Youth Development Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of youth development specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for youth development specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of youth development specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for youth development specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Youth Development Specialists?
Do youth development specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do youth development specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for youth development specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Youth Development Specialists
Jobs Postings for Youth Development Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 59,507 (47%)
- No Education Listed: 30,013 (24%)
- High School or GED: 21,357 (17%)
- Master's degree: 12,951 (10%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,529 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of youth development specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 47% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 17% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Youth Development Specialists
Jobs Postings for Youth Development Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 16,022 (24%)
- 2-3 Years: 30,958 (46%)
- 4-6 Years: 15,859 (23%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,721 (4%)
- 10+ Years: 2,359 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for youth development specialists. In 46% of job postings for Youth Development Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 23% of job postings for youth development specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Youth Development Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for youth development specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective youth development specialists, and in 2023 a total of 18,423 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective youth development specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Youth Development Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Youth Development Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Human Resources Development. | 1,731 |
| Executive/Career Coaching. | 90 |
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Degree Options for Youth Development Specialists
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- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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What Skills Do Youth Development Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by youth development specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for youth development specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Youth Development Specialists
Based on 112,395 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Youth Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Youth Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
Based on 112,395 job postings related to youth development specialists, process improvement was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 13% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for merchandising, business process, performance management, community outreach and retail operations were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for youth development specialists, followed by management, leadership, customer service, sales and teaching.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
| Retail Operations | 11,798 | 10% |
| Visual Merchandising | 11,578 | 10% |
| Profit And Loss (P&L) Management | 11,224 | 10% |
| Project Management | 11,102 | 10% |
| Learning Management Systems | 10,151 | 9% |
| Adult Education | 8,773 | 8% |
| Marketing | 8,522 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 8,361 | 7% |
| Instructional Design | 7,468 | 7% |
| Technical Training | 7,420 | 7% |
| Auditing | 6,988 | 6% |
| Business Operations | 5,498 | 5% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 5,480 | 5% |
| Workflow Management | 4,653 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 4,357 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
| Teaching | 24,914 | 22% |
| Operations | 23,878 | 21% |
| Writing | 20,965 | 19% |
| Mentorship | 18,707 | 17% |
| Presentations | 18,581 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 18,573 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,411 | 15% |
| Planning | 16,153 | 14% |
| Training And Development | 15,983 | 14% |
| Accountability | 15,876 | 14% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,174 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 15,094 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 14,286 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 14,064 | 13% |
| Adaptability | 13,482 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about youth development specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for youth development specialists.
What do youth development specialists do?
How much do youth development specialists make?
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