for the contract.

Often the top rate they advertise isn't on offer, not really, they just "say it" to get the CVs in.

You're worth 650 when there are three agencies chasing you and one of them says "what about 650" then ?"

[chris6220]

Yes definitely agree with that, I'm interested in getting a first contract and start working, to be honest with 500 a day I'd be plenty happy. Let's see if an interview materializes... Fingers crossed.

Chris

[uk contractor]

Don't focus on rate get the role the client will offer what they think you are worth the agent will pass most of that on. £50 a day for instance is £1k a month cheaper to the end client + agency commission. Just say rate is negotiable but as the agent put the rate on the jobspec he is probably on a % of it so the more he gets the more you get but your not the only person applying for the role & the client will usually be on the ball & are not going to offer the top rate to someone who is new to contracting do not be surprised if they only want to offer you lower rates until your an established contractor.

Even £450-500 a day is a lot of money you are unlikely to get £650 a day if your new to contracting unless you have niche tech skills & amazing interpersonal skills to go with it. A lot of the time the high rate is just an on paper amount to attract the maximum response yet another underhand tactic agents use all the time!

[chris6220]

Hi all,

thanks a lot for the insightful responses. In the meantime I guess I've got part of the answer I was after as the agent promptly resent me the job spec, having cleverly changed 650 to 550 in it :-/ So I guess this means he wouldn't mind pocketing the (sizable) difference :-)

now whether I'm capable of a 650/day role is a different question ;-)

That's a very good question indeed. To be honest that kind of roles make me a bit nervous, as in, will silly me be up to their expectations, or what kind of pressure will I be under with such a rate... On the other hands two different agencies did contact me for the role so I guess at least on paper I look like a good match. The only way to know for sure I guess is during a face-to-face interview.

Thanks,
Chris

[gables]

Hi there,

sorry if my question if well known, I'm quite new to contracting and not yet fully aware of negotiation. Recently an agent called me out of the blue to discuss my profile, during the conversation he asks me about the rate I'm looking for and I gave him a top-end bracket, let's say 550 to 600 per day. Then the guy sends me a job spec that says 650. What happens now? Should I still try for the top rate, or stick to what I believe I'm "worth" (very subjective I know). Is the agent going to "forget" what I said? Should I have tried to elude the question altogether, but I guess the agent still needs an idea of where you're at?

Thanks for the insight,
Chris

Maybe I'm being a pedant, I don't think about the rate in terms of what I'm worth, but in terms of what the role is worth i.e. what is required. A 650/day role should be 650/day (give or take a bit) - now whether I'm capable of a 650/day role is a different question ;-)

[Eirikur]

The risk is always when the agent is on a fixed % and you go for the top rate, the end client might find someone suitable somewhere else for a much lower rate