Costco is well-known for its food service station, selling pizza, chicken wings, fries, and a number of other popular dishes, which is made possible by food service assistants.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with this position and are planning to apply for it, keep reading to learn more about what this job entails!
Key Takeaways
What is a Costco Food Service Assistant In 2022?
Costco food service assistants are entry-level employees responsible for cooking, serving, and meal preparation at Costco. On average, the starting pay is $15/hr for the position in 2022. Food service assistants learn acceptable protocols for safe food handling. While working as a food service assistant, you also maintain the cleanliness of shared spaces, stock supplies, and refill drink stations.
Check out this guide to learn more about what I learned about the Costco food service assistant position!
What Does a Costco Food Service Assistant Do?
At Costco, food service assistants cook, prepare, and serve food in the food court. While working in the food service assistant role, you ensure that Costco food meets company specifications.
Besides cooking and serving, you will likewise help maintain the sanitation of the restaurants, cafes, and kitchens.
What are the Daily Responsibilities of a Food Service Assistant at Costco?
Each day, customers will find food service assistants in Costco food courts. These food service assistants have many responsibilities to complete each day to serve Costco customers.
Some daily responsibilities may include tasks such as the following:
- Preparation of hot food- rolling, shaping, adding toppings and fillings, cutting or slicing pizza, putting baked items in warmers, steaming hot dogs and buns, operating deep fryers
- Perform sales transactions
- Maintain cleanliness in common eating areas and cooking stations
- Stock inventory and eating utensils
- Refill self-operated drink stations
- Input pizza orders from members at the counter and over the phone
- Cooks and assembles food orders online and assembles selections in one convenient box
- Follows Costco food service department production requirements when cooking foods – this means it’s fresh expertly made with top quality ingredients
- Provides quick service with a friendly smile to each member
Additionally, during busy seasons, it may be needed for Food Service Assistants to fill in for other staff in understaffed departments as called for.
What are Requirements For Becoming a Food Service Assistant at Costco?
Before hiring, Food Service Assistants must take a certification course on how to handle food safely, like this online course, First Principles Program.
Through the duration of your certification course, you will learn basics regarding the following:
- Foodborne Illnesses
- Food Handling Time and Temperature
- Personal Hygiene
- Preventing Food Contamination
- Proper Cleaning and Sanitizing Procedures
- Common Problems and Solutions With Food
Additionally, Costco associates should be 18 years old, high school graduates or have an equivalent degree like a GED and a clean criminal record.
How Much Does Costco Pay Their Food Service Assistants?
As a Costco food service assistant, you can expect to make $15 an hour.
What are the Hours Costco Food Service Assistants Work?
Typically, Costco food service assistants can have a flexible schedule since workers can work part-time or full-time hours.
Does Costco Hire Seasonal Employees For Food Service Assistants?
When staffing for busy seasons such as Christmas and summer, Costco hires temporary food service assistants. During these times, workers can easily pick up a shift to gain additional money.
What is the Process For Becoming a Costco Food Service Assistant?
Becoming a Costco Food Service Assistant begins with reviewing the job description on the Costco Career website, and then you can access the applicant portal from this page.
At the bottom of the job description, there’s a button that prompts the user to “Choose A Location.”
Once the applicant clicks the button, they will be asked to select a store location to apply for a position.
After you enter the State, City, and Zip code, you are presented with job openings at stores at the location you specified.
Select the opening you wish to apply for, and you will be sent to the Costco applicant portal main screen.
Previous Costco applicants already have a Costco sign-in that they can use to access the portal, and their application will pre-populate with past information.
However, if you are a new applicant, you will need to complete the entire process.
Next, applicants will be asked to provide basic information like contact information, education and work history, and references before submitting their applications to hiring managers.
After applying, your next step will be to attend an interview at one of Costco’s locations, where they’ll ask you more questions about the position you’re applying for.
Do I Need to Pass a Drug Test Before I Can Be Hired as a Food Service Assistant at Costco?
During the hiring process for the food service assistant job, a drug test screening for marijuana, amphetamines, opiates, and phencyclidine is required.
Regardless of position, all Costco applicants must take this test as a condition of employment.
Is the Costco Food Service Assistant Position a Good Job?
As an entry-level job, being a food service assistant is a great way to get started in the food service industry. If you’re looking for flexible work hours and a fantastic company, this job is widely considered to be worthwhile.
Food service assistants receive industry-leading pay for their position. In addition, they can work schedules to adjust to their life needs, and there is no experience required.
Many jobs that pay in this hourly range require that workers have some type of prior work experience.
In short, Costco allows you to earn a high hourly salary and continue to learn job skills as you work.
If you are looking for a job at Costco, you can also see our posts on Costco cashier assistant, Costco baker, and Costco deli associate.
Conclusion
Costco food service assistants provide a high-quality customer experience for Costco members in food court areas. You may find them doing many tasks, like taking orders online or in person, cooking meals, and stocking inventory.
While working in this entry-level position, food service assistants gain valuable skills related to customer service, food handling, and even business that are beneficial later in their careers.