How to hire a knife operator

How to hire a knife operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step knife operator hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the knife operator you need to hire. Certain knife operator 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 knife operator 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 knife operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents knife operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Knife Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Knife Operator		$13-23
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Bindery Operator	In the publishing industry, a bindery operator is primarily in charge of operating the machine that binds the pages of magazines, books, and other products. They are also responsible for following guidelines and schedules, maintaining records, conducting regular maintenance checks on machines, and performing basic repairs and adjustments when necessary... Show more	$14-21

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • RAN
   • Quality Standards

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Work in the board plant making drywall board-also run forklift
   • Guide stackers in the proper methods and procedures for the manufacturing of corrugate sheets and develop team interaction and growth.
   • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
   • Identify business through analyzing results, sales plan and effectively utilize payroll hours

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, knife operators' average salary in new hampshire is 33% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level knife operators 41% less than senior-level knife operators.
   • Certifications. A knife operator 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 knife operator's salary.

   Average knife operator salary

   $38,218yearly

   $18.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level knife operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a knife operator job description

   A knife operator 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 knife operator job description:

   Knife operator job description example

   3 Knife Operator , 2nd Shift Sheridan. Be part of something greater. Your career awaits join us!

   LOCATION: Chelsea, MI

   Sheridan MI has operated in Chelsea, Michigan, for more than 70 years of service to the book publishing industry. Our customers depend on us to covert their ideas into one of the most important inventions man ever made, a book of printed words.

   Job Summary:

   • Read job ticket and follow instructions
   • Set up and change over machines
   • Coordinate and monitor the crews responsibilities
   • Check each job for accuracy of specifications and verify the quality meets our expectation

   Basic Qualifications:

   • A minimum of a high school diploma or GED required.
   • Ability to keep up with a high-speed delivery output in a standing position for a full shift.
   • Requires regularly standing, walking, carrying, climbing, and reaching.
   • Ability to lift cartons up to a maximum of 50 lbs.

   Schedule is Monday to Friday, 3 PM to 11 PM - 40 hours/week

   • Overtime pays time and a half after 40 hours per week
   • Night shift pays an extra 8% on hours worked

   Why work for Sheridan?

   • Job training
   • Career advancement
   • College tuition up to $5,250 per year
   • Paid vacation & holidays
   • Competitive compensation
   • Medical (PPO and HSA Plans), Dental, Vision
   • Teledoc - convenient and no cost
   • Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance
   • Voluntary life
   • 401(k) with company match
   • Company paid short term disability
   • FSA Health and Dependent Care savings accounts
   • HSA Health saving account
   • EAP program

   CJK Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to apply for employment, please contact the location HR Manager at option 3 or .

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit knife operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 knife operator

   Once you've found the knife operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new knife operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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