How to hire a grill cook/prep

How to hire a grill cook/prep, step by step

Here's a step-by-step grill cook/prep hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a grill cook/prep, 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 grill cook/prep's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, grill cook/preps 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.

   Here's a comparison of grill cook/prep salaries for various roles:

   Type of Grill Cook/Prep	Description	Hourly rate
   Grill Cook/Prep	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$12-19
   Mexican Food Cook	A Mexican Food Cook works at restaurants or similar establishments that specialize in Mexican cuisine. Their responsibilities revolve around cutting meat and vegetable in portions, cooking and preparing according to company menu and guidelines, monitoring the supply of ingredients, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas... Show more	$11-18
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Quality Food
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Fresh Food
   • Fryers
   • Cleanliness
   • Dishwashers
   • Prep List
   • Fifo
   • Kitchen Prep
   • Safety Standards
   • Roasting
   • Fine Dining
   • HACCP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Load dishwashers and hand- wash items such as pots, pans, and knives.
   • Maintain standards of quality, cooking times and presentation of food, service, restaurant cleanliness and sanitation and safety.
   • Job duties include waiting on customers, filling salad bar, maintaining cleanliness of work space, preparing food and portioning.
   • Leverage teamwork to fully utilize kitchen staff to generate remarkable food and service to ensure customer satisfaction.
   • Display leadership abilities and responsibility by training new employees.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, grill cook/preps' average salary in mississippi is 52% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level grill cook/preps 35% less than senior-level grill cook/preps.
   • Certifications. A grill cook/prep 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 grill cook/prep's salary.

   Average grill cook/prep salary

   $15.79hourly

   $32,842 yearly

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   Entry-level grill cook/prep salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

4. Writing a grill cook/prep job description

   A grill cook/prep 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. Below, you can find an example of a grill cook/prep job description:

   Grill cook/prep job description example

   Job DescriptionBlueSun Inc. has a great opportunity for a part-time Food Service position at LBCC
   The hours for this position are M-F 11-4
   
   Job Summary: Serves as a grill cook and prep food to assist with running the Courtyard Cafe grill.
   Required Qualifications: Will need to be able to operate a flat top grill and deep fryer. Must have at least 1 year of fast-paced line cook experience. This is a fast-paced café and will require running multiple areas.
   Abilities: Requires the ability to learn quickly and perform the duties of the position efficiently and effectively. Requires a valid Food Handler’s certificate within 30 days of employment.
   Please submit your resume to BlueSun for consideration.
   
   Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
   
   BlueSun, Inc. is an OREGON FORWARD Employment Services Company. As such we give hiring priority to persons with a disability, but we help anyone who wants a job.
   
   BlueSun, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. This means we do not discriminate in employment decisions or policies in violation of the law on the basis of any legally protected status, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, gender, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
   
   About BlueSun Inc.:
   
   BlueSun Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to providing employment for veterans and people with a disability but will help anyone looking for a job. We do this through education, technology, accommodation, and advocacy assistance. Job development services offered by BlueSun include vocational exploration, job search, job application assistance, resume writing assistance, interview training, meeting with employers to advocate for client placement, and job coaching. EVERYONE DESERVSE A JOB

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find grill cook/preps 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 grill cook/preps they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level grill cook/preps 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 grill cook/prep job on Zippia to find and recruit grill cook/prep candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with grill cook/prep 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.

   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 grill cook/prep

   Once you've selected the best grill cook/prep candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new grill cook/prep. 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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