Ask HN: Why do Indian recruiters always want to knock $5.00 of my asking rate?

12 points·calltrak··7 comments

Why do Indian recruiters ask me if the rate is negotiable and offer me $5.00 off the asking rate, no matter what the asking rate is, (within the first minute of the call) ?

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Good question!

Maybe they are trying to show due diligence to a supervisor? Or maybe they are working from a script?

Or, maybe they are "passing you through" to another agency? They take the $5 off as part of their cut, then re-represent you at your full rate downstream? It might be their way to collect a headhunter fee. Normally a company pays a headhunter fee, but these cats may be working both ends.

Here's an idea: tell them you'd turn down the $5 cut, but would accept a $4.37 cut to the rate. Get them off their script or budget, and see what happens.

This may sound ridiculous.. but why don't you ask one? You'd be surprised what people will just tell you if you ask nicely and nonchalantly enough

I would just raise my rates. It's probably so they can show their boss they tried negotiating and got a special rate lower than the advertised one.

Everyone wants to feel like they got a good deal.

Just raise your rate before you talk to them, then you won't care.

"Not caring" and "Why" are quite different questions.

OK, I'll bite. Then why does it matter why "Indian recruiters always want to knock $5.00 of my asking rate?"

Knowing this, we can whole-heartedly put effort into the investigation.

If you notice a strange recurring phenomenon, is it not natural to want to investigate it? You shouldn't need to justify or ration curiosity.

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