How to hire a dairy associate

How to hire a dairy associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dairy associate hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dairy associate, 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 dairy associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dairy associates 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 dairy associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Dairy Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Dairy Associate	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$8-24
   Stower	A stower is responsible for scanning a product and appropriately placing it to the right shelf for customer's consumption. Duties of a stower include inspecting the item for any defects and escalating damaged items to the supervisor ensuring adequately labeled products... Show more	$10-16
   General Merchandise Clerk	This individual works in the GM section of a store. They interact with customers and assist them as they purchase merchandise... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stock Shelves
   • Dairy Products
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Sales Floor
   • Pallet Jack
   • Food Safety
   • Expiration Dates
   • Back Room
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Inventory Control
   • Unload Trucks
   • Groceries
   • Ice Cream
   • Delivery Truck

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help to break down and stock groceries in order to make them available to customers.
   • Assist customers with a variety of issues including but not limit to product placement and taking bags of groceries to vehicles.
   • Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and organization skills with perishables and merchandise.
   • Work in almost every department in the Kroger store.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, dairy associates' average salary in louisiana is 45% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dairy associates 64% less than senior-level dairy associates.
   • Certifications. A dairy associate 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 dairy associate's salary.

   Average dairy associate salary

   $14.55hourly

   $30,270 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level dairy associate salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a dairy associate job description

   A good dairy associate 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 dairy associate job description:

   Dairy associate job description example

   At Wegmans, we believe that if we take care of our people, they’ll take care of our customers . That’s why, as part of the Wegmans family, you’ll have a package of benefits that covers your health, well-being, family and future.

   • Flexibility in scheduling—work-life balance
   • Employee discounts
   • Premium pay on Sundays and holidays

   Comprehensive benefits*

   • Quality affordable healthcare coverage
   • Vision coverage
   • Dental coverage (Available to Full-time only)
   • Pre-tax spending accounts
   • Life insurance
   • Paid time off
   • Employee assistance program
   • Employee wellness programs
   • 401(k) retirement savings plan
   • Wegmans retirement profit sharing plan
   • Scholarship Program

   *Certain eligibility requirements must be satisfied

   For 24 years in a row, our employees have put us on the FORTUNE magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®. Discover what it means to work for a family owned, mission-driven, values-based company that believes in caring, respect, empowerment, high standards and making a difference in the community. Because with a family-like atmosphere of shared support, leaders who have your best interest at heart and growth as part of everything we do, Wegmans is the place for you to do what you love—and love what you do.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with dairy associate 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 dairy associate

   Once you've decided on a perfect dairy associate 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 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 dairy associate 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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