[sirsinsalot]

Yes recruiters, and outside IR35.

It isn't true that they set rates and dictate terms. Push back, negotiate with them.

If you have recruiters who know you deliver, which drives more business for them and makes them look good, they'll listen to you and break their backs to place you even at rates higher than other people. They become your marketing team.

They're salespeople. Make their job easy and make yourself a tool that generates more long term commission for them. They'll bank on you and you'll be first in line.

All they care about is an easy win and their commission and sales targets. If you're their easy win, you're golden. The higher the rate they can place you at the more it works for them because the commission is percentile.

I interview really well. I'm a salesman too. They know if they can get me in the door I'll get the gig and they can get their cut of 50% above market rate.

I get to strike terms from contracts, set my notice period ... whatever I want really.

Build the relationships.