Whose telling porkies?

**confusedkiwi** · 22 February 2008, 10:27

I had this too - one agency quoted £350 -£400 for a role, another one said £400 - £550 for the same role...

What a margin the first one must be making!

**ratewhore** · 22 February 2008, 11:28

Not quite sure what your point is. Rates change between agents, thats a given. Don't apply for contracts where you're not happy with the rate and, when negotiating, only accept the rate you're prepared to do the work for...

**configman** · 22 February 2008, 11:43

Originally posted by ratewhore View Post

Not quite sure what your point is. Rates change between agents, thats a given. Don't apply for contracts where you're not happy with the rate and, when negotiating, only accept the rate you're prepared to do the work for...

There is a difference of £300 per day!!!!!!!!

The point is this highlights why you do your homework before applying to ensure you get the best rate for you and with someone who has been sourced to fill the contract. It is not necessarily a complaint, but as result of asking the recruiters involved why the difference I have been able to find out who is best to apply with and at what rate to go forward for. I have also found out what is realistically on offer so no time wasting.

How else would you suggest that I found out the REAL rate on offer? I'm a business and if 5 salesmen come in with the same product I will tell them of each others offer so I end up with the best for me.

**ratewhore** · 22 February 2008, 11:59

I understand where you're going with this configman but it is too simplistic to look only at the rate. There's also the contractual issues and IR35 to consider.

My view:

1 - You should already know your own rate, so this will whittle down the number of contracts you apply for straight away.
2 - Always get a copy of the standard agent contract before your CV goes forward.
3 - Negotiate appropriately the rate and t's and c's.
4 - Unless your back is against the wall, always be prepared to walk away.

All IMHO of course...

**Sockpuppet** · 22 February 2008, 12:09

Originally posted by configman View Post

There is a difference of £300 per day!!!!!!!!

Your assuming that you'd get the £600/day rate. The agent could just use a high rate to attract people, get some CVs then ask for a lower rate when the client refuses to pay.

**configman** · 22 February 2008, 12:21

Originally posted by Sockpuppet View Post

Your assuming that you'd get the £600/day rate. The agent could just use a high rate to attract people, get some CVs then ask for a lower rate when the client refuses to pay.

It is a trick I am familiar with, hence why I asked for each recruiter to justify why they could get the rate they advertised. I don't need to tell you who has not responded!!

**configman** · 22 February 2008, 12:33

Originally posted by ratewhore View Post

I understand where you're going with this configman but it is too simplistic to look only at the rate. There's also the contractual issues and IR35 to consider.

My view:

1 - You should already know your own rate, so this will whittle down the number of contracts you apply for straight away.
2 - Always get a copy of the standard agent contract before your CV goes forward.
3 - Negotiate appropriately the rate and t's and c's.
4 - Unless your back is against the wall, always be prepared to walk away.

All IMHO of course...

Yes there is a lot of other things to consider and they have been. I can include your list and the rate of commission that the recruiter is making which leaves room for me to negotiate more, I could consider that one recruiter is inflating the rate only to squash it if an offer came in, or that one of the recruiters is not actually sourced to find the contractor.

I know my own rate but that can change depending on the market conditions - which are best researched by looking at the job boards. In this instance it is widely varied so I asked all recruiters quite bluntly to justify why I should go through them an not the others.

**51st State** · 22 February 2008, 12:38

Originally posted by configman View Post

Whose telling porkies

Who's

Unless you are asking who the telling porkies (whatever they may be) belong to, of course ....

**Ardesco** · 22 February 2008, 14:32

Originally posted by configman View Post

If you need an example of why to check each agency out look at the varying rates of the following contracts on Jobserve. The rates vary from inspecified and £400 - £700 per day.

Search IT http://www.jobserve.com/W4807BF4C99573348.job Market Rates

Glotel http://www.jobserve.com/W7ECC64B4E3829CF8.job £600-700 per day

Capita Resourcing http://www.jobserve.com/W75542653B064066B.job £400-500 per day

Real Time Consultants http://www.jobserve.com/W0160E71630E6FB99.job No rate specified

NES IT http://www.jobserve.com/WF1DF645884432487.job No rate specified

Doesn't really mean anything... For example Search IT may have told the client that they can get somebody to do the work for £600 a day whereas Capita have told the client that they can get somebody for £700 a day. NES may be then sourcing contractors for Capita so that capita pays them £600 a day, etc. etc.

It's not always as clean cut as you may think.

Whose telling porkies?