Holding the Aces

If you are able to make it in the interview and crack it,  you hold the whip hand.

It is clear that you are the company’s choice for the position. The agent is eyeing the commission, and doesn’t want to risk losing it, even if they might get somebody else in.

Most Vulnerable


This is the time you can catch the agent at their most vulnerable, wanting you  to desperately take the job. This is the most opportune moment to bargain. Now you can let them know your wish -  that you want the high side of your range.


Extra Costs

If you have quoted a set price, you can argue your case saying that there are one or two aspects of the job where you’ll need to incur more expenses than you expected , for instance, extra traveling expenses, plus you didn’t know it would be a 37.5 hour week , you won’t be learning any skills at the job and so on and so forth.

At this point, the agent will say they will go back to the client and will eventually talk the client into giving a bit more. You can be sure the agent will tread warily so that he doesn’t screw this up.

They will then get back to you to say the client has agreed to go only up to 535 per day.


More to Come

It is quite possible that the agency will not have made any concession themselves at this stage. They may also tell you the client won’t budge. In both circumstances you must maintain your stance, saying that it is not enough for you.

Trust me, there is no way that the agent is going to let this one go. They will heaven and earth, if they have  to, to keep this one.


Get Some More

The reality of the times  allow the great majority of individual agents to have less than 20 contractors out, so they just can’t afford to let one slip away or go back to the client to try to get them to take someone else - they just won’t take the risk. You now must make them dunk into their own percentage to make sure that they get you out. 


Negotiate

In the first circumstance, where the client offers 535 per day, you can tell the agent that you’ll come down to 560 per day, that’ll be your last price.

Being only 25 quid away from an agreement, you unwittingly prompt the agent ‘to see what we can do ourselves.’ As you are now inching towards either a 545 or 550 per day, you can decide whether you accept their new offer or not.


Stick

You could pretty much stick to the 560 per day, but that would be rubbing their noses in it. I would go for 550. You can always get a bit more back at the renewal. If the client is unwavering at 500 per day, then go for 535 from the agency and settle for 525-530.

The agent may frown when you first put the proposition to him or her, but when the deal is sealed up, then they will be pretty contented.