How to hire a lifter

How to hire a lifter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lifter hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your lifter 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 lifter 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

   Hiring the perfect lifter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of lifters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lifter	Description	Hourly rate
   Lifter	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$10-20
   Warehouseman	A warehouseman or warehouse worker is the person who assists with the inventory, shipping, and receiving of items in warehouses. Warehousemen receive and process incoming materials and stocks, along with picking and filling orders from the store... Show more	$14-20
   Package Handler UPS	The primary job of package handlers is to assemble, seal, and load packages. They are responsible for tracking package information using scanners and sorting parcels according to destination... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Unload Materials
   • Assembly Line
   • Customer Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
   • Handle dangerous materials including HazMat, utilizing preset safety measures.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, lifters' average salary in alabama is 48% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lifters earn 49% less than senior-level lifters.
   • Certifications. A lifter 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 lifter's salary.

   Average lifter salary

   $15.15hourly

   $31,510 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level lifter salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a lifter job description

   A job description for a lifter 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 lifter job description:

   Lifter job description example

   **Create Your Experience of a Lifetime!**
   
   Come work and play in the mountains! Whether it's your first time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.
   
   With 40+ resorts across 3 continents, you can join our team for a season or stay to build a career. From day one, you'll receive some of the highest compensation rates in the industry, free Epic pass(es) along with free ski and snowboard lessons, 40% retail discounts, the chance to grow through Epic Service - our leading training and development experience, and wellness benefits to fuel your success.
   
   **Job Benefits**
   
   + Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons
   
   + MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, mountain shuttles AND during the summer on bike haul, golf and other activities
   
   + 401(k) Retirement Plan
   
   + Employee Assistance Program
   
   + Excellent training and professional development
   
   + Referral Program
   
   Seasonal Full Time roles are eligible for the above, plus:
   
   + Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
   
   + Free ski passes for dependents
   
   + Critical Illness and Accident plans
   
   **Job Summary**
   
   The primary job responsibility of the Lift Electrician is to perform all facets of electrical and electronic maintenance and repairs on our system of lifts to ensure the safe and reliable transportation of our guests. **_Safety is paramount_** and a high level of awareness relating to safety is required. Please apply to join our team today!
   
   **Job Specifications:**
   
   + Starting Wage:$21 / hour
   
   + Shift & Schedule Availability: Full Time - Year Round
   
   + Skill Level: Entry, Intermediate, Advanced.
   
   The Vail Lift Maintenance team is currently seeking qualified lift electrical professionals to join our Lift Electrical team. Along with other members of a team, the qualified candidate will perform routine, emergency and preventative maintenance as well as troubleshooting on a variety of electrical, electro-mechanical, light industrial control systems and commercial equipment including low voltage AC controls, DC controls, motors and drives. Will also assist other maintenance personal with the implementation of maintenance programs and capital projects. Will assist with electrical maintenance and troubleshooting on snowmaking equipment and summer attractions. Job functions include updating CAD schematics, and installing electrical and electronic upgrades on ski lifts. Year round full time outdoor work in mountain environment in all seasons that will involve climbing and working at height on ski lift towers.
   
   **Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:**
   
   + Adheres to Vail Resorts Health & Safety as well as Lift Maintenance department policies and procedures
   
   + Reliable and punctual attendance is a primary function of this position
   
   + The ability to apply one's self to learning about unique electrical systems
   
   + Ability to assist in troubleshooting and repair of lift related Industrial Controls including PLC's and Drives.
   
   + Ability to perform work with minimal supervision and work effectively under pressure
   
   + Ability to prioritize according to departmental goals.
   
   + Performs scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency maintenance and repairs to maximize equipment uptime and reliability
   
   + Performs work within ANSI and Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board standards
   
   + Documents all work performed per established processes to ensure regulatory compliance
   
   + Informs Lift Maintenance management and Lift Dispatch for all unusual equipment conditions, observations, and incidents
   
   + Responsible for the upkeep and cleaning of lift maintenance facilities and lift terminals
   
   + Safely operates vehicles, snowmobiles, and other vehicles
   
   + Willingness to participate in ongoing training opportunities.
   
   + May be called upon to assist other departments when necessary.
   
   + Other duties as assigned
   
   **Requirements:**
   
   + Education: High School Diploma or equivalent _- required_
   
   + Some electrical or industrial control systems experience _- required_
   
   + Knowledge of basic hand and power tools as well as shop equipment _- required_
   
   + Possess a valid US driver's license _- required_
   
   + Proficient on computers, including Microsoft applications _- required_
   
   + Able to read, write, speak, and understand English _- required_
   
   + Able to work at heights up to 100 Feet _- required_
   
   + Able to work in a variety of outdoor mountain weather conditions _- required_
   
   + Able to work weekends and holidays _- required_
   
   + Able to work unscheduled overtime as needed _- required_
   
   + Able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs _- required_
   
   + Able to work and communicate effectively in a team environment _- required_
   
   + Able to stand for up to 4 hours during a shift without sitting _- required_
   
   The budgeted range starts at $21 - $38. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience.
   
   _Vail Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law._
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find lifters 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 lifters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lifters 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 lifter job on Zippia to find and recruit lifter 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 lifters, 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.

   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 lifter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lifter 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new lifter. 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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