A talent scout is an entertainment, sports, or even business professional, charged with bringing new talent into a field or organization. In addition to having a clear understanding of what his or her employer is seeking, a person trying to become a talent scout must have a great eye for potential and be able to easily identify valuable recruits. Choosing to become a talent scout allows a person to serve as a mentor to young athletes, performers, and job seekers, and many establish long-standing relationships with those whose careers they have affected.
Sports organizations, record labels, casting agencies, and businesses usually need a fresh influx of clients and workers on a regular basis. In sports, college teams and professional organizations must constantly be on the lookout for recruits to his or her school or company, as changes to team rosters occur on a yearly basis. Entertainment companies are constantly on the lookout for emerging talent to sign, in order to expand their client base and improve their reputation. Businesses seeking to expand or improve may also need people in the field to hunt out potential workers with excellent skills and reputations. For all these organizations, a talent scout can serve as the eyes and ears of the recruitment program.
One of the facets of choosing to become a talent scout includes a willingness to travel frequently in order to closely examine potential recruits. Depending on the field, this travel may be local, countrywide, or even international. In sports and entertainment, scouts will want to see the potential recruits in action, whether acting in a regional production, performing in a smokey coffee house, or catching touchdowns in the state championships. A scout must be willing and able to travel frequently, so a flexible lifestyle and a love of travel are of great benefit for a person planning to become a talent scout.
A talent scout must have a wide set of skills; in addition to having a knack for spotting potential, he or she must also possess considerable sales and negotiating skills. Since there is limited talent and a large number of organizations seeking it, a good candidate to become a talent scout is a person that can persuade bright stars to choose his or her organization over all the others. Scouts must often work closely with both the company and the talent to determine what the recruit is looking for and if a deal can be made that will bring him or her to the scout's company, team, or organization.
There is no set path to become a talent scout, but many individuals who work in the scouting field have a deep inside knowledge of the world they are in. Some are former recruits themselves, who had a desire to help foster new talent and serve as mentors. Choosing to become a talent scout can be a rich and rewarding career for those who love to find potential stars and help begin their careers.
