Then you proceed to parrot my exact figure back to me, as the top end salary of your 'great opportunity'?
And then you ask me to sign an 'exclusive right to represent' before you will tell me your client's name, or even their business domain?
You, sir, are an idiot!
HNers, feel free to pile on.
Thanks.
Feedback becomes relevant only when you start the hiring process. They thought you were able to do the job but ended the process. This means you weren't good enough.
First of all, this is their job: they are there to try and get a good deal. And so are you: in this respect, you speak the same language.
So this is a debate, or a haggle - not an intelligent chat, but an attempt to come out 'on top'.
And as such, your first question should be what the benefit is to you. If all this recruiter can get you is what you make: * you can say you make anything you want, because checking is at best legally dubious (but IANAL). * there is little point in agreeing to someone representing you (exclusively or not) if all they can do is what you did.
In terms of exclusive representation, the answer can only be no: how can I look for a job otherwise?
Take charge: they gain from your demands, they are just trying to make their other customer (the real recruiter) happy. They cannot go back to this entity and say "no, sounds like a good guy, I didn't negotiate", any more than you can afford to do that to yourself.
If they make you an offer you would accept, then consider taking it - as long as you would be satisfied, and think the move a good one, this is to your benefit (but don't undersell yourself).
We all get annoyed with the charade that goes around this - it is silly, and for the most part sort of degrading. Third party recruiters aren't really the ones to blaim: many managers will at least consider this, and it is pretty much HR's job.
Learn that what you want is as right as what they do - the difference is you are accountable to you, and they have their own reasons.
Or, in other words: if they are an idiot, you have better things to do with your time than lamenting that fact.