How To Spot A Good Education Agent?

Student recruitment may be fun, but the truth is, a good education agent can do real miracles with your institution. The agency is the sales department that you truly need in order to popularize and get a stream of new international or local students. The agents have their expertise in the field, and they are trying to sell their product: educational and language courses, university degrees, primary or high school education, boarding schools or summer camps. A lot of agents approach the educators, showing them their willingness to help in finding the perfect balance in their student body, but as an international educator, you should first learn how to spot a good education agent first.

So, what traits should you consider when searching for the right Agent? Here are some tips that will help you recognise the best ones in the industry:

1. Clear communication

Communicating right and in a clear way is one of the most important aspects when recruiting students. You need an agent that is able to talk in a language that the students understand and influence them and their parents to make the right decision. You will have to select an agency that is sharp and transparent in all of its activities and goals. 

2. Empathetic education agent

This may sound a little bit odd, but a really talented agent should be able to create a relaxed atmosphere for the people that he/she is meeting with. A quiet and withdrawn agent is probably not going to stimulate a student that is more outgoing and energetic, and an agent who is more boisterous can be intimidating to a more quiet and reserved student. An agent should be able to match and mimic the emotional level of the person he is dealing with.  

3. Smiles and Happiness

A smiling and enthusiastic attitude combined with the desire to help is a good proof that will show if the agent is genuinely interested in doing the best they can to assist you or he is just not interested. If you get the feeling that the agent is not eager to help you, do you best to avoid him or her. 

4. Inquisitive

The best way to ensure the right matching of institutions and students is to continually ask questions that would help understand the specifics of the needs and desires. This will help them make the appropriate judgements and recommendations with you in mind.

5. Patience and Understanding 

Taking the right decision may be a difficult task and it may demand more time than expected. It is important that your agent understands this and does not make any attempts to rush you or pressure you. An agent is responsible to get in contact with you after your meeting to offer further assistance or advice, but there is a fine line between being responsive and polite and being aggressive and pushy. A really good agent should leave you feeling helped and assisted, not intimidated.

6. Trusted by other educators

And last, but not least you have the right to know if your agent is trustworthy. Usually, this is very hard to tell and you have to dig deeper. Try to find answers to these questions: Does the agent work in an ethical way? Do you know if they are able to directly contact students? How many students have they successfully recruited in the past?

Tell us about your experience with education agents! What would make you choose one over another? Share with us, we would love to hear from you!