Agency advertise contract for rate 400 - 460 per day, how much should I ask?

[Wanderer]

Imagine if the situation was reversed - you agree £420 and the agent then says that even though you've got the gig, the agency is now offering you £380 instead.

Are you serious? Clients and agencies would NEVER do such a thing!!

Just go back to the agency and tell them you've been offered another gig at £500/day and ask if they will match it, then negotiate from there. Also ask the agency how much margin they are on. If they won't tell you then there is definitely room to increase your rate because they will be ripping it. Tell them you will go and negotiate directly with the client if they won't play ball - that really upsets them because they often don't want the client knowing how much margin they are taking.

[SueEllen]

Thing is, these offshore people know you are going to decline that rate and that is part of their plan. They want to go back to our incompetent authorities and 'prove' that there is no one available in the UK to do that work, so they can therefore bring in cheap labour from overseas.

Even if you do pretend that you will accept their rate they will make up another reason that you can't do the role i.e. your CV isn't a 100% exact match to the job spec. This means they can then bring in someone from overseas as the skills are lacking in the UK.

[blinko]

Alot of the times the jobs are fake, they simply put up a high rate to attract your CV.

From your CV they will have leads of clients that use contractors and they will probably ask you for references so now they have a contact and a client that could provide them with sales.

[ChimpMaster]

The key is to laugh at the agent when they offer something ridiculous. I did that recently, and the agent (offshore) still wanted to put me forward for an interview. Since they were about £200 a day off what I wanted, I just told them to stop wasting my time and hung up.

Thing is, these offshore people know you are going to decline that rate and that is part of their plan. They want to go back to our incompetent authorities and 'prove' that there is no one available in the UK to do that work, so they can therefore bring in cheap labour from overseas.

I just don't get it any more - I know so many non-EU consultants working in this country now and the number is increasing, leaving local experts without work. Sign of the times perhaps.

[northernladuk]

Not unless you are in to a different skill bracket. IMO they are paying the going rate for someone of your skills. Some extra responsiblities are process issues not skill/ability based so within reason I would say no.

If you were taken on as PM but the extra responsiblities were to over see 10 other projects at programme level then no etc.

People will say there is no harm in trying but again the agent will give you the cold stare and advise the next guy the client picked is still available, take it or leave it. Be prepared to walk if you ever want to pull this off.

Another way of thinking about it is try and be in the agents shoes. Would he give a moaning contractor more of his money?

[Donatas]

Take it with a pinch of salt, I was sniffing around one last year for £500-550, sent CV, agent rang me straight away, perfect fit for role etc, how much am I looking for, I say well, £550, he says, 'Oh, they won't pay that!'.

So why is it on the spec then?

I know the answer, it a carrot with a stick to get hold of the wrong end of to beat about the bush with later....

One more aspect i would like to know.

Say got provisionally agreed to an initial rate, but then client comes up with additional NDA suggesting more responsibilities/restrictions to take on. Then going back to agent asking for a bit higher rate as contract changes. Can it be that the agent is already agreed to initial lower rate from my side with a client and there is nowhere to push further, or is there a chance i can negotiate a lower agency margin for my favor as i get more terms to agree on?

TA

[stek]

Take it with a pinch of salt, I was sniffing around one last year for £500-550, sent CV, agent rang me straight away, perfect fit for role etc, how much am I looking for, I say well, £550, he says, 'Oh, they won't pay that!'.

So why is it on the spec then?

I know the answer, it a carrot with a stick to get hold of the wrong end of to beat about the bush with later....

[Donatas]

Hey can i have that 460 one please I get what you are saying, got to prove that i am worth it. Thanks

[TheFaQQer]

Pick a number you will accept, nothing lower, ask for a bit more but be prepared to take what you are comfortable with. I am crap at this marlarky but so far I haven't been offered anything I wasn't happy with.

The key is to laugh at the agent when they offer something ridiculous. I did that recently, and the agent (offshore) still wanted to put me forward for an interview. Since they were about £200 a day off what I wanted, I just told them to stop wasting my time and hung up.

[SimonMac]

Did you say you were happy with £420? If the advert was £350 - £400 would you go back and tell them to lower your salary?

I would be more worried they are still advertising YOUR job after you have been offered it, how dare they, I would walk if I were you

[TheFaQQer]

If you have already agreed a rate, and got the job based on that rate, then (to say the least) it's bad form to go back and demand more. Imagine if the situation was reversed - you agree £420 and the agent then says that even though you've got the gig, the agency is now offering you £380 instead.

It doesn't sound like you've done much research about becoming a contractor - did you fall into contracting because you lost your permie job, or have you actively determined what contracting is about and whether it'd really what you want to do?

In future, determine your rate up front, and work out what you are prepared to accept. Trying to change what you've agreed isn't going to get you very far very long.

[northernladuk]

What they advertise and what they offer are two different things. It isn't unknown for them to offer under the bands they advertised.

I don't wish to be rude but if you don't know what to do yourself already you are not going to put anything over to the agent with enough conviction for him to believe you and you will get no where. You have to be prepared to negotiate hard until you get the value you want and he has to believe you mean it.

In your case you will say you want £460, he says you way, you shrug your shoulders and accept. Chalk another one up the agent.

Pick a number you will accept, nothing lower, ask for a bit more but be prepared to take what you are comfortable with. I am crap at this marlarky but so far I haven't been offered anything I wasn't happy with.

[Donatas]

Hey, got a situation like this.

Passed interview, agreed on offer contract (not signed yet) for say £420 per day with an agency. Then find the same agency advertise the job for 400 - 460 per day. Shall i come back to them saying I would go for the highest £460 a day you advertise, as I got interview passed already and client wants me to start? Can agency refuse at this point? Whose is the stronger ground at this moment?

What is your experience on it. Share please.

TA