Best/Most diplomatic way of turning down role after client interview?

[uk contractor]

Money is money business is business just be straight up about it tell them you decided the role was not for you. Few agents will ever be apologetic if you did not get the role most will not even bother telling you either.


To most agents if you did not get the role to many of them that means your a waste of their valuable time (even though a lot of the time picky clients are the reason most experienced contractors do not get roles) so professional courtesy from them to you goes straight out the window.


But its a 2 way street what goes around usually comes around again

[Boo]

...Which would you go with?

None of the above ?

I'd decide what price would make it worth my while to take the unpreferred role. £1M per hour ? £20 ph ? Up to you.

Then if/when I was offerred it I would ask for that rate. If/when I'm also offered the preferred role I would put in a bid at the rate I want for that role.

There is no reason why the quoted rates need to be the same or even similar, and there is no reason why the unpreferred role should be quoted at a market rate : just whatever it would take to make it palatable.

Boo

[Contreras]

Jesus, this place is turning into mumsnet!

Indeed.

To the agent: Sorry, I've got a better offer. I wanted to let you know asap so you have a chance of putting your backup candidate in. You do have a backup candidate, don't you?

To the client: It was a pleasure to meet with you. I haven't yet received any feedback from <agent>, however unfortunately since our meeting another commitment has come through so I am now currently unavailable until <date>. I wanted to let you know asap to reduce the potential for inconvenience. I am still very keen to work with <clientco>, if there are any future requirements that you wish to discuss then please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

[BolshieBastard]

Just had client telephone intvw for Role A which went well. Feedback will take a couple of days, but in the meantime the much better Role B might come through.

In this case what is the best way to turn down role with Agent A if it comes through? Agent A is a good agency in my line of work so I might be in a situation where I go to them again quite soon. I would like to maintain a good relationship with Agent A.

Some things I can think of:

* On speaking to the client I didn't like the sound of the role (too support-oriented blah blah)
* (The truth) Just got a really quick turnaround on another much better role
* Old client called me back suddenly

Which would you go with?

Thanks

Jesus, this place is turning into mumsnet!

What do you say when you've a better offer? How about 'Sorry, Ive a better offer '?

Of course you could also throw in your reasons such as 'The other job ticks all my boxes for interest, location,rate etc etc. Would you like to re bid with an offer that betters the other one in front of me? If not, Im going to have to pass on your offer'?

I always keeping it short and sweet works. Worried about pissing clients and agents off? Go back to permiedom is the best advice I can give.

[jkdaniel]

Been in that situation sometime back, Agency pitched me very hard for a quite average sounding role with vague Job Specs in Company A based in Leeds.
Was waiting to hear from other agencies for some good news till then so asked him to arrange a telephonic instead.
The telephonic discussion went quite well with Company A but realized the role was working mainly for older version of products, which doesn't appeal to me much.
Told the agency about it, but instead he pushed me for a face-to-face as if the client A was more than happy to have me on-board.
(Agency tricks..Bunch of lies, may be no-one fancied that role, or contractors left in the past)
Meanwhile 2 other agencies called me for the same role in Company A but with a much higher rate.
In two days time i managed a SC Cleared role with a top-notch consultancy Company B (100 miles away), One face-to-face round, offer same day, good rates.
Told Agency that i won't be travelling 200 miles to attend the Face-to-face with Company A anymore as I've secured a SC cleared role with 40% better rate.
Pimp as people rightly say here, got mad at me and said he won't have any future contacts with me.
Few months back this pimp had previously called me for the role in company B at a much lower rate, glad i didn't go with him.

[northernladuk]

[PC]Just call in sick [\PC]

[unixman]

The truth actually sounds better.

Business is business after all.

This. Tell agent A politely that you accepted a more attractive offer. There's no shame in it.

[MrMarkyMark]

Option A:
As soon as you accept role B, call the agent back to tell them that another role came up which you have accepted. i.e. be proactive. That way they can take you off the books for that role and push one of the other candidates they put forward.

Exactly this.

Truth is, they never like it.
However, approached and dealt with in the right way, it won't be an issue in the future.

[WTFH]

You're dealing with an agent, not the client.
Tell the truth, then you don't have to remember as much.


Option A:
As soon as you accept role B, call the agent back to tell them that another role came up which you have accepted. i.e. be proactive. That way they can take you off the books for that role and push one of the other candidates they put forward.


Option B:
Wait until/if they call back and say "Sorry, you were too slow getting back, I had a better offer in the meantime"




I'd choose option A.

[theroyale]

Length of contract, rate, location are the key factors for most of us, along with the project.

Out of those four, how many were better at client B?

I didn't mean I was confused about which role to take (Role B is clearly better on rate, location, work than Role A so no ambiguity there). Just how to tell Agent A that I was rejecting the role they were offering me, post client-interview.

[cojak]

The truth actually sounds better.

Business is business after all.

[LondonManc]

Just had client telephone intvw for Role A which went well. Feedback will take a couple of days, but in the meantime the much better Role B might come through.

In this case what is the best way to turn down role with Agent A if it comes through? Agent A is a good agency in my line of work so I might be in a situation where I go to them again quite soon. I would like to maintain a good relationship with Agent A.

Some things I can think of:

* On speaking to the client I didn't like the sound of the role (too support-oriented blah blah)
* (The truth) Just got a really quick turnaround on another much better role
* Old client called me back suddenly

Which would you go with?

Thanks

Length of contract, rate, location are the key factors for most of us, along with the project.

Out of those four, how many were better at client B?

[theroyale]

Just had client telephone intvw for Role A which went well. Feedback will take a couple of days, but in the meantime the much better Role B might come through.

In this case what is the best way to turn down role with Agent A if it comes through? Agent A is a good agency in my line of work so I might be in a situation where I go to them again quite soon. I would like to maintain a good relationship with Agent A.

Some things I can think of:

* On speaking to the client I didn't like the sound of the role (too support-oriented blah blah)
* (The truth) Just got a really quick turnaround on another much better role
* Old client called me back suddenly

Which would you go with?

Thanks