Dishwasher: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a dishwasher?

Hiring a dishwasher for your restaurant can help in maintaining food safety and cleanliness standards. Dishwashers are responsible for the hygiene of the cooking and serving areas. Choosing the right person as a dishwasher is essential to help your restaurant run efficiently. A great dishwasher can: 

• Maintain kitchenware by gathering them from dining and kitchen areas and cleaning them regularly
• Clean all the kitchen equipment and load and unload the dishwashers
• Clean and sanitize certain kitchenware, such as large pots, by hand

What are the levels of dishwasher jobs?

Dishwashers work in a wide range of kitchen environments, from family-owned cafes and restaurants to busy hotels and banquet halls. Most dishwasher jobs are entry-level, but there are some opportunities for advancement. Here are the most common levels and titles of dishwasher jobs. 

• Dishwasher: A general dishwasher works in restaurants and on-site kitchens for hotels, senior residences and cruise ships. Dishwashers are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing dishes, silverware and cookware. Dishwashers also provide assistance to bussers and servers when needed.
• Lead Dishwasher:  A lead dishwasher has the same duties as a general dishwasher, with additional responsibilities such as delegating specific dishwashing and drying tasks in busy kitchens. Lead dishwashers also assist servers and bussers. 
• Supervising Dishwasher: Supervising dishwashers oversee general dishwashers and sometimes bussers in high-traffic kitchens. A supervising dishwasher may also help with scheduling shifts. Supervisors also assist with general dishwashing duties.

Where to find  dishwashers

To find the right dishwasher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies. 

• Post flyers on local bulletin boards: If you run an establishment in a neighborhood with high foot traffic, posting flyers on bulletin boards at local coffee houses, gyms or markets in the area is a good way to recruit potential candidates.
• Post a help wanted sign in your business window: Placing a help wanted sign in your business window is an easy way to find interested candidates who may already be visiting your restaurant or cafe as a customer. 
• Put the word out to fellow business owners: If you’ve got friends who run their own restaurants, check in with them to see if they’ve got a part-time dishwasher or busser who may be interested in picking up extra hours at your establishment. 
• Post your job online: Try posting your dishwasher job on Indeed to find and attract quality dishwasher candidates. 

Skills to look for in a great Dishwasher

It is essential to review the skills and qualifications of all possible candidates to identify the most suitable candidate for Dishwasher.

• High school diploma preferred
• Past experience as a dishwasher or a waiter for 2+ years
• Familiar with working with industrial washing machines
• Ability to work in shifts, evening or weekends as needed
• Ability to follow instructions and help in the kitchen area
• Aware of food sanitation rules and basic hygiene

Writing a dishwasher job description

It’s vital to create a detailed job description with a list of duties, responsibilities and required skill sets to find suitable dishwasher candidates.

Consider including keywords that job seekers are using to search for dishwasher jobs, such as:

• Part-time dishwasher
• Evening dishwasher
• Weekend dishwasher

When writing your dishwasher job description, consider some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting . These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on dishwasher jobs, according to Indeed data. 

• Dishwasher
• Hiring immediately
• Restaurant 
• Teen
• Food service
• Restaurant dishwasher
• Immediately hiring
• Dish washer
• Urgently hiring
• Food

Interviewing dishwasher candidates

In the interview process for suitable candidates for dishwasher, comparing the skills and qualifications of all potential candidates is essential. Topics to cover can include:

• Proficiency in cleaning and tidying up kitchen and dining areas
• Knowledge and experience of operating industrial washing machines
• How they’ve excelled at improving dining experiences for customers

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of dishwasher interview questions for examples (with sample answers).