How to hire a reserve operator

How to hire a reserve operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step reserve 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 reserve operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new reserve 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 reserve operator you need to hire. Certain reserve 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 reserve 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 reserve operator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of reserve operators.

   Type of Reserve Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Reserve Operator		$13-22
   Production Utility Worker	Professional utility workers have skills in customer service, safety procedures, and safety standards. Those in this career work to maintain a perpetually clean work area, comply with safety standards, inspect finished projects, repair and replace any broken equipment... Show more	$12-18
   Production Employee	In a manufacturing setting, a production employee is in charge of assembling and processing products, ensuring efficiency and timelines. Their responsibilities include adhering to guidelines and blueprints, monitoring the products for any defects or inconsistencies, operating machines and equipment, keeping an eye on the assembly line, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Reservations
   • Front Desk
   • Customer Service
   • Booking

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
   • Implement tool control and OSHA safety regulations while working independently on various machinery.
   • Assist large groups and give them history about Graceland, also conduct personal tours.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, reserve operators' average salary in arkansas is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level reserve operators earn 38% less than senior-level reserve operators.
   • Certifications. A reserve operator 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 reserve operator's salary.

   Average reserve operator salary

   $37,356yearly

   $17.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level reserve operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a reserve operator job description

   A job description for a reserve operator 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 reserve operator job description:

   Reserve operator job description example

   United States, Georgia, Atlanta
   
   Reservations & Cust. Care
   
   06-Sep-2022
   
   Ref #: 17061
   
   How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)
   
   It's an exciting time to be part of Delta's Reservations team as weredefine how and where we serve customers and set new standards for the experiences we createfor customers as well as thousands of Reservations and Care employees. These positions will help enable that vision by bringing new corporate initiatives to life in our engagement centers including new retailing capabilities like change simplification, new channel platforms like a cloud-based phone system from Amazon and AI-enabled Apple Business Chat, a new state-of-the-art workforce management system as well as transformational projects in Learning, Specialist Tools, Real-Time Service Recovery, Operations Management, and more.
   
   The Reservations Intern position will act as an internal consultant for Reservation Sales, Customer Care, and Digital Engagement (social media & Messaging). The position provides analytical process evaluation and research services used to design and/or improve processes. Projects typically involve measuring and analyzing current performance; improving operational efficiency, productivity, and performance; identifying and implementing new processes across departments/functions; conducting extensive data analysis/collection and interpretation to support divisional projects and goals; creating business cases to support strategic direction; and facilitating change management activities. The intern completes large and complex projects containing highly confidential material and moderate financial risk. All project work is summarized in written reports and presented to leaders and/or project sponsors.
   
   This position may spend some time at the beginning of the project working side-by-side, virtually, with the specialists to experience how the Reservation operations work. Some travel may be required outside of the Atlanta area. Practices safety conscious behaviors in all operational processes and procedures.
   
   What you need to succeed (minimum qualifications)
   
   + Must be currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Business, Finance, or other relevant degree
   
   + Must have at least 3 work semesters available
   
   + A strong team player, detail oriented, and perform well under pressure
   
   + Conveys professional image to all levels of associates
   
   + Strong written and verbal communication skills highly preferred
   
   + Should be proficient in MS Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Access
   
   + Must be willing to travel as required
   
   + Where permitted by applicable law, must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by date of hire to be considered for U.S.-based job, if not currently employed by Delta Air Lines, Inc.
   
   What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)
   
   + Possess technical skills, with an emphasis on SQL and any programming language
   
   + Completion or pursuit of Database, Basic Programming, User Interface courses
   
   + Experience with simulation, modeling and statistical analysis software
   
   Delta Air Lines, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and provides reasonable accommodation in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you are a qualified individual, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings through this site, apply for jobs through Delta's online system, or at any point in the selection process. To request a reasonable accommodation, please click here

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting reserve operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 reserve operator

   Once you've selected the best reserve operator 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 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 reserve operator. 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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