What Is the Job Description of a Talent Manager?

<h3 id="section---WhatDoesATalentManagerDo">What Does a Talent Manager Do?</h3> <p>In the simplest of terms, the job of a talent manager is to organize and advance the career of a talented individual. The clients of a talent manager may include actors, artists, musicians, or athletes. You are responsible for seeking out job opportunities for clients as well as representing your clients' interests during the negotiation of contracts. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutTalentManagers">Important Facts About Talent Managers</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> On-the-Job Training </td><td> None</td></tr> <tr><td> Professional Certifications </td><td> Talent Management Certified Professional (TMCP), Integrated Talent Management Certificate, Talent Acquisition Strategist (TAS)</td></tr> <tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Primarily in the office with significant time spent traveling to meetings and appointments</td></tr> <tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Advertising managers, promotions managers, public relations specialists, fundraising managers, copywriters, <a href="http://learn.org/articles/Insurance_Agent_5_Steps_to_Becoming_an_Insurance_Agent.html">insurance sales agents</a></td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---TalentManagerJobDescriptionAndResponsibilities">Talent Manager Job Description and Responsibilities</h3> <p>As a talent manager, you most likely perform a wide variety of tasks for many different kinds of clients. Your day-to-day activities might include things such as: </p> <ul><li>Setting up meetings with clients or possible employers </li><li>Assessing the talent of prospective clients </li><li>Arranging performances or publicity events on behalf of clients </li><li>Making travel arrangements </li><li>Creating and implementing advertising strategies </li><li>Handling accounting matters </li><li>Establishing professional relationships with people and organizations </li></ul><h3 id="section---HowToBecomeATalentManager">How to Become a Talent Manager</h3> <p>If you want to be a talent manager, you will probably need a four-year undergraduate degree in a field such as accounting, business, marketing, or a related industry. Accounting knowledge is necessary in order to be familiar with the financial aspect of your clients' careers. Business skills are necessary in order to understand how your clients should engage with potential employers, along with how to run the operations and processes of the day-to-day talent management work. Because your primary responsibility is the promotion of your clients, it is also helpful to have knowledge of marketing strategies. </p> <p>Talent managers also need a capacity for creative thinking and a strong sense of confidence in communicating with a variety of different types of people. As a talent manager, you will need to keep updated on industry trends in order to advise clients and to create effective strategies for promoting their careers. You may also need at least a cursory knowledge of the type of art your client produces or takes part in. For example, if you represent mostly actors, it would be beneficial to know how a client might improve their craft to increase their chances of landing a lucrative role. If you work primarily with athletes as a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Sports_Agent_5_Steps_to_Becoming_a_Sports_Agent.html">sports agent</a>, you will need to know the skills and abilities that professional sports teams are looking for. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryInformationAndJobOutlook">Salary Information and Job Outlook</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes was reported to be $66,040 in May 2018. Also according to the BLS, the employment of such agents and managers is projected to grow by 10% between the years 2018 and 2028, which is faster than average compared to general employment trends across all industries.</p>