We recently had a client (i.e. the company) shorten a contract offer from an anticipated three months back to one month.
Rather frustrating when that happens. It's a license for the deal to die - we appreciate there's a massive difference between an offer of 4 weeks and 13, and candidates understandably don't like it. We also make less money out of a short contract (here's how recruitment fees work). And if the candidate doesn't accept the offer we don't make a cent.
And we do counsel clients not to go down this path. Same with offering a lower salary that we put candidates forward at. It's got a high chance of ending badly. We call this low balling.
Thing is, low ball offers have a nasty habit of working. Some people falsely jack up their asking price when they would actually be happy with a lower number. Hence clients often try to low ball/drive a hard bargain (be it on dollars, contract duration, etc).
So we don't like it - we'd far rather companies offer the expected dollars and tenures - but it quite often it works out. And the client is paying the bill and is in the driver's seat (paying the salary or daily rate), so often insist we go down this path of their behalf.
So it's kind of annoying when the candidate blows up and holds us responsible. We'd much prefer the company just offered what you'd requested and we had discussed with them. That way we get deals done & get paid for our work. We don't submit candidates that aren't within the budget they specify in the first place.
So please keep this in mind when a low ball offer comes your way via a recruiter.
