You're not maintaining good relations to ask a recruiter to give you $500.. you're communicating that you have entitlement issues. Here's a possible helpful adjustment, if a recruiter is serious about representing you, ask them to write up a contract guaranteeing that they will donate $500 from the placement fee to the charity of your choice. If they fail to do so within 30 days of your starting date, then they are liable for the entire fee generated from your placement to be sent to the same charity. By doing it this way, you still know if they are serious, it's not about you getting money, and it helps society.