How to hire a cook and assistant manager

How to hire a cook and assistant manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cook and assistant manager hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the cook and assistant manager you need to hire. Certain cook and assistant manager 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a cook and assistant manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a cook and assistant manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents cook and assistant manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cook And Assistant Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Cook And Assistant Manager		$14-27
   Kitchen Supervisor	A kitchen supervisor is responsible for managing the overall kitchen operations, ensuring that the kitchen employees follow sanitary procedures while doing their high-quality and maximum productivity tasks. Kitchen supervisors manage inventories, checking the adequacy of food supplies and kitchen equipment, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors... Show more	$13-27
   Lead Cook	A lead cook, or lead line cook, is a professional restaurant employee who is in charge of supervising the chain of food preparation done by line cooks. Lead cooks work directly under head cooks or chefs who provide instructions in preparing meals... Show more	$12-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Customer Service
   • Bank Deposits
   • Food Service
   • Food Preparation
   • Food Orders
   • Inventory Control
   • Inventory Management
   • Customer Complaints
   • Safety Standards
   • Cash Control
   • Customer Orders
   • Customer Relations
   • POS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage servers and dishwashers on a daily basis making sure everything are always maintain accordingly.
   • Perform daily maintenance on fryers, grills, refrigerators, freezers, and other equipment.
   • Apply dynamic leadership expertise toward supporting kitchen manager in daily operations, and directing, guiding and motivating team members.
   • Approve an assortment of menu items available in the facility cafeteria, interpret and follow all applicable HACCP regulatory requirements.
   • Implement efficient service along with great taste of fresh, hot food of McDonalds to desiring customers as a crew member.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cook and assistant managers' average salary in west virginia is 40% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cook and assistant managers 47% less than senior-level cook and assistant managers.
   • Certifications. A cook and assistant manager 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 cook and assistant manager's salary.

   Average cook and assistant manager salary

   $41,632yearly

   $20.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cook and assistant manager salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a cook and assistant manager job description

   A cook and assistant manager 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 cook and assistant manager job description:

   Cook and assistant manager job description example

   NOW TRENDING: Careers at SKECHERS.
   
   Join the thousands of innovators, advocates and forces who are making an impact every day at one of the biggest footwear brands in the world. Whether you love to connect with consumers on the retail floor or want to drive our award-winning powerhouse in new directions, the SKECHERS team is the place to be. Learn more about our brand at about.skechers.com
   
   The Assistant Manager will effectively assist in the supervision and management of all restaurant operations, as well as contributing to customer satisfaction and acquisition goals. They will be responsible for following all standard policies and procedures within their assigned department.
   
   * Must have valid Riverside County Food Handlers Card
   * Must have experience with cooking and working in a restaurant environment
   * Ability to cook from scratch
   * Knife skills
   * 5+ year(s) experience in a restaurant or equivalent
   * Manage and operate the POS Systems.
   * Create and maintain quality menu items for the café.
   * Optimize profits by controlling food cost, production, labor, and through the management of budgets.
   * Increase sales through food quality, speed of service and accurately prepared food.
   * Must be able to select, coach and develop team members.
   * Ability to build and maintain customer and vendor relationships.
   * Make regular inspections of kitchen and quality of food.
   * Monitor inventory.
   * Estimate food requirements and food pricing.
   * Rectify arising problem or complaints utilizing the appropriate resources, Human Resources.
   * Ensure that high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and safety of employees combined are always maintained throughout the kitchen.
   * Ensure compliance with food handling and sanitation standards.
   * Ability to maintain kitchen equipment.
   * Ensure all kitchen employees maintain required food handling and sanitation certifications.
   * Partner with Facilities on operation changes, concerns, etc., for further guidance/assistance.
   * Partner with Human Resources on all candidate recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations for instruction/assistance.
   * Perform other general duties as required
   * Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
   * Must take the initiative to excel
   * Must possess organizational skills
   * Integrity and good work habits required
   * Must have a positive attitude as well as service oriented
   * Good oral and written communication skills
   * Ability to follow the directives of Director/Supervisor
   * Must be able to accept constructive criticism when necessary
   * Must have the willingness and desire to learn
   * Detail oriented
   * Must work safe and professional at all times
   * Ability to work as a team member
   * Ability to keep the department OSHA Compliant
   * Knowledge of all company policies and procedures, e.g., safety
   * Ability to contribute hands on
   * PC, MS Office experience required
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.
   
   PHYSICAL DEMANDS
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, stoop, and kneel. The employee is occasionally required to sit for long period of times.
   
   All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cook and assistant managers 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 cook and assistant manager job on Zippia to find and recruit cook and assistant manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cook and assistant managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 cook and assistant manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect cook and assistant manager 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 cook and assistant manager 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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