How to hire a youth development extension agent

How to hire a youth development extension agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step youth development extension agent 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 development extension agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new youth development extension agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the youth development extension agent you need to hire. Certain youth development extension agent roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A youth development extension agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, youth development extension agents 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of youth development extension agents and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Youth Development Extension Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Youth Development Extension Agent		$11-47
   Home Advisor	A Home Advisor's task is to develop a business system infrastructure to provide a pathway for the growth of executives, mid-management, and staff for a management consulting company. Home Advisors adapt to various communication styles for troubleshooting, which depends on the customers' technology level... Show more	$13-86
   Extension Educator	Extension educators simplify educational programs for a targeted audience. They help educate the communities outside of a school's campus so that those communities can apply their new knowledge to their daily activities... Show more	$12-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Educational Programs
   • Youth Development Programs
   • Public Speaking
   • County Government
   • Educational Materials
   • County 4-H

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop, implement and evaluate educational programs relating to commercial and consumer horticulture IPM including field demonstration trials.
   • Design and implement community trash disposal, recycling and composting project.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your youth development extension agent job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A youth development extension agent salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, youth development extension agents' average salary in oklahoma is 63% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level youth development extension agents earn 76% less than senior-level youth development extension agents.
   • Certifications. A youth development extension agent with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a youth development extension agent's salary.

   Average youth development extension agent salary

   $49,437yearly

   $23.77 hourly rate

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   Entry-level youth development extension agent salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a youth development extension agent job description

   A youth development extension agent 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 development extension agent job description:

   Youth development extension agent job description example

   Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Boone County
   
   Location: Burlington, KY
   
   The Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development will work to provide leadership and management to the overall 4-H youth development programs for Boone County. Agent responsibilities include: 1) implementing a well-rounded program that develops youth through school and community-based programs; 2) recruiting and training volunteers and leaders to work with youth; 3) utilizing and/or developing councils, advisory groups, and committees in programing around issues involving leadership development, community involvement, local government, community services and other forms of community economic development.
   
   This position will serve all clientele ensuring that all youth and adults have an equal opportunity to participate in Extension programs regardless of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
   
   All agents in a county will support the dissemination of useful and practical information on subjects relating to Agriculture, Family Consumer Sciences, 4-H and Community and Rural Development as outlined in the KRS statutes 164.605 to 164.675.
   
   State law requires a national and state criminal background check and a letter from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services stating the employee is clear to hire based on no findings of substantiated child abuse or neglect found through a background check of child abuse and neglect records as a condition of employment or involvement in this program.
   
   Resume, cover letter and transcripts are required at time of application.
   
   The University of Kentucky considers the health, safety and well-being of our entire community to be a top priority. In alignment with this priority, all new hires must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption as a condition of employment. For areas that fall under the federal CMS mandate, start of employment cannot occur until two weeks after receiving the full COVID-19 vaccination series or upon obtaining an approved exemption. Only vaccines approved by the World Health Organization can be accepted.
   
   Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
   
   Demonstrated ability to communicate orally and in writing with groups, individuals and through mass media.
   
   Ability to use the computer for program delivery and management.
   
   Ability to visit clientele at sites throughout the county.
   
   Ability to plan and teach educational programs.
   
   Demonstrated leadership and ability to serve as a positive role model.
   
   Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes Preferred Education/Experience
   
   Master's Degree in Education, Agriculture, Family & Consumer Sciences, Social Science, or similar field of study.
   
   Deadline to Apply 11/01/2022 University Community of Inclusion
   
   The University of Kentucky is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
   
   As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.
   
   Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right youth development extension agent 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 development extension agent job on Zippia to find and recruit youth development extension agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with youth development extension agent candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 development extension agent

   Once you've found the youth development extension agent 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new youth development extension agent first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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