How to hire a deli sales associate

How to hire a deli sales associate, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the deli sales associate you need to hire. Certain deli sales associate 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 deli sales associate 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 deli sales associate that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of deli sales associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Deli Sales Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Deli Sales Associate	Cashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.	$9-16
   Deli/Bakery Clerk	A deli/bakery clerk assists customers by taking and preparing orders, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. They may also help customers by answering inquiries, accepting requests, offering other products and services, processing payments, and handling issues and concerns efficiently and professionally... Show more	$12-18
   Outside Sales	An outside sales representative is responsible for generating the company's sales and revenues by offering goods and services to existing and potential clients, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, and researching on possible leads. Outside sales representatives monitor the current industry trends to identify new business opportunities that would help the business adjust to market changes to achieve profitability goals... Show more	$26-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Product Knowledge
   • Food Products
   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Slice Meat
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Customer Issues
   • Hot Food
   • Slicers
   • Display Cases
   • Sales Floor
   • Food Safety Procedures
   • Deli Meats

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Open and close deli; schedule work hour coverage; manage and monitor deli cleanliness code; customer service.
   • Work with equipment such as fryers and slicers, and use store intercoms to announce special promotions and weekly specials.
   • Clean before closing, clean the floors, slicers, spoons, and throw away the food that are outdated.
   • Provide one-on-one customer service to maintain Publix's customer retention ensuring each customer receives efficient quality service.
   • Control freshness by rotating and coding all products legibly according to Walmart policies and procedures.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, deli sales associates' average salary in mississippi is 31% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level deli sales associates 46% less than senior-level deli sales associates.
   • Certifications. A deli sales 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 deli sales associate's salary.

   Average deli sales associate salary

   $12.80hourly

   $26,623 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level deli sales associate salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a deli sales associate job description

   A job description for a deli sales associate 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 deli sales associate job description:

   Deli sales associate job description example

   Hannaford Supermarkets started out as a fresh produce vendor in Portland, Maine way back in 1883, and is still connected to those early roots as a local market. Hannaford actively seeks out farmers and producers to join our Local program which celebrates not only local foods, but the preservation of farmland, local traditions and local jobs. The connection we have to the source of our fresh foods is core to the way we do business, becoming the first major supermarket in the United States to document that all its seafood products were sustainably harvested.
   PRIMARY PURPOSE
   
   Perform duties related to prepared foods and deli service counter to ensure department appearance, quality, variety, safety, and food safety are consistently maintained at the highest level. Demonstrate a strong culture in support of Hannaford Strategy. Build customer relations and provide enthusiastic customer awareness.
   
   DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   • Greet and assist customers with locating and selecting products.• Deliver outstanding, friendly customer service and use skills and knowledge to offer solutions that meet or exceed customers' expectations.• Slice, cut, prepare, weigh and package products according to established standards and quality goals.• Preparing multiple orders simultaneously while maintaining customer service and quality standards.• Supporting and Assist Service Counter• Adhere to highest product quality standards to support our department strategy.• Achieve productivity standards as outlined in Management Planning.• Develop product knowledge in various areas of the department.• Perform all assigned cleaning functions in accordance with company policy.• Assist in training other associates and perform other functions as assigned.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   • Deli, restaurant or food service experience helpful but not required.• Effective communication, customer service, and selling skills.• Effective interpersonal skills and desire to work in a team environment.• Ability and willingness to learn multiple tasks and technical requirements of the job.• Ability to multi task and prioritize in a fast paced environment.• Must meet minimum age requirements.• Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.• Pre-requisite to this job would be Deli Service Case Associate training.
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   • Lift up to 15 lbs. frequently and up to 40 lbs. occasionally.• Reach to shoulder lifting 20 lbs. frequently and overhead occasionally.• Push/pull 3-15 lbs. frequently and up to 40 lbs. occasionally.• Perform repetitive grasping, hand and arm motions while standing/walking the majority of the shift.• Meet volume activity standards established for the department.• Frequent bending, reaching, grasping, and lifting produce items at or above waist level.• Use hands to operate controls, feel objects and use tools to open boxes/cases or to prepare and clean produce.• Be able to handle a variety of substances associated with cleaning materials, packaging materials, and food products.• Tolerate working in hot/cold temperatures for up to 20 minutes at a time
   
   Hannaford provides equal opportunity in employment to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), age, veteran status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   Job Requisition: 271410_external_USA-ME-South-Portland_1082022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit deli sales associates, 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 deli sales associate

   Once you've decided on a perfect deli sales 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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