Reply to: How do you handle multiple offers?

[Wanderer]

the agent guaranteed me a decision on the day as to whether they would go with me or not, but in the interview the interviewer said I was the first candidate and he wanted to see some more to compare my CV against!

What??? The agent LIED to you!!! That's never happened before.

On a side note, the agency with the role I accepted have no clue about IR35 - they had no idea who QDOS were or why I needed it reviewed.

These agents are real comedians aren't they. Next they will tell you that you're the first contractor who ever refused to opt out and that 3 month payment terms are standard in the business and no one has EVER complained about that before.

[Rabotnik]

Just an update for everyone who gave me advice. I still haven't got feedback from interview number 2, the agent reckons they are messing him about making a decision, so I've completely ruled that one out. The bank interview I had yesterday was a bit silly, the agent guaranteed me a decision on the day as to whether they would go with me or not, but in the interview the interviewer said I was the first candidate and he wanted to see some more to compare my CV against!

I think from now on I will always give myself a week to answer an agent on whether I will accept an offer, I will just say I have other interviews lined up (even if I don't). I had no legitimate roles offered the whole of April, and then I suddenly had 3 interviews in 1 week with an offer straight away for the first one I went to!

On a side note, the agency with the role I accepted have no clue about IR35 - I told them I won't start til I have had the contract reviewed and they had no idea who QDOS were or why I needed it reviewed. I also saw it would fail straight away due to needing client approval for substitutes.

[northernladuk]

good advice, this forum shines sometimes..

Good to hear, hope your taking it all on board.....

[Scoobos]

good advice, this forum shines sometimes..

Is it just me, or do you ALWAYS find yourself in this situation? Looking for what seems like ages, then multiple offers all at once..

[psychocandy]

Yeah I have to think about number 1. If I'd signed the contract, obviously that would be it, but I just said yeah I will accept but I need to send it to QDOS first to check if it passes IR35. This is beside the fact that I told the bank agent I already verbally accepted an offer so I wasn't interested. He just went behind my back and set up an interview anyway, but if he's set it up, and the rate is £80 more, I really think I need to have the balls to tell the previous agent I will be taking a better offer.

All assuming the bank wants me of course, the agent there wants me to sign his contract straight after the interview if I get it! I told him it won't be happening since I need a QDOS review, but he obviously wants me to sign his before I can sign the previous agent's contract.

Rabotnik,

Not having a go like mate but I think agent no2 has got you down as a pushover. After all he conned you into going for the interview when you said no first off, and now it looks like hes trying to get the deal done and dusted because he thinks he can push you around.

Even if you're deffo going to take it, I'd be tempted to stall him for a bit anyway (although get the contract reviewed anyway). And ask for more money. Even if its just to prove to the agent that your balls are as big as his. Otherwise, I fear he could also see you as an ideal candidate to give his company a huge margin on this.

As for the 1st one, yeh **** him. But make sure no 2 is signed sealed and delivered before you burn your bridges. He'll be upset but so what.

[Rabotnik]

Rabotnik,

Yes, go for the interview anyway. What if the 1st role you've accepted falls through - it does happen.

As you can see, never under any circumstances trust an agent. They'll say anything to get you into a role if they can smell cash.

As for the verbal agreement thing - personally I'd say stuff them - theyd to the same to you if it suited them.

Yeah I have to think about number 1. If I'd signed the contract, obviously that would be it, but I just said yeah I will accept but I need to send it to QDOS first to check if it passes IR35. This is beside the fact that I told the bank agent I already verbally accepted an offer so I wasn't interested. He just went behind my back and set up an interview anyway, but if he's set it up, and the rate is £80 more, I really think I need to have the balls to tell the previous agent I will be taking a better offer.

All assuming the bank wants me of course, the agent there wants me to sign his contract straight after the interview if I get it! I told him it won't be happening since I need a QDOS review, but he obviously wants me to sign his before I can sign the previous agent's contract.

[psychocandy]

Rabotnik,

Yes, go for the interview anyway. What if the 1st role you've accepted falls through - it does happen.

As you can see, never under any circumstances trust an agent. They'll say anything to get you into a role if they can smell cash.

As for the verbal agreement thing - personally I'd say stuff them - theyd to the same to you if it suited them.

[Rabotnik]

I will probably be shot in the ghetto for saying this but I'm running a business, not a bloody charity and if I was offered 25% and similar conditions then I'd take it in an instant and walk away from the other offer.

This is what I am thinking, I shouldn't be hung up on being Mr Nice Guy, I work for myself, not to make some dodgy agent money. The £356 role is for a certain large government service, that's why they can't offer any more. My rate previously was actually £400pd, so I was silly to pitch below that, the market just looked pretty dire and £356pd > 0pd.

I think I should at least go to the bank interview today for the experience. If they offer me the job I would be a fool to pass it up. If I use the contract comparison calculator, the difference in monthly net income is about £1000!

[oscarose]

I'm running a business, not a bloody charity and if I was offered 25% and similar conditions then I'd take it in an instant and walk away from the other offer.

WWS+100

[BigTime]

People sign contracts and don't show up the 1st day which annoys the client a little and marks their card but if you're sure you wont look at that company again, go ahead.

[Wanderer]

So what would you guys do if you got something like this - 23% increase in wages and banking sector experience? I said earlier I would honour the verbal agreement, but perhaps that would be a stupid thing to do - have to think like a businessman right? The other agent said people pulling out before signing was all part of the business, so I shouldn't be bothered, but he would say that.

I will probably be shot in the ghetto for saying this but I'm running a business, not a bloody charity and if I was offered 25% and similar conditions then I'd take it in an instant and walk away from the other offer.

Remember that if you are making a rate of X amount per day and saving a bit, if you can add 25% to that rate then that whole 25% (minus tax) will go straight into your profits/war chest so even a small increase (or decrease) makes a big difference to your bottom line.

Clients know full well that if they don't offer enough money then they they can't attract and retain good people, they deal with this all the time. And remember that your loyalty to the client by honouring a verbal agreement to do a cut price contract means next to nothing when the bean counters decide that there is a 15% pay cut for all contractors.

There is a certain amount of good will to retain, but unless you are in a seriously niche market then your services are a commodity and this sort of stuff is just business so no one takes it personally.

[Rabotnik]

The saga continues! Last night I had the snakiest agent ever call me again. He called me earlier about a role at a bank, and I said too late, I already accepted an offer. He called me again at 20:30 last night and said "Good news I got you an interview at that bank". Obviously I said WTH, I told you I already had an offer so not interested, and he said "Oh I thought you said it was OK to put your CV forward". I reminded him it was illegal to put the CV forward without my consent and he said he misheard me.

Anyway, this is obviously his tactic, but he added that I would be put on £440pd, vs £356 at the job I verbally accepted. So this is £84 more per day, and I would be getting banking experience. This guy was just doing a very hard sale and would not let me off the phone no matter how much I moaned about commute or having accepted the other role, he even went on Journey Planner to prove I could get there in 45mins.
Eventually I thought, what the heck, he is going to pay for my travel fare there, I might as well go there for the hell of it and see if they would pick me, would be good interview experience anyway.

So what would you guys do if you got something like this - 23% increase in wages and banking sector experience? I said earlier I would honour the verbal agreement, but perhaps that would be a stupid thing to do - have to think like a businessman right? The other agent said people pulling out before signing was all part of the business, so I shouldn't be bothered, but he would say that.

I saw a few other threads like this, bit thought I'd throw this out there, since I was interested to see what some of you seasoned veterans would do. I might not even be offered the banking role, but hypothetically say I had.

[Rabotnik]

Agree here. Rabotnik mate the 2nd role aint gonna show. Like jmo says above here are possible reasons.

Yeah, glad I grabbed the 1st one now, the 2nd one still hasn't contacted me! I'm beginning to think you can't trust these recruiters!

[psychocandy]

Ooooo, oooo..... this is easy!!!

Choose one from....

- hiring manager is not available off sick/holiday/training/meetings
- they are interviewing more people yesterday, today, tomorrow, also next Monday, Tuesday.
- you weren't quite an "instant hire" so they have asked for more CV's and you are on the backburner
- they are trying to get things wrapped up with their first choice who is holding off for another role (maybe the one you have been offered, but his agent for that is putting him off waiting for you to decide)

Yeah, that's it, you are stuck in an infinite loop of agent/candidate/clientco mind games

Agree here. Rabotnik mate the 2nd role aint gonna show. Like jmo says above here are possible reasons.

[Rabotnik]

Well done now stick with your decision. If I made a verbal acceptance I would see it as binding, if a better offer came in within a few hours of acceptance I might consider changing my mind because I know they could still offer to other candidates, but I certainly wouldn't renage on it after a few days. What you don't want is to be remembered for leaving them up the creek; i.e. force them into a new round of interviews because the other candidates had already accepted other offers. That's the kind of thing that gets remembered.

If you do have an other opp. best to be up front and say you need time. Then force the hand of the other agent. If that doesn't work then best accept the offer. If they can't move quickly it probably means you're not their first choice.

Yes, I am inclined to stick with my decision since now I've made it. Just had another agent trying to get me to interview at a bank tomorrow for £70pd more! Don't know why the real roles all come along in the same week! I've been looking since the start of the month, and everything up until this week has been bollocks from agents trying to get leads.