Know what the job entails. Sports agents handle athletes' employment with a team and endorsements with corporations in exchange for a small percentage of the athlete's salary. The agent's role is to help manage the athlete's career by negotiating the best deals possible for the athlete.
Agents are responsible for presenting their clients with the options available to them and using their expertise in the field to help guide the clients toward the best or most lucrative choices.
Agents market their clients as candidates for teams or company endorsements. A background in marketing and communications is helpful for this purpose.
Agents act as their clients' representative in dealings with team owners, coaches, and executives. In order to broker deals effectively, they must understand legal language in contracts and be aware of rules and regulations that apply to the client in a given situation.
Some agents work as individuals or start their own agencies, while others work for large sports agencies.