How to hire a youth assistant

How to hire a youth assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step youth assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a youth assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new youth assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a youth assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A youth assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, youth assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents youth assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Youth Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Youth Assistant	Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.	$11-17
   Youth Advocate	Youth advocates are individuals who responsible for maintaining the human rights of youth while assisting them in developing their skills in all areas of life, such as education, health, employment, and relationships. These advocates are required to discuss youth development and involvement with various leaders in the community... Show more	$12-19

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Child Guidance
   • CPR
   • Community Services
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Youth Program
   • at-Risk Youth
   • Community Outreach
   • Role Model
   • Youth Sports
   • Teen
   • Fine Arts
   • Mental Health
   • Front Desk
   • Independent Living

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent compliance.
   • Assist in the development and oversee the youth ministry budget.
   • Develop individual education plans (IEP's) for students to address their educational needs inside a classroom environment.
   • Be aware and supply the resources for developing the youth ministry -program and participate in continuing education events and training opportunities.
   • Receive job and leadership training with exposure to environmental safety, recycling and horticulture.
   • Retain proper certifications for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, first aid, driver's license and insurance.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your youth assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A youth assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, youth assistants' average salary in montana is 44% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level youth assistants 35% less than senior-level youth assistants.
   • Certifications. A youth assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a youth assistant's salary.

   Average youth assistant salary

   $14.54hourly

   $30,242 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level youth assistant salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a youth assistant job description

   A youth assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a youth assistant job description:

   Youth assistant job description example

   Watch now to see how YV is helping kids live successfully! **Now offering a $6,000 sign-on payment!**
   Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services. If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges of life and striving to make a positive difference, then Youth Villages is the place for you. We are looking for people with a strong sense of purpose and focus to continually build confidence in yourself and our organization.
   Program Overview Youth Villages’ Residential Treatment programs serve children with emotional and behavioral problems. Our residential campuses provide the setting for an intensive treatment program that combines the unique balance of structure and freedom. This enables children and their families to identify, understand and cope with their individual needs and develop the skills necessary to succeed in less restrictive settings. We have three different types of facilities—Intensive Residential Centers, Open Campuses, and Group Homes. Located in Tennessee and Georgia, all of these facilities utilize the Re-Education of Emotionally Disturbed Children therapy model (Re-Ed). Position Overview The Behavioral Youth Counselor Assistant, also known as Teacher Counselor Assistant: Teaches children necessary life skills and provide for their physical daily care for youth in our residential facilities and group homes. Participates in client transports to various locations Participates in recreation therapy with children. Improves children’s behavior through coping skills and other therapeutic interventions. Additional Information Staff in this role typically work 3 week days and 1 weekend day in the afternoons & evenings, from approximately 1pm -10:30pm Schedule varies by campus and will be discussed in depth with a hiring manager Some campuses also require that TCAs spend the night once or twice a week on the campus and have additional responsibility for waking the residents and helping direct their morning routine. There are also campuses that do not require overnights. The supervision and treatment of youth requires prolonged periods of walking and standing and physical agility. May be required to run and climb flights of stairs. Must be able to participate in physical interventions with youth when necessary. Must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Will be required to complete Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and CPR training. Applicants are required to pass an agility and strength evaluation. Applicants must have valid driver license. Average Annual Salary $37000 - $44000 / year based on schedule and hours worked
   Requirements High School Diploma or GED required Experience working/volunteering with youth, corrections, or police work preferred Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
   Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
   Basic computer knowledge
   Ability to maintain a flexible schedule. Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement As of October 15, 2021, Youth Villages has required the COVID-19 vaccine for all employees, excluding those with an approved medical or religious exemption, as a condition of employment to help ensure the safety of all employees and youth and families served. Benefits Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
   401(k)
   2 weeks paid vacation
   12 paid sick days per year
   11 paid holidays Paid Parental Leave
   Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable) Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision Growth & development through continuous training Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right youth assistant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your youth assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit youth assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting youth assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new youth assistant

   Once you've found the youth assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new youth assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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