Reply to: Agent and Contractor agree rate client now wants contractor cheaper

[BlasterBates]

The decision should always be hard nosed. In the end usually a contract only lasts 3 months to begin with. If in the late stages of negotiation the rate goes down, you simply calculate how long do you need to get a new contract. If it takes 3 months then it's a no brainer you suck it up and see it through, i.e. a lower rate is better than nothing. If you have 3 interviews lined up, you turn it down, because you'll probably have a better paid contract in a couple of weeks.


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[Pollypanda]

Having slept on it a few days I'm glad this one didn't work out.

The warning signs are there being a smaller outfit.

The market seems to be picking up being early September and I have an ample war chest to keep me going until the right gig comes along.

That's the spirit I would have passed as well, it's not the same role anymore nor the rate you want. Definitely dodged a bullet.

[Danglekt]

if contracts were signed I would walk on principle, if it was during late negotiation I would have discussed.

Bird in hand and all that.

[vadhert]

For anyone interested Client co have got rid of the agent and are hiring direct at an even further drop in rate.

C#/.NET Developers Urgently Required - Immediate Start - Farnham Surrey - September-02-2015 (EU26a)

[northernladuk]

Hang on. So you went all the way to the interview knowing the rate was rubbish and then tried to negotiate a higher rate when they offered you the role? no wonder the agent was narked!! But has that ever worked for you before? I've had agents call up and tell me how my CV was an absolute PERFECT FIT for the role and how the client is dying to see me, etc etc and the role was clearly paying below market rate. I'll only take a lower rate if desperate, and thanks God that's not happened as yet.

Please tell me you didn't fall for this......

[Elliegirl]

I've interviewed at a gig at a low rate as the role looked interesting and after interview it was a much more senior role than originally described. At offer I suggested this was way below market rate and stuck my rate in thinking they may go with it as they won't be able to find the right candidate at that rate. They had a standard rate card so declined. So be it. Agent was a bit annoyed but he also admitted the rate was a little low. I'm sure we've all tried to barter prices down from marked in the past. You could argue it's no different here.


Hang on. So you went all the way to the interview knowing the rate was rubbish and then tried to negotiate a higher rate when they offered you the role? no wonder the agent was narked!! But has that ever worked for you before? I've had agents call up and tell me how my CV was an absolute PERFECT FIT for the role and how the client is dying to see me, etc etc and the role was clearly paying below market rate. I'll only take a lower rate if desperate, and thanks God that's not happened as yet.

[d000hg]

Having slept on it a few days I'm glad this one didn't work out.

The warning signs are there being a smaller outfit.

If it's very small then your cost is probably pretty significant to them so trying to get the best price is understandable - as is the MD being involved directly because there might be so few people he IS the HR department.

Changing the rate that much after accepting is however not on at all, so it doesn't sound great unless it was just the agent being hopeless. Did you ever check with the MD to find out?

[vadhert]

Having slept on it a few days I'm glad this one didn't work out.

The warning signs are there being a smaller outfit.

The market seems to be picking up being early September and I have an ample war chest to keep me going until the right gig comes along.

[SlipTheJab]

YNCOTBAC

(Your not cut out to be a comedian)

I'm here all week, try the Veal

[SimonMac]

oh come on I admitted that was a crap joke, no need to rub it in SM!

YNCOTBAC

(Your not cut out to be a comedian)

[SlipTheJab]

oh come on I admitted that was a crap joke, no need to rub it in SM!

[LondonManc]

tbh I don't see that much difference between public and private. Having said that I've never worked in banking or in that London.

About £100/day up north. hth

[Antman]

tbh I don't see that much difference between public and private. Having said that I've never worked in banking or in that London.

[LondonManc]

Hmm... That one sounds like an Arrows deal. I've never had an interview with them, but they definitely tried on the oh, I was wrong about the rate game.

Name, names please -- We all need to avoid like this.

I would be beyond angry if this happened to me.

I'm wondering if the agency was using me to test the water to see if the client would go to private sector market rate - it was a public sector gig.

While I appreciate your concern, it's hard for me to aportion blame to agent or client without knowing for sure whether the hiring manager said market rate and wasn't specific enough that it was public sector market rate! So on that basis I'm reluctant to name and shame.

[SimonMac]

You could say he's managed to 'Slip The Jab'...