How to hire a cafe helper

How to hire a cafe helper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cafe helper hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a cafe helper, 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 cafe helper's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cafe helpers 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.

   Here's a comparison of cafe helper salaries for various roles:

   Type of Cafe Helper	Description	Hourly rate
   Cafe Helper	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$9-16
   Bus Boy	The job of busboys is to assist other staff members at a restaurant by doing varied tasks. These include greeting customers, cleaning and resetting tables, and removing dishes after customers leave... Show more	$7-17
   Breakfast Attendant	A breakfast attendant is responsible for preparing breakfast meals and buffets for patrons at restaurants, hotels, and other dining establishments, ensuring an adequate supply of food and beverages. Their responsibilities entail greeting clients, escorting them to their seats, answering inquiries, taking requests, offering suggestions, processing payments, and resolving issues and concerns should there be any... Show more	$10-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Preparation
   • Cold Food
   • Customer Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Regulate the underground water systems pressure and consistency by performing HVAC relate maintenance with regular time monitoring.
   • Have some experience using deep fryers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cafe helpers' average salary in mississippi is 59% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cafe helpers earn 43% less than senior-level cafe helpers.
   • Certifications. A cafe helper 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 cafe helper's salary.

   Average cafe helper salary

   $12.92hourly

   $26,879 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cafe helper salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a cafe helper job description

   A good cafe helper 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 cafe helper job description:

   Cafe helper job description example

   Cafe Barista Helper Clerks provide excellent customer service at the drink center and deli counter. They demonstrate knowledge of coffee, baked goods and other deli products.
   
   PCC is committed to building teams that represent and celebrate our diverse communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!
   Address
   
   22621 Bothell Everett Highway
   
   Main Job Responsibilities
   
   * Provides excellent, professional customer service
   * Demonstrates knowledge of deli products, especially coffee and smoothies
   * Follows Drink Center department procedures
   * Cleaning in the drink center and production areas
   * Ensures department sanitation, cleanliness and safety standards are met
   * Becomes knowledgeable about deli products, specialty foods, baked goods and prepared foods
   * Counter service, when needed during business operating hours
   * Ensures department sanitation, cleanliness and safety standards are met
   
   Qualifications and Skills
   
   * Proven ability to perform excellent, professional customer service
   * Available to work a variety of shifts, including weekends
   * Barista experience preferred
   * Able to work in a fast paced kitchen environment
   * Ability to work independently and as part of a team
   * Basic math skills for measurement and scale functions
   * Excellent communication skills
   * Must be able to meet physical requirements of standing, twisting, bending, repetitive motion, and lifting 10-40lbs regularly
   * Must be at least 18 years of age
   
   Behaviors and Competencies
   
   PCC is a company where culture and values are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Everyone at PCC is expected to:
   
   * Collaborate
   * Demonstrate Kindness
   * Focus on the customer
   * Instill trust
   * Value diversity
   
   Comp Details
   
   $14.50 - $17.80 / hour, depending on experience
   
   Benefits and Perks
   
   * Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life Insurance
   * Paid vacation and sick time
   * 15% staff discount
   * Free membership in the co-op and access to all member benefits
   * Reduced rate on ORCA cards
   * Retirement plans
   * Free PCC Cooks classes plus access to the entire library of archived recorded classes
   * Education support and development opportunities
   * Access to employee assistance programs

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right cafe helper for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with cafe helpers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit cafe helpers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit cafe helpers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 cafe helper

   Once you've found the cafe helper 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new cafe helper 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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