Reply to: Contract rate negotiation question

[achilles]

Rubbish. If the question is completely irrelavant it may actually damage your reputation by answering stupid questions proving you do not know what you are doing. You still have to act like a professional when looking for work. You have to earn some respect and trust for the agent to put you forward.

I agree with northern lad. In actual fact, answering the question about your previous rate will never win you a contract. So why bother even answering it?

They only thing that matters is the rate on offer for the role you are applying for and whether you are prepared to do the job for this rate.

[Wanderer]

the agent (generally) knows what he is doing so if you refuse to supply useless info to the agent he probably knows he was sticking his neck out asking it and won't be offended if you refuse.

They've got a pretty thick skin in my experience.

I'd just bounce the question back to the agent. "What rate range is the client offering and what percentage of this are you looking at taking as the agent?"

They will pretty quickly forget about their dumb questions when you throw this one at them. Believe it or not, I've had agents who will actually answer the question (truthfullly) too.

[d000hg]

Agent might ask, but they don't need the information. Up to you how hard you push but a simple "I don't disclose that information" should see if it's going to be a problem.

[northernladuk]

What if YOU are replaceable, by another contractor equally qualified, without too much of an effort if he decides to try, and you and him both know that?

I appreciate that those with a few years/decades of experience contracting (like many on this forum) and looking at specific higher-end roles are well-placed to call the shots with agents, but perhaps it should also be appreciated that the situation is almost reversed for those just starting out as contractors and are limited to more generic analyst-programmer type contracts.

Yes good point, there is always that but still, the agent (generally) knows what he is doing so if you refuse to supply useless info to the agent he probably knows he was sticking his neck out asking it and won't be offended if you refuse. Would be a pretty unprofessional agent that would prefer some guy who would bear his soul over a guy who is playing it down the line IMO. But then again he is an agent, god only knows what will happen

[theroyale]

Remember YOU are earning him his revenue so he has to trust and respect you and you are also in a position that he needs you as much as you need him.

What if YOU are replaceable, by another contractor equally qualified, without too much of an effort if he decides to try, and you and him both know that?

I appreciate that those with a few years/decades of experience contracting (like many on this forum) and looking at specific higher-end roles are well-placed to call the shots with agents, but perhaps it should also be appreciated that the situation is almost reversed for those just starting out as contractors and are limited to more generic analyst-programmer type contracts.

[northernladuk]

No it's not, see the post above
That is the law and the real life.
If you can send off any client you don't like, I envy you

As Cojak mentioned Nomadd was being sarcastic. Do you fall for everything you read

I don't send any client off. Not telling him what he has no reason to know or ask is NOT sending him off. By the same token I do not need to bear my soul, rates, bank accounts and inside leg measurements to them either. We are in a B2B negotiation and he will respect that as I respect what he is doing. Falling on my knees and begging him to take me on makes no difference whatsoever. Remember YOU are earning him his revenue so he has to trust and respect you and you are also in a position that he needs you as much as you need him.

At the end of the day you are a business, think like a business and act like a business and you will earn his respect however many times you say no to him.

[cojak]

It is not the law and it is not real life.

One of the regulars was being sarcastic.

It is none of the agents business, I would tell him where to go and would move into permiedom if I was that desperate to need a job,

[xxxxmmmm]

Rubbish. If the question is completely irrelavant it may actually damage your reputation by answering stupid questions proving you do not know what you are doing. You still have to act like a professional when looking for work. You have to earn some respect and trust for the agent to put you forward.

No it's not, see the post above
That is the law and the real life.
If you can send off any client you don't like, I envy you

[TheFaQQer]

Ask the pimp to send you a copy of his contract, pay slips and bank statement first, then you might consider proving yours.

And since when do payslips represent what you earn - or are you through an umbrella?

FWIW, I don't get a payslip from my Ltd.

[northernladuk]

Good advice, but when you really need a new contract, it's not easy to say NO to ANY question.
Had the same situation 12 years ago, and not only had to answer, but also had to provide papers proving my previous pay rate.

Rubbish. If the question is completely irrelavant it may actually damage your reputation by answering stupid questions proving you do not know what you are doing. You still have to act like a professional when looking for work. You have to earn some respect and trust for the agent to put you forward.

[nomadd]

Do agents ever ask for payslips from your previous contracts/employments, to "prove" you have been receiving the rate you tell them you were getting?

Yes they do. An you must supply them by law. You must also supply medical records going back 5 years if requested. Again, this is the law. Ditto bank statements from both your personal and company accounts detailing all transactions for the last 5 years. And credit card statements, going back 10 years. Again, this is all a legal requirement.

Good job some of us old hands were here to help you. You might have got into all sorts of trouble otherwise.

[xxxxmmmm]

You are a business. Start thinking like a business. You are under no obligation to 'prove' anything. You are negotiating a role to secure a new contract. Previous rates have absolutely nothing to do with the new one.

Remember... You are a buiness now... not a permie, or a worker, or a resource... a business.

Good advice, but when you really need a new contract, it's not easy to say NO to ANY question.
Had the same situation 12 years ago, and not only had to answer, but also had to provide papers proving my previous pay rate.

[ratewhore]

Do agents ever ask for payslips from your previous contracts/employments, to "prove" you have been receiving the rate you tell them you were getting?

They could try but then, they could fark right off too!!!

[Sausage Surprise]

You are a business. Start thinking like a business. You are under no obligation to 'prove' anything. You are negotiating a role to secure a new contract. Previous rates have absolutely nothing to do with the new one.

Remember... You are a buiness now... not a permie, or a worker, or a resource... a business.

WHS

[northernladuk]

Do agents ever ask for payslips from your previous contracts/employments, to "prove" you have been receiving the rate you tell them you were getting?

You are a business. Start thinking like a business. You are under no obligation to 'prove' anything. You are negotiating a role to secure a new contract. Previous rates have absolutely nothing to do with the new one.

Remember... You are a buiness now... not a permie, or a worker, or a resource... a business.