For me personally I just look in the mirror.

Ask questions.  Listen carefully.  Be open/available to connections. 

Mostly through my trusted network of agents across the country.

Referral agent? Agent to recruit for your brokerage? Agent for a buyer? Agent for a seller? I'm not sure what agent you're looking for, Don!

 I'm not sure I understand this question since you are a Realtor. 85% of my business is repeat and referral so I guess my clients believe I'm the right agent.

 Ask friends and relatives who have recently used an agent for a possible referral. Search the internet...Yelp, Zillow reviews, etc.

 Don, I see your profile includes BROKER.

That leads me to ASSUME you are in a recruiting frame-of-mind and know the true cost of finding a time-hole.

So....here goes...

#1. look to see if the lights are on. 
Ask the question, "If your broker was willing to spend $2,500 a year to help your business, where would you want that money spent?" If the response includes coffee maker or copier, they are a few lumens short of a flicker.

#2. the life examined
The candidate agent seated across from you will respond to your question which sounds like 'What do you bring of real value into a real estate transaction for those who hire you?"  If you hear real estate agent gobbly-gook, this is an agent in search of a clue. They are parroting what they have heard and have done nothing to examine their value. They are very like parrotting the 'sweet words' they heard from their broker.

#3. the teacher will come when the student is ready
The RIGHT agent will open and walk through the door recognized as opportunity. The sweet words emanating from the lips of most broker is NOT opportunity, it is predation.  HOWEVER, if the broker examines the candidates resources, skills and plan, the broker can suggest there exists a untapped vertical market that will prove a catalyst to greater things. If the RIGHT agent does not open and walk through the door....this is a time-hole, a student not ready for instruction.

I'm doing this now...checking agents' digital footprint to see what value they would bring to my needs and than interview two of them by phone, that's all I need.

Assuming I needed one, I'd interview them. 

Face to face interviews and a review of recent results.

Look for a guy named Bob Crane

Did not get it. 

Who is looking for agent? 

What for I need a right agent?

Richard Weeks has the correct answer.  

insurance agent? referral agent? agent to hire for personal use?  Question too open ended for me to give a good answer.

Call me of course.  

I'm with Richard Weeks 

Agent for what? 

 To refer business to?

Given that you are a broker looking to recruit agents, you need to see if their core values are a match to yours.  A

contact a few who have the best visibility....interview them.... if you like one, you win...

There is a whole website dedicated to real estate namely AR.

I am the right REALTOR.

Research when I need to find one

I look in the mirror.

I am lucky, I am the right agent.

Best way for laypeople would be word of mouth.

Right agent for what?????

Your question is a bit broad and a simple answer is not possible.

Ask questions and have patience

I like to say I am the right agent. When i need an agent to refer to in another state, i look right here on Active Rain  and if i cant find what i need, i ask the Rainers

For referrals ?  I talk to the Sales Mngr.

We agents know the answer but how would a principal? Dautning this is!

Referral.