Agent: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire an agent?

An agent will work hard to promote their clients and represent their interests in business deals. They will also make sure to negotiate deals that are both good for their agency and their client.

Contributions of a great agent:

• Scout and evaluate new talent
• Make deals for the client
• Can help promote the client and their work

What are the different types of agents?

Agents represent their client’s interests in many different areas. The most common industry is the entertainment industry, where an agent will work with actors and performers, though agents can work in a variety of different settings. The following is a list of different types of agents that can be found:

• Literary agent: Represent writers and help them promote books to the public and publishers.
• Actor agent: Represent actors in movies, TV and plays.
• Sports agent: Represent professional athletes.
• Recording artists agent: Represent musicians and help promote their albums.

Where to find an agent

To find the right agent for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Professional associations: there are a variety of different professional associations connected to the industry that agents can join. For example, if you are looking for a literary agent, you can look for the professional association that represents them.
• Referrals: asking friends and colleagues who work in the same industry as you is a great way to find an agent. That way, you know you are getting someone who has the experience you want in an agent.
• Networking events: attending industry events is another great way of finding an agent. Agents are often looking for new talent, so networking within their circles can be helpful when you are trying to find representation.
• Social Media: some agents will advertise when they are accepting new talent to represent. By following some agents on social media, you might be able to find the agent you are looking for.

Post your job online: Try posting your agent job on Indeed to find and attract quality agent candidates.

Skills to look for in a great agent

A great agent candidate will have the following skills and attributes, as well as work experience that reflects:

• excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• personable attitude; can talk with anyone
• ability to work as part of a team
• marketing and promotional skills
• good organizational and time management skills

Writing an agent job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified agent candidates. An agent job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your agent job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on agent jobs, according to Indeed data:

• agent
• talent agent
• acting agent
• agency
• talent representative

Interviewing agent candidates

Strong candidates for agent positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experience scouting new talent
• Experience negotiating contracts for talent
• Working as part of a team
• Experience with marketing and promotion
• Ability to build a trusting relationship with the client

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of interview questions for examples (with sample answers).