"What rate are you looking for?"

[quackhandle]

When the agent says market, I just say what is the rate range. If they quote some absurdly low figure, I quickly thank them and move on. It's a great way to get Bob's off the phone without playing 50 questions.

If the rate range sounds good I'll pick the highest figure and run with that. If the rate is close, but within £50 or so of what I want then I will have a haggle.

Most times its at least £200 below the real market, that's why they don't put the rate on the advert.

+1. I tend to ask "what rate is on offer". I'd say 5 out of 10 it doesn't match the rate on the advert. (obviously not including "market rate" or "negotiable")

qh

[nomadd]

I recently applied to an advert that had a day rate of "market rate". The agent got in touch by e-mail to ask what rate I'm looking for. Usually there's a rate on an advert so I responded by asking him roughly what the rate would be and he said that he wasn't "given a rate to work with". Should I reply with an overestimation of the rate I'd work for? How do you usually respond when asked about rates? I don't really like to declare what rate I'm looking for in case there is actually a higher rate available and the agent then pockets the difference. Maybe I'm too cynical?!

Depends how genuine the agent seems.

If it's just one of the standard bullsh**ters "doing the rounds", then I don't give a figure - I just say "Way above market. Phone me back when you have a role and a rate."

If it's a genuine agent with a genuine role (yes, you can spot them sometimes), then I haggle until they produce a figure. Current gig. is a case in point: agent was very cagey, as the client had stupidly unrealistic expectations. He finally quoted a price, at which point I wished him "the best of luck finding anyone." He phoned back two weeks later - after the client HR had done some "market analysis" - and the rate had jumped up by 40%. At this point, I took the role.

[doodab]

This, I have had an agents up the rate for me if they think the client will pay it and their on a fixed margin.

On my first ever contract back in the 90s, I had absolutely no idea, I asked for less than half what they offered, which was "on the low side cos of my lack of experience". I had to sit down when the agent told me, I was utterly gobsmacked.

These days I go for the high end of the market rate for what I do. Usually I get it, sometimes I have to come down a bit but I never come down so much it hurts.

[Mulder]

Going with the earlier advice, I know roughly what the current market rate is for my area of expertise is and the area I work in, and slightly highball the agent. But am prepared to come down to the more average range.

So I echo just say what you are happy to work for, pitch slightly higher if you want, and be willing to negotiate.

[SpontaneousOrder]

They were probably on a fixed margin.

Makes sense.

[BlueSharp]

They were probably on a fixed margin.

This, I have had an agents up the rate for me if they think the client will pay it and their on a fixed margin.

[riffpie]

I had 2 interviews for a particular client in the city last autumn ( Ididn't get the role in the end). The asked what rate I wanted when she first contacted me, and then said "ok, they're actually offering a lot more than that so that's fine", which surprised me.

I suppose it depends on whether it's a buyer's or seller's market at the time.

They were probably on a fixed margin.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I had 2 interviews for a particular client in the city last autumn ( Ididn't get the role in the end). The asked what rate I wanted when she first contacted me, and then said "ok, they're actually offering a lot more than that so that's fine", which surprised me.

I suppose it depends on whether it's a buyer's or seller's market at the time.

[riffpie]

I recently applied to an advert that had a day rate of "market rate". The agent got in touch by e-mail to ask what rate I'm looking for. Usually there's a rate on an advert so I responded by asking him roughly what the rate would be and he said that he wasn't "given a rate to work with". Should I reply with an overestimation of the rate I'd work for? How do you usually respond when asked about rates? I don't really like to declare what rate I'm looking for in case there is actually a higher rate available and the agent then pockets the difference. Maybe I'm too cynical?!

You should have a fair idea what the going rate for your skillset, in the relevant location, is. Use that as a guide. There's always a risk you're going to undercut yourself and the agent pockets the difference, but in reality does that matter? As long as you're getting what you want out of it, that's what counts. By all means high-ball your rate, just be prepared to come down.

[MyUserName]

I recently applied to an advert that had a day rate of "market rate". The agent got in touch by e-mail to ask what rate I'm looking for. Usually there's a rate on an advert so I responded by asking him roughly what the rate would be and he said that he wasn't "given a rate to work with". Should I reply with an overestimation of the rate I'd work for? How do you usually respond when asked about rates? I don't really like to declare what rate I'm looking for in case there is actually a higher rate available and the agent then pockets the difference. Maybe I'm too cynical?!

There might be a higher rate there might not - either way just say the rate you want and be prepared to negotiate.

[stek]

I recently applied to an advert that had a day rate of "market rate". The agent got in touch by e-mail to ask what rate I'm looking for. Usually there's a rate on an advert so I responded by asking him roughly what the rate would be and he said that he wasn't "given a rate to work with". Should I reply with an overestimation of the rate I'd work for? How do you usually respond when asked about rates? I don't really like to declare what rate I'm looking for in case there is actually a higher rate available and the agent then pockets the difference. Maybe I'm too cynical?!

I just tell them the rate I want.

[MB1983]

I recently applied to an advert that had a day rate of "market rate". The agent got in touch by e-mail to ask what rate I'm looking for. Usually there's a rate on an advert so I responded by asking him roughly what the rate would be and he said that he wasn't "given a rate to work with". Should I reply with an overestimation of the rate I'd work for? How do you usually respond when asked about rates? I don't really like to declare what rate I'm looking for in case there is actually a higher rate available and the agent then pockets the difference. Maybe I'm too cynical?!