How to hire a cook/trainer

How to hire a cook/trainer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cook/trainer 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/trainer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cook/trainer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cook/trainer 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 cook/trainer 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 cook/trainer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cook/trainers 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of cook/trainers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Cook/Trainer	Description	Hourly rate
   Cook/Trainer	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$12-18
   Short Order Cook	A short-order cook takes responsibility for preparing foods in cafes and restaurants. Usually, they fry eggs, cook fries, and prepare sandwiches... Show more	$11-18
   Lead Line Cook	Typically, lead line cooks work under the supervision of a chef or head cook in a kitchen. Leadline cooks oversee the food preparation process from start to end... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Handling
   • Cleanliness
   • Culinary
   • Safety Standards
   • Food Safety
   • HACCP
   • Customer Service
   • Cash Handling
   • Workstations
   • Food Storage
   • Fryers
   • Food Preparation
   • Slicers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Enhance the awareness of safety and cleanliness as well as organization in the kitchen.
   • Operate large volume cooking equipment such as deep fryers, grills, griddles, and heat lamps.
   • Open restaurant for daily operations by turning on equipment; grills, fryers, hoods, steam tables.
   • Verify patient information, new medications and allergies educate patients by providing medication and diet information.
   • Provide friendly, quality, customer service to each Chipotle customer.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cook/trainers' average salary in mississippi is 45% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cook/trainers earn 33% less than senior-level cook/trainers.
   • Certifications. A cook/trainer 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/trainer's salary.

   Average cook/trainer salary

   $15.51hourly

   $32,271 yearly

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   Entry-level cook/trainer salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

4. Writing a cook/trainer job description

   A job description for a cook/trainer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a cook/trainer job description:

   Cook/trainer job description example

   IHOP San Antonio is growing! We’re opening another brand-new location very soon, and we are seeking to build a special team of trainers to help open and lead the other team members to success. Experience as a line cook is preferred, and the ideal candidate will possess all the attributes of an outstanding cook – accuracy, sense of urgency, sanitation conscious, ability to multitask – plus a strong desire to create the environment that they want to work in.
   
   Our trainers lead by example, naturally plating up smiles alongside our world-famous menu offerings, while also teaching, leading, and coaching their new and existing teammates. If you love the appreciation you receive from a well satisfied guest and the admiration you earn from enriching the work environment around you, then this is clearly the job for you. So come join our smiling, caring, pancaking team!
   What will we ask of you? Prepare food according to specifications set forth in the IHOP SOP manuals. Learn our IHOP-specialized galley terminology and menu item abbreviations to communicate with your team members. Learn how to prepare our menu items, cooking procedures, galley utensils, equipment use and methodologies. Maintain a clean and sanitary workstation. Maintain clean, sanitary, and organized storage areas in the kitchen, walk-in, freezer, and dry storage. Comply with all federal, state and local regulations as well as with IHOP Safety and Sanitation standards, local health department sanitation, and safety guidelines. Comply with IHOP uniform and appearance standards. Perform other assignments or tasks as assigned by the General Manager, Assistant Manager or acting supervisor. Complete the IHOP Academy training programs for Cook, Combo, and Trainer. Assist in the implementation of the IHOP Academy training program for new Front-of-House team members. Assist in the ongoing training and development of staff to execute IHOP SOP.
   Who qualifies for this job? To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Six months to one year of related experience and/or training as a line cook or prep cook. Must demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos. Must demonstrate the ability to understand oral instructions in English and read English or Spanish well enough to understand recipes and guests’ food orders. Must be able to apply simple math to cook and prep items using recipes in written form, oral instructions, or following a diagram. Must know basic food safety guidelines for the storing, preparation, holding, cooking, and serving of food in a kitchen environment. Must be able to multi-task in a fast paced, noisy, multi-temperature environment working together with others. Must have good organizational skills and an attentive eye for details. Must be at least 17 years old to operate kitchen equipment.
   What physically must you be able to do? The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Will be required to stand, walk, stoop down, kneel, crouch or crawl, bend, reach with hands and arms, and lift anywhere from 5-10 lbs. and up to 100 lbs. during a shift. Frequently is required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. Must be able to talk or hear and taste or smell to effectively maintain food safety and service standards. Must have close-up and distant vision ability.
   What conditions will you be expected to work in? The work environment characteristics described here are representative of what you will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regular exposure to cooking fumes or airborne particles. Frequently working with or near moving mechanical parts. Frequently works with and exposed to cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting chemicals. Occasionally is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, open flames, boiling hot liquids and cooking oils and grease. Noise levels usually moderate but sometimes on the loud side.
   Benefits: Flexible hours - Full, Part time, and Seasonal hours available Extensive training Employee Meal Program 50% discount on employee meals when consumed during your meal break!
   Eligible for the following benefits after 12 months of consecutive service: Medical Dental Vision Life Insurance/Critical Illness/Accident Plan
   Opportunity for advancement into management for the right person! 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.
   When you work for IHOP restaurants you are choosing to be something more than just a traditional employee. You help create smiles for the future.
   Join a team that encourages building lifelong friendships and memories. Select a location near you below and apply today! Or select all locations and choose from any or our 26 locations! It's quick and easy, by phone, tablet, or pc!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find cook/trainers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any cook/trainers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level cook/trainers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cook/trainers, 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.

   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 cook/trainer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the cook/trainer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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/trainer. 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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