Just Tell me the FEE!!!!!

I am venting right now. I am thinking about working with a 3rd party agency on a position that has been very difficult to fill. I reached out to 2 agencies via email (they've contacted me in the past) to simply ask what their fee agreement is.

Why can 't they just email me with the fees? I don't want to chat for 20 minutes about your agency. I don't even know if I am going to work with you. I just want to know the darn percentage IF I decide to use your services. If I decide to use your service, then we'll chat.

I've worked with 3rd party agencies for years. I don't need the sales speech, why you are the best, etc, etc. Just tell me the darn fee.

Ok, I've vented. Thanks!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amy Ala Miller on October 30, 2012 at 1:06pm

I feel your pain. :)

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on October 30, 2012 at 1:14pm

Mind if I ask - if you've worked with 3rd pary agencies for years - don't you have a few that you know? And wouldn't you know their fees?

P.S. If you called me (260-347-1715) I would let you know my fee is 25%. (20% for new clients in the Greater Seattle area.)

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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Branch on October 30, 2012 at 1:20pm

This is a new company for me in a new industry. Obviously, if it was a space/industry that I've been in before I would have folks to reach out to.

Clearly it's not hard to provide the info. The info Jerry provided is all I would need to know. Then I'd pass cuz I'm not paying more than 20%. (Unless it's an IT/Engineering role.)

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on October 30, 2012 at 1:32pm

Can I ask though - are you basing your choice of agency, then, on fee and nothing else?

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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Branch on October 30, 2012 at 1:50pm

Of course not, but that is a huge factor. For this particualr role in this industry, most agencies who support this world will all have the same candidates since it is a very niche market.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on October 30, 2012 at 2:34pm

That makes sense. Good luck Tiffany!

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Permalink Reply by Amy Ala Miller on October 30, 2012 at 3:46pm

The alternative Tiffany is to reach out to those agencies, tell them you're looking to bring on contingent support and will pay up to 20%. If that works for them, you can talk more.

(especially if you're a new client in the Seattle area :) )

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Permalink Reply by Bill Schultz on October 30, 2012 at 5:27pm

Tiffany's right- you should state your fees proudly. I'm 25k flat for staff, 30k for director level, 40k for VP

42k for new clients in Seattle.

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Permalink Reply by Amy Ala Miller on October 30, 2012 at 5:58pm

You'd get it too Bill! :)

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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Branch on October 31, 2012 at 10:04am

I'm in the Southeast. So Seattle won't work for me. However, if I ever have a west coast need....I don't pay more than 18% for non-managerial positions. Who wants to work with me???? LOL

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on October 31, 2012 at 10:13am

Actually - the "Seattle" thing was for Amy. :)

To be perfectly candid - I think many of the successful recruiters - the ones who actually complete the projects rather than agree to what might be considered a "lower" fee and then never call back - are overbooked as it is. It's a blazing market right now in a majority of the recruiting fields.

I hope you find a recruiter for the search who will make us all proud though. Has anyone from here (no names needed of course) connected with you to see if they could help?

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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Branch on October 31, 2012 at 10:19am

No, I'm really trying not to use a third party. It depends on how the rest of my week goes with my current slate of candidates. If nothing pans out, I have identified the 3rd party that I will work with.

Jerry Albright said:

Actually - the "Seattle" thing was for Amy. :)

To be perfectly candid - I think many of the successful recruiters - the ones who actually complete the projects rather than agree to what might be considered a "lower" fee and then never call back - are overbooked as it is. It's a blazing market right now in a majority of the recruiting fields.

I hope you find a recruiter for the search who will make us all proud though. Has anyone from here (no names needed of course) connected with you to see if they could help?