20+ Difference Between Agent And Manager

We all have heard the terms Agent and Manager a zillion times, but the line of difference between these two often gets lost, especially when there are various similarities among them. Agent and Manager are both focused on guiding you in the best ways possible for your career.

The primary difference between an Agent and a Manager is that the former is concerned with finding you an income source. In contrast, the latter is concerned with guiding you regarding your overall career.

Comparison Between an Agent and A Manager

Parameter	Agent	Manager
Meaning and area of focus	It refers to a professional whose primary focus is to find employment opportunities for their client and help them find a stable source of income. Unlike Managers, these people tend to focus only on a single part of their client’s career, i.e., employment. These professionals are also referred to as Talent Agents.	It refers to a professional focusing on shaping their client’s overall career. Unlike Agents, these professionals do not focus only on a single part of their client’s focus but on every aspect of their client’s career, such as employment, skills, talent, knowledge, etc. These professionals are also known as Talent Managers.
Number of clients	These people deal with more clients compared to the number of clients a Manager deals with because these people do not have to focus on every aspect of their client’s career, instead only on the employment area. And thus, it becomes easier to engage with a greater number of clients.	These people deal with fewer clients than the clients of an Agent because they have to look after every aspect of their client’s careers and not just a single part of it. Thus, to do so, they can not engage with many clients else the quality of their service would be affected.
Contact with clients	These professionals get in touch with their clients less frequently than Managers as these people only have to focus on their client’s employment category of their career, and that does not give rise to the need for frequent communication.	These professionals have to get in touch with their clients regularly as these people focus on every aspect of their client’s careers, whether it’s employment, skills, knowledge, etc., which requires frequent interaction and not just only a single part of their client’s careers.
Orientation	These professionals are present-oriented, mainly focusing on finding their clients’ employment opportunities and stable income sources. Their main area of focus is not what their clients would be doing tomorrow but rather what they are doing today.	These professionals happen to be more future-oriented, but that does not mean they are not present-oriented. It is primarily because these people have to look after their client’s careers in every aspect so that they do not struggle in the future but rather outsmart everyone.
Responsibilities	Helping clients find a stable source of income, constantly letting clients know about various employment opportunities, scheduling interviews with employers, negotiating contracts and agreements on clients’ behalf, availing information from auditions and interviews, etc.	Finding employment opportunities for clients, leading, guiding, and motivating them; using marketing strategies and tactics to help clients grow in their respective fields; enhancing clients’ skills and talents; correcting them in contracts and agreements, getting in touch with employers to schedule interviews or auditions, etc.
License and certification	These professionals always happen to be licensed and certified, meaning a governing body governs them. It should be noted that this may vary from region to region and person to person.	Typically, these professionals are not certified and licensed, meaning any governing body does not govern them. However, it may vary from region to region and person to person.
Acting on the client’s behalf	These people have the liberty to act on their client’s behalf to negotiate contracts and agreements because these people tend to be licensed and certified professionals.	These people do not have the authority or power to negotiate contracts and agreements on their client’s behalf as they are not licensed or certified individuals.
Commission	These people charge less commission than what Managers charge as these people focus only on the part of the client’s career and get to communicate with them less than Managers. These people are estimated to charge around 10 percent of the earnings generated to their clients from their help.	These people charge more commission than Agents as they focus on every aspect of their client’s careers and devote more time to them than Agents. Roughly these people are estimated to charge 15 to 20 percent of the income earned with their help as commission.
Place of work	These individuals must work from their office, but it differs from region to region.	These individuals don’t need to work from the office. They can work from anywhere. However, it may differ from region to region.
Personal matters	These professionals do not get involved with their client’s matters as they only look after a single part of their client’s careers.	Unlike Agents, these people have no problem helping their clients in their matters as they have to shape and guide them.

Major Differences Between an Agent and A Manager

Who Exactly Is an Agent?

It refers to a licensed and certified professional whose main job is to provide employment opportunities and a source of income to their clients.

These people put their entire focus on a single area, i.e., the employment of their clients, and do not tend to dive into other major areas of career growth such as skills, talent, personal affairs, etc.

Due to this reason, the contact between an Agent and his client also stays limited. These individuals’ key feature is that they can act on their client’s behalf in their absence because they are licensed and certified.

Agent Key Differences

It can be best described as someone primarily focusing on getting you employed. These individuals emphasize getting their clients an income source first. Unlike Managers, these people do not shape the overall career of their clients.
Since these people put their primary focus on getting their clients employment first; thus, people do not communicate regularly with their clients. They only get in touch with their clients when they have to let them know about jobs and related stuff.
A significant characteristic of these individuals that help differentiate them from Managers is that they are typically licensed, certified individuals and regulated by some legal authorities.
Since these people happen to be certified and licensed; thus, these people have the authority to make decisions or negotiate a contract for their clients on their behalf in their absence.
Another attribute of these individuals is that they typically never get caught up in their client’s matters. Their interest in their clients is limited to their career and employment matters.

Who Exactly Is a Manager?

It refers to an individual whose primary responsibility is to frame the overall career of their clients and shape them for the future. These people tend to put their supreme focus on every aspect of their client’s career, and not just on their employment aspect, due to which there always is a great communication that happens routinely between them and their clients.

However, it should be noted that these people do not tend to be certified or licensed professionals meaning any governing body does not govern them, and thus, they can not act on behalf of their clients.

Manager Key Differences

It can be best described as a person whose primary focus is to guide their clients in every way possible for their careers. These individuals happen to focus on everything, including their clients’ employment matters, skills, talent, etc. In short, it can be said that these people tend to focus on every aspect of their client’s careers.
These people contact their clients frequently or regularly as their primary focus is not just to get their clients employment. These people must focus on every area of their client’s careers, which demands regular communication.
Unlike Agents, these people usually do not happen to be licensed or certified individuals meaning they are generally not regulated by any legal authority.
These people do not have any power or authority to make decisions on behalf of their client in case of their absence as these people are not allowed to do so, considering they are not licensed individuals.
Since these people have to take care of their clients in every area of their career; thus it may mean these individuals would have to get in touch with their clients matters.

Contrast Between An Agent and A Manager

Meaning and Area of Focus

Agent – It can be best described as a professional whose prime focus is finding employment opportunities for their clients and helping them have a good source of income.

Unlike Managers, these professionals generally do not focus on other areas of clients’ careers, such as their skills, knowledge, talent, motivation, etc.

These people do revolve around clients’ careers; however, in sub-category employment. Since these professionals revolve around their client’s careers; thus, they are also referred to as Talent Agents.

Manager – It can be best described as a professional whose focus is not just on a single aspect of their client’s career; instead, these people tend to focus on every aspect of their career, whether its employment issues, their skills, talents, or knowledge part and thus, these people revolve around their client’s career in every aspect. These people are also referred to as Talent Managers.

Number of Clients

Agent – Compared to Managers, these professionals usually take more clients as they generally do not have to care for their clients’ careers in every aspect.

Since these professionals only have to take care of the employment part; thus, they can engage with several clients.

Manager – These professionals generally do not take many clients as they focus on every aspect of their client’s career, not just one part of their career- as Agents do. Due to this reason, they can not take many clients with them else the quality of their service would be affected.

Contact with Clients

Agent – Since these professionals have to focus on the part of their client’s career, thus these professionals typically do not have to get in touch with their clients frequently. Communication between these two parties happens only when information about employment opportunities must be shared.

Manager – Since these professionals focus on every aspect of their client’s careers, such as employment, skills, talent, knowledge, etc., thus; they have to get in touch with them regularly and guide them in the respective aspects.

Orientation

Agent – Another major difference distinguishing these professionals from Managers is that they are known for focusing on the present part of their client’s careers.

These people generally care about ensuring that their clients have a good source of income in the present time rather than shaping them for the future for upcoming employment opportunities. Thus, it can be said that these people happen to be present-oriented.

Manager – These people not only focus on the present part of their client’s careers but also focus on their future as these people get to shape their client’s careers in every aspect possible, they are thus responsible for shaping them in the best way possible for their upcoming future so that they stand strong. Hence, these people can be said to be future and present-oriented.

Responsibilities

Agent – The primary responsibilities of these professionals include helping clients find a stable source of income, constantly letting clients know about various employment opportunities, scheduling interviews with employers, negotiating contracts and agreements on clients’ behalf, availing information from auditions and interviews, etc.

Manager – The primary responsibilities of these professionals include finding employment opportunities for clients, leading, guiding, and motivating them; using marketing strategies and tactics to help clients grow in their respective fields; enhancing clients’ skills and talents, correcting them in contracts and agreements, getting in touch with employers to schedule interviews or auditions, etc.

License And Certification

Agent – Mostly, all of these professionals happen to be certified and licensed professionals, and thus they are always governed by some governing body. However, it may vary from region to region.

Manager – Unlike Agents, these professionals are generally not certified and licensed, meaning any governing body does not govern them.

Acting on The Client’s Behalf

Agent – The key characteristic of these professionals that become the primary difference between them and a Manager is that they tend to have the authority and power to act on their client’s behalf to negotiate contracts and agreements. This is so because these professionals are licensed and certified individuals.

Manager – Unlike Agents, These professionals do not have any authority to act on behalf of their clients to negotiate contracts and agreements as these professionals are not licensed and certified in most cases.

Commission

Agent – These people are associated with charging lower fees or commissions than the commission charged by Managers as these professionals focus only on one part of their client’s career, i.e., employment opportunities, and have less communication with them than Managers.

Approximately these professionals happen to charge ten percent of income earned to their clients with their help as a commission.

Manager – These people charge higher fees or commissions than Agents charge because these professionals have to focus on every aspect of their client’s careers and, thus, give more time to their clients.

On average, these people typically charge around 15 to 20 percent of the earnings generated to clients through their help as commission.

Place of Work

Agent – Another significant feature of these professionals is that they always have to work through their office. However, it may vary from person to person and region to region.

Manager – It is not mandatory for these individuals to always work from their office; they can work from anywhere they are comfortable with. Although, it can vary from person to person and region to region.

Personal Matters

Agent – These professionals do not like to be in between their client’s matters and problems as these people are only entitled to help them find employment opportunities and get a good source of income.

Manager – Since these professionals have to help their clients in every aspect of their career and guide and help them from anything that blocks the way of their success; thus, these people have no problem helping or discussing their clients’ matters and problems.

Conclusion

People often get confused when they hear Agents and Managers and end up using the terms interchangeably. Agents and Managers both are professionals that help in shaping people’s careers. Both, at times, use the prefix “Talent.”

The significant difference between an Agent and a Manger is that the former are licensed professionals who focus on the employment aspect of people’s careers, while the latter are unlicensed professionals who focus on every aspect of their client’s career.

Frequently Asked Questions (faQs)

Q1. What do Agents and Managers focus on?

The former is associated with focusing on a single aspect of their client’s career, i.e., the employment part. On the other hand, the latter does not focus on a single aspect of their client’s career but rather focuses on every aspect of their client’s career.

Q2. Why do Managers deal with a small number of clients while Agents do not?

The former deals with a small number of clients as they have to focus or take care of their client’s careers in every aspect, and to do so, they deal with fewer clients. However, the latter has to focus only on the part of their client’s career; thus, they deal with more clients.

Q3. Why are Agents known to be present-oriented?

These professionals happen to be present-oriented as their main concern is providing their clients with employment opportunities and generating an income source in the present time. They typically are not concerned with shaping their career for future employment opportunities.

Q4. Why are Managers known to be future-oriented?

These professionals tend to be future-oriented as they shape and guide their clients’ careers so that they do not struggle in the future but rather outsmart everyone else. Their main concern is not to find them an income source but to guide and prepare them for the future.

Q5. What are the significant differences between an Agent and a Manager?

The significant differences between an Agent and a Manager are that the former are licensed professionals who focus on the employment area of their client’s career, charge less, and have the liberty to act on their client’s behalf, whereas the latter focus on every area of their client’s career, charge more and can not act on their client’s behalf.

Q6. What are the commission rates of Agents and Managers?

The former charges less than the latter. The former typically charges around 10 percent, and the latter charge around 15 to 20 percent of the income generated from their help.