How to hire a watcher

How to hire a watcher, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The watcher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 watcher 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 watcher that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of watchers.

   Type of Watcher	Description	Hourly rate
   Watcher		$12-22
   Safety Attendant	The duties of a safety attendant depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities include performing safety inspections according to an establishment's protocols, establishing and enforcing safety guidelines, assisting clients and employees, and developing strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$12-18
   Apprentice	An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures... Show more	$12-24

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Rules
   • Drilling Fluid
   • Fire Hazards
   • Customer Service
   • PPE
   • Fire Alarms
   • Safety Regulations
   • Safety Procedures
   • Facilities Inspections
   • Construction Sites
   • Chemical Plant

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage mulching, fertilizing, watering and mowing activities.
   • Make sure you and other employees are aware of the exact location of firefighting equipment in the immediate area.
   • Assist refinery personnel and safety representatives daily, receive jobs from operators and delegate the task to other safety attendants.
   • Assist refinery personnel and safety representatives daily, receive jobs from operators and delegate the task to other safety attendants.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, watchers' average salary in florida is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level watchers earn 45% less than senior-level watchers.
   • Certifications. A watcher 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 watcher's salary.

   Average watcher salary

   $35,596yearly

   $17.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level watcher salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a watcher job description

   A job description for a watcher 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 watcher job description:

   Watcher job description example

   Job Title: Flight Safety Watch Stander
   
   
   Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

   For compliance with new Executive Order 14042 regarding Government Contractors, you will be required to provide documentation of Full Coronavirus Vaccination Status to Omitron, and to the designated personnel of the subcontracting, contracting and/or federal officials. US citizenship required. EEO/AA. E-Verify Participation.

   Company Overview:

   Omitron is an Aerospace Engineering and Information Technology small business firm headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland with a field office located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since 1984 Omitron has provided excellence in engineering services and product development to government and industry customers for both civilian and military aerospace programs.

   Omitron recognizes that outstanding people are the key to our success. Our goal is to select highly qualified and motivated individuals and provide them an environment necessary to stimulate and nurture engineering and business objectives. Omitron offers its employees competitive salaries, a full benefits package, and excellent career growth opportunities. We welcome talented professionals who wish to take advantage of the opportunities we offer. Omitron is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our employees. We strongly encourage women, persons of color, persons with disabilities and veterans to apply.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right watcher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your watcher job on Zippia to find and recruit watcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit watchers, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 watcher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the watcher 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new watcher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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