Reply to: Should you divulge previous contract rate to an agency ?

[AvsFan]

Thanks for all your replies.
Some very good info that I can use going forward.

The agency did in fact eventually come back to me. Said they had put my CV forward but who knows whether that is geniune
The role does exist as they did tell me the name of the client. Ah well......continuing to look.

[speling bee]

Commercially confidential my ####

If an agency is wanting latest rate, they should be okay to divulge the rate

Rascals

Who'd have thought it?

[Hireonomy]

It's in line with market norms.

Or

It's commercially confidential.

Commercially confidential my ####

If an agency is wanting latest rate, they should be okay to divulge the rate

Rascals

[speling bee]

Very good point - what is the response to this?

It's in line with market norms.

Or

It's commercially confidential.

[Hireonomy]

I have no problem telling them and expect them to tell me their margin if I'm offered a contract.

Very good point - what is the response to this?

[TheFaQQer]

Client confidentiality, that's what I say when asked this question. I then say the rate for this role will depend on deliverables and location send me the spec and I'll tell you the rate. If they press then I say market rate.

If you getting nothing in your inbox then there was no role and the agent is a lying rat.

+1

There are plenty of vague terms that they are familiar with in terms of describing the rate - market rate, competitive, in line with experience etc.

Give me the details and the location (and in some case who I'll be working with) and I'll give you a price.

[TheFaQQer]

Agreed with what others have said. I always lie and add a bit to last rate to get it near to what I want for role.

Add on 10%. So bump it up to £80 a week.

[kmge]

Client confidentiality, that's what I say when asked this question. I then say the rate for this role will depend on deliverables and location send me the spec and I'll tell you the rate. If they press then I say market rate.

If you getting nothing in your inbox then there was no role and the agent is a lying rat.

[psychocandy]

Agreed with what others have said. I always lie and add a bit to last rate to get it near to what I want for role.

Heres what I reckon they ask for. OK, client is willing to pay £500 (example), so agent is thinking I can get someone in for £400-£450 and still charge client £500. Then, lo and behold, contractor appears who admits current rate is £300, so now agent knows that if he gets £320 for this guy hes going to be happy and agent gets to pocket a huge cut.

I do two main things. One pays more than the other. Last year I've had one or two decent gigs using tech A paying pretty well. Recent gig was tech B and was poor rate.

So, applied for gig for tech A. Decent-ish rate. Agent asked the question - Even though I exagerrated a bit I was too honest and I admitted that last gig for Tech B was a bit low but recent gigs for Tech A was higher as expected.

Agents answer - client wont pay rate because your last gig was much lower rate. (despite being completely different technology).

FFS. Piss off then.

[texto]

Was I right to not divulge my previous contract rate ? By not doing so why has this appeared to affect my chances of securing an interview or have I just been unlucky with a poor agency ?

I think your response was not sharp. You must know the desired rate you want for your contract. Subtract 20 from it and say you are currently on that rate. If you want 450/day then say I'm on 430 already. No one can find out what your current rate is. And expecting a raise of 20 per day is normal.

Having said that I would not have expected the agent to sulk. They probably have nothing for you.

[BigTime]

I have no problem telling them and expect them to tell me their margin if I'm offered a contract.

[speling bee]

I always tell them the number that is most advantageous to me as a negotiating tool.

[vwdan]

Either this or if you want to keep the tone cordial, say as your 'current' rate the minimum or target salary you're looking for. No recruiter would offer you less than you're on, but they might seek to 'match' it (or feel they are)

And yes, cheeky buggers for both asking and ALWAYS taking advantage of it.

Yup - my last rate is always the rate I want. They're not thick and they know it can't ever be verified, but it's easier than getting in to to a debate over it and it lets them know quickly whether we're in the right ballpark.

Plus, from my POV, it offers a little protection. If you say "The rate I'm after is £x" then you're pretty much stuck with that, whereas you can reasonably safely say "The rate I'm on is £[y], but it's an easy gig close to home so I'd have to make sure the commercials stack up for this one"

[PerfectStorm]

They always seem to ask what rate are you on now, my answer is always "the rate I'm looking for is £xxxx"

Either this or if you want to keep the tone cordial, say as your 'current' rate the minimum or target salary you're looking for. No recruiter would offer you less than you're on, but they might seek to 'match' it (or feel they are)

And yes, cheeky buggers for both asking and ALWAYS taking advantage of it.

[Eirikur]

They always seem to ask what rate are you on now, my answer is always "the rate I'm looking for is £xxxx"