Recruitment Agents - (cheeky) question.....

[Pork]

Chaps,

As I cant very well ask any of the agents I speak to and expect an honest answer, what sort of percentage would you expect to make on a candidate?

I know many years ago I was told for perm roles, agents would get approximately 1/3rd of the starting salary.

Whats the going rate for temp staff? Specifically, I'm thinking professional resources.

Again, last time I dealt with a friendly recruiter, I was told it was 13-18%....is this about right? What would be a 'good juicy' rate and what would be 'doable'?

Would be happy to recieve PM's if you're not keen on posting publicly.

Cheers
Pork

[Amaboknaai]

My Agency has taken between 6 - 8% on last 4 contracts. First rip off merchant I had when I came to the UK took 33% (he is no longer in the business!)

[Pork]

Amaboknaai said:

My Agency has taken between 6 - 8% on last 4 contracts. First rip off merchant I had when I came to the UK took 33% (he is no longer in the business!)

Blimey! 6-8%? Have they not got a family to feed!?

Thanks for the reply. My question is prompted by working out the % my current consultant is getting, having had a discussion with him about the rate and him pleading poverty. Its not far off the 33% you mention.

[Si 330]

As a client I refuse to pay more than 10%, they usually start of asking somewhere between 15 and 20%.

[Jakestar]

Wow some really low figures for temp percentages mentioned..

I can't see how anyone would make any kind of living on 6% - 10%!

There are many different scenerios which may result in varying percentages. I would not work on a job that had a percentage less than 15%, would think 20% was an OK deal for both parties, and say the average would be mid 20s. Ive know many many consultants to make as much as the candidate on contract positions, though.

[Pork]

Jakestar said:

Wow some really low figures for temp percentages mentioned..

I can't see how anyone would make any kind of living on 6% - 10%!

There are many different scenerios which may result in varying percentages. I would not work on a job that had a percentage less than 15%, would think 20% was an OK deal for both parties, and say the average would be mid 20s. Ive know many many consultants to make as much as the candidate on contract positions, though.

Blimey! I dont think I could sleep at night if I knew I was doing that to someone!

Still, if both parties are happy, good luck to them both.

[Zippyworld]

Hi,

Which industry are you guys referring too ?

Reason I ask this is relevant, if its Construction I can give quality input

[Pork]

I think the responses bove are differnt industries. For me, its Finance and Accountancy.

[V8mate]

Some of my clients won't deal with me directly as my company is too small, so I use a 'friendly' major who is a framework supplier to my client to invoice them. Generally, they take 20% for this 'service'.

When it's the difference between working or not though......

[V8mate]

maix27 said:

I'm a headhunter and I make roughly 20-25% of my placed candidates 1st year salary. For eample, if they take home £100K my compnay will usually make £20-25K on that.

Can I have one of those £100k jobs please?

You can have my head on a plate; no hunting needed

[AJS-]

When I was dealing with white collar construction contractors in London (up until 2005) the target rate was 20%, anything over than that was a bonus, under that was ok for a long term contract, but it really wasn't worth our while to payroll them at less than about £3.50 an hour margin.

That was a mid size company with it's own inhouse payroll, so relatively high costs, I'd imagine Hays or someone could do it cheaper.

The other exception was managed supplier agreements where the margin was set by agreement, usually low, but on the plus side we were given the jobs exclusively and had a high volume of contractors with these clients.

[grim_d]

V8mate said:

maix27 said:

I'm a headhunter and I make roughly 20-25% of my placed candidates 1st year salary. For eample, if they take home £100K my compnay will usually make £20-25K on that.

Can I have one of those £100k jobs please?

You can have my head on a plate; no hunting needed

+1

[Amaboknaai]

I used to be in IT, and operated, quite successfully. Now, thanks to the likes of The OESI and his Chancellor, Sir Greed Fred-Win and his fellow Gallant Knights of The Realm, Lord MandelBum and his cohorts, it appears that the industry has disappeared up its own chuff...

[Mx_Stu]

Pork said:

I think the responses bove are differnt industries. For me, its Finance and Accountancy.

I moved out of the big 4 into a "smaller firm" last September and in recent conversations down the pub with new boss he informed that the recuitment agents (London based) initially wanted around 30% but he beat them down to 20%.

[AJS-]

maix27 said:

grim_d said:

V8mate said:

maix27 said:

I'm a headhunter and I make roughly 20-25% of my placed candidates 1st year salary. For eample, if they take home £100K my compnay will usually make £20-25K on that.

Can I have one of those £100k jobs please?

You can have my head on a plate; no hunting needed

+1

If either of you work in IT or IT sales then I'd be happy to help

Any work in Europe? Not keen on the idea of living in the UK but I could tolerate Italy or Switzerland on £100K

[Romanymagic]

We (IT based recruitment) have agreements in place with our clients for 15% for perm (first year salary) and between 10% and 15% for contract. We charge between 4% and 5% if we payroll a contractor who goes direct to a company but the client want an agent between the company and the contractor's ltd co.

[Mudfish]

Amaboknaai said:

I used to be in IT, and operated, quite successfully. Now, thanks to the likes of The OESI and his Chancellor, Sir Greed Fred-Win and his fellow Gallant Knights of The Realm, Lord MandelBum and his cohorts, it appears that the industry has disappeared up its own chuff...

I think you'll find the market to be picking up somewhat. The embargo on perm hires by alot of companies, like the financial ones you draw reference to, are firmly in place. This is facilitating a desperate need to bring in resource to keep up with project requirements (a large portion of which are legislative and mandatory and have to be completed) thereby increasing contractor demand and in the near future... an increase day rates!

[A911DOM]

15% is the normal minimum - but they will negotiate like hell to make sure they get a larger slice than that if possible!

[bad company]

I run a recruitment firm. We charge between 17.5 to 25% on permanent placements and 17.5% on contracts.

Yes we sometimes negotiate for regular clients but not below 15%. It's supply & demand really. If we have a candidate where there is a shortage of such people why would we agree to reduce our fees??

[davy9449]

I'm glad I cam across this thread because now I understand more the reason why pathetically low salaries are being offered by some agencies. I hate some of these guys with a passion as 50% of the time I am being fed bullst and and receive no feedback. It's not that I hate agencies, or agents, but there are too many out there that;
a) don't know their stuff
b) Lie
c) are too greedy

I wouldn't mind of they actually helped argue your case and charged a fortune but a lot appear not to.
But they're a necessary evil I suppose and prevent the likes of me earning what I should be starting on!

Just my opinion, but it's 1st hand experience and I don't mean to offend anyone - I'm just a bit pi*sed off with them at the moment.

Having said that, dealing directly can bring it's own problems too but that's another story!