[terrykohla]

It seems more like you just discovered your "real" market value. Welcome to reality!

The reason some people make more money than others is mainly because they posses key information that others don't have and this is part of the game.

Don't fire you're recruiter because YOU didn't know your true market value. Instead, use this "new information" to negotiate yourself a substantial raise next time you sit at the negotiation table.

The recruiter's markup is not disclosed to the contractor in my industry and it's not really important to me. What matters is "are you happy with what you're making?".

Fire your recruiter if he is incompetent, not if he's doing well.

[tptacek]

I am mystified by the idea that a middleman is entitled to 50% of someone's comp because "they possess key information". Literally: mystified. What could your comment possibly mean? I'm a hiring manager. Help me understand how a recruiter could possibly earn 50% of someone's comp.

[chris_dcosta]

Firstly, I know my true market value, and have done for years - I always find a way to find out ;) and I haven't just got off the boat.

I also know what I can get away with making in this market, so what I'm making is not the issue per se, although this is below my normal rate, and I agreed to this on the grounds that were presented to me - which turned out to be completely false.

I work with many recruiters, not just this one. This one happened to have a job available at the time I was available...

Lastly, they point blank refused to negotiate, at all. Hence the need to fire them.

[terrykohla]

As long as you're happy with your rate and with the service provided by the recruiter I don't think it should matter.

Companies don't disclose their markup on their products or else people would be shocked and wouldn't buy them. It's business as usual.

I suspect my recruiter takes home 50% of my rate too, i.e my OT (1.5) rate. On the other hand I get lots of OT, hence he cashes in on my first 40h and I take home the rest. Nobody complains because we're all making good money. Customer is happy, recruiter is happy and we're happy.