How to hire a cadet

How to hire a cadet, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cadet hiring guide:

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

What does a cadet do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cadet job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cadet for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A cadet's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cadets 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 cadet salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cadet	Description	Hourly rate
   Cadet	Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country’s many inland waterways.	$12-30
   Bosun	A bosun is responsible for monitoring the deck crew operations, delegating tasks, and inspecting the ship's equipment and facilities to ensure the safety and security of the premises. Bosuns must have excellent technical and mechanical skills to manage the deck's conditions, analyzing weather inconsistencies and geographical positioning... Show more	$10-58
   Able Bodied Seaman	An able-bodied seaman is responsible for overseeing the deck operations on a ship, ensuring the safe movement and navigation of the vessel, watchstanding, and helping in loading and unloading of materials. Able-bodied seamen also inspect the stability and efficiency of deck equipment and ship's engine, scheduling regular maintenance and repairs to avoid potential hazards and delays in the operations... Show more	$10-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Veterans
   • Public Safety
   • Cadets
   • Emergency Calls
   • Law Enforcement
   • CPR
   • ROTC
   • Physical Training
   • Engine Room
   • Physical Fitness
   • Leadership
   • GPA
   • Platoon

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the team as defensive captain to win the national championship of the most elite football level in Mexico.
   • Participate in leadership development program in BYU-Idaho ROTC while completing undergraduate studies.
   • Demonstrate strong teamwork, and critical thinking in order to reach a common goal with fellow cadets.
   • Participate in ROTC recruiting events and communicate effectively to prospective cadets and parents.
   • Participate in a leadership military preparatory program instilling core values into young cadets.
   • Perform as ROTC logistics officer responsible for accountability and maintenance of cadet equipment.

   More cadet duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cadets' average salary in colorado is 48% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cadets 59% less than senior-level cadets.
   • Certifications. A cadet 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 cadet's salary.

   Average cadet salary

   $41,427yearly

   $19.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cadet salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average cadet salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$64,058	$31
   2	Illinois	$52,040	$25
   3	Michigan	$44,787	$22
   4	North Carolina	$44,646	$21
   5	Washington	$42,731	$21
   6	Texas	$42,562	$20
   7	Arizona	$41,600	$20
   8	California	$41,354	$20
   9	Florida	$39,501	$19
   10	Indiana	$39,041	$19
   11	Tennessee	$38,287	$18
   12	New Mexico	$38,179	$18
   13	Oklahoma	$36,370	$17
   14	Utah	$34,140	$16

   Average cadet salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of Houston-Clear Lake	$72,219	$34.72
   2	Advantage Sales & Marketing	$42,357	$20.36
   3	Carnival Cruise Line	$41,872	$20.13
   4	Advantage Solutions	$41,481	$19.94
   5	Centerline Logistics	$40,046	$19.25	1
   6	City of Round Rock	$39,722	$19.10
   7	The GEO Group	$38,029	$18.28	4
   8	AMIkids	$37,851	$18.20
   9	Best Buy	$37,658	$18.10
   10	Tennessee Valley Authority	$36,795	$17.69
   11	PSA Airlines	$36,615	$17.60	1
   12	Mesa Airlines	$35,213	$16.93
   13	Kelly Services	$35,055	$16.85
   14	Adams County Government Center	$34,296	$16.49
   15	Escambia County Sheriff's Office	$33,081	$15.90
   16	Indiana State Police	$31,312	$15.05
   17	St. Clair County Community Mental Health	$28,258	$13.59

4. Writing a cadet job description

   A good cadet job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cadet job description:

   Cadet job description example

   The Cadet travels via Geekmobile from the precinct to our client's home and assists with the delivery and basic installation of technology products alongside a seasoned Agent. They provide our clients service that exceeds expectations by handling appointments with care, asking the right questions to enhance the client experience, and providing prompt follow up of recommendations as well as solutions. This is a great opportunity to build a career with Geek Squad by learning all about our products and services. It offers the chance to increase skills through training and on-the-job opportunities.
   
   At Best Buy, we are obsessed with building long term relationships with our customers. Every team member should feel empowered to deliver a world-class and unique experience based on what each customer needs.
   Key Responsibilities
   
   * Helps drive a positive customer experience by building relationships, exhibiting empathy, and providing solutions to their needs.
   
   * Performs a variety of fulfillment duties for clients in their homes including delivery, installation, and networking with a primary focus on Home Theater technology.
   
   * Maintains phone and in-person contact with clients to reveal diagnostic discoveries and make recommendations for protecting their devices.
   
   * Provides timely updates to the client and store precincts.
   
   * Responsibly manages inventory and Geekmobile maintenance.
   
   * Provides feedback and training to store teams as well as assists with in-store stock repairs.
   
   * Supports Geek Squad efforts to protect the world one device at a time.
   
   Basic Qualifications
   
   * Current, valid driver's license
   
   * Have and maintain a driving record which meets Best Buy safety standards (e.g. minimal number of violations/accidents, etc.)
   
   * Ability to consistently lift/carry/maneuver products weighing 75lbs+ individually, or 150lbs+ as a team (support tools such as a harness, dolly, and/or lift may be provided as applicable for the type of work being performed)
   
   * Be at least 21 years of age
   
   * Acquire and maintain any state or local licensing, as required, within 90 days of hire
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   * Previous experience actively using and learning about technology products
   
   * Previous experience in sales, delivery, installation, and/or repair
   
   * Previous experience in Customer Service

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cadets for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting cadets 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 cadet

   Once you've decided on a perfect cadet candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a cadet?