How to hire a cook and waitress/waiter

How to hire a cook and waitress/waiter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cook and waitress/waiter 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 waitress/waiter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cook and waitress/waiter
• 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 waitress/waiter you need to hire. Certain cook and waitress/waiter 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

   Hiring the perfect cook and waitress/waiter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents cook and waitress/waiter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Description	Hourly rate
   Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	$9-17
   Banquet Server	A banquet server is responsible for assisting guests in food catering events. Banquet servers' duties include arranging tables as the client desires, preparing the catering setup, refilling foods and beverages, managing guests' inquiries and possible complaints, keeping the food area clean, and maintaining the highest sanitation standards for the guests' best banquet experience... Show more	$9-19
   Kitchen Cook	A kitchen cook prepares food for customers. Kitchen cooks help devise new menu items and methods of cooking... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service
   • Waiter
   • Food Orders
   • Food Service
   • Food Preparation
   • Customer Orders
   • Safety Standards
   • Financial Transactions
   • Fine Dining
   • Drink Orders
   • Customer Complaints
   • Alcoholic Beverages
   • POS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Enter orders into a POS system to be send to the kitchen.
   • Assist in cashier duties using POS system to make all monetary transactions of food items.
   • Develop relationships with regular patrons; develop an understanding of their personal needs and expectations, including preferences and food allergies.
   • Service of drinks, cocktails and food in a busy, members only VIP environment.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cook and waitresses/waiter' average salary in oklahoma is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cook and waitresses/waiter earn 44% less than senior-level cook and waitresses/waiter.
   • Certifications. A cook and waitress/waiter 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 cook and waitress/waiter's salary.

   Average cook and waitress/waiter salary

   $13.11hourly

   $27,271 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cook and waitress/waiter salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

4. Writing a cook and waitress/waiter job description

   A good cook and waitress/waiter 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 cook and waitress/waiter job description:

   Cook and waitress/waiter job description example

   
   

   looking for overnight 9pm-7am Friday and Saturday night
   Our restaurant is looking for a waiter/waitress with remarkable hard skills and engaging people skills.
   The right person for this job should be able to multitask food and beverage orders and deliveries, but not only that. Our restaurant prides itself in providing excellent service, which is why we are looking for a waiter/waitress who will treat our guests with attentiveness, patience, and a positive attitude.
   The responsibilities of a waiter/waitress in our restaurant are to greet guests, seat them down, help them with menu recommendations, take and deliver orders (carry trays), and clear tables. All our waiters/waitresses are also responsible for handling cash and credit card transactions.
   To help our restaurant provide a pleasurable dining experience, a good waiter/waitress should be able to ensure that our guests are fully satisfied by being friendly, courteous, accommodating, and reliable. A suitable candidate for the job should also be a problem-solver and a team player.
   Responsibilities of a Waiter/Waitress:
   Greeting, seating, and escorting guests.
   Providing menu recommendations and additional information.
   Upselling additional products when appropriate.
   Taking orders using software, order slips, or by memorization.
   Communicating order details to the kitchen staff.
   Delivering food and beverages in a timely fashion.
   Delivering checks and collecting bill payments.
   Cleaning and maintaining the appearance of tables and tableware.
   Providing exceptional customer experience.
   Waiter/Waitress Job Requirements:
   Must have prior experience as a waiter/waitress.
   Must showcase teamwork and communication skills.
   Must be able to handle money transactions responsibly.
   Must be able to multitask and act quickly.
   Must be flexible and ready to work in shifts.

   Company Introduction

   Since 1958, IHOP® has been the place where people connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite before or after sporting events, and so much more. And no matter what menu items they order, there’s one ingredient that’s always constant — a smile. We’ve seen millions of smiles over the years in our restaurants, and now shared in photos across our social properties. In fact, smiles are so much a part of our culture that we changed our logo to include one.
   This is just one of the many fun and exciting changes you can expect from IHOP®. Because we know the shortest distance between two people is a smile. –

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right cook and waitress/waiter 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 cook and waitresses/waiter they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit cook and waitresses/waiter 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 cook and waitress/waiter job on Zippia to find and recruit cook and waitress/waiter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cook and waitress/waiter 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.

   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 cook and waitress/waiter

   Once you've decided on a perfect cook and waitress/waiter 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new cook and waitress/waiter. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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