Dishwasher / Kitchen Helper - Entry-Level - Students Welcome

Catered Creations, Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 18,597 - 20,664; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Free food & snacks

Opportunity for advancement

Job summary

Catered Creations, Inc. seeks a Dishwasher / Kitchen Helper — a perfect first job in the food industry for high school or early college students. Learn how a professional kitchen runs, get paid to learn, and build a path into prep and cooking as you prove yourself.

Join a growing catering company serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties. You'll work with a supportive team, receive weekly pay, and have a clear growth path from dish to prep roles.

Qualifications

• Must be a high school student or college student.
• Willing to learn in a professional kitchen.
• Able to follow safety and cleanliness standards.

Responsibilities

• Wash and sanitize dishes, pots, pans, and utensils.
• Keep the dish area, floors, and trash stations clean and organized.
• Help with basic kitchen prep (labeling, stocking, simple prep tasks).
• Help with packing for events and unloading when needed.
• Follow food safety and cleanliness standards every shift.

Skills

Dishwashing

Teamwork

Attention to cleanliness

Education

High school student or college student

Job description

Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Free food & snacks
• Opportunity for advancement

Dishwasher / Kitchen Helper – Perfect First Job in the Food Industry (High School / College)

If you’re in high school or early college and want a real first step into the food world, this is it. We’ll teach you how a professional kitchen runs, pay you to learn, and give you a clear path into prep and cooking if you show up and work hard.

We’re a growing catering company that serves weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Our events only run smoothly if the dish and utility team does their job well.

What you’ll do

• Wash and sanitize dishes, pots, pans, and utensils
• Keep the dish area, floors, and trash stations clean and organized
• Help with basic kitchen prep (labeling, stocking, simple prep tasks)
• Help with packing for events and unloading when needed
• Follow food safety and cleanliness standards every shift

This is physical work: you’ll be on your feet, moving fast, lifting up to 40 lbs, and working around heat and water.

This is for you if you want to

• Get real experience in a professional kitchen (not just fast food)
• Learn how catering and events work behind the scenes
• Build a resume that can lead to prep cook and line cook roles
• Work with a team that will teach you, not just yell at you

Schedule & hours

We’re used to working with students and build schedules around school first, then work. This is a part‑time, variable‑hours role based on your availability and our event schedule.

• Weekdays during the summer: typically 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Weekdays during the school year: flexible to meet student's schedule
• Weekends: typically 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm (event dependent)
• Hours: usually 15 – 35 hours per week, ~35 in our busy seasons, and fewer in slower months. Your actual hours will depend on your availability, your performance, and our client/event needs.

If you only want a fixed 40 hours every single week, this won’t be the right fit. If you want real kitchen experience, tip share, and are okay with hours going up and down with events, this will be a great first step. Most students who want more hours end up close to full‑time during busy months (May – December).

Growth path (if you perform)

• 0–3 months: Learn dish systems, cleanliness, and pace
• 3–6 months: Start helping with basic prep and event packing
• 6–12 months: Eligible for Prep Cook shifts if you are reliable, coachable, and ready

Pay

• Base pay: $13.50–$15.00 per hour, depending on experience and performance
• Monthly tip share on top of base pay

What we offer

• Real kitchen experience that looks good on a resume
• Clear path into prep and cooking roles
• Staff meals during shifts
• Respectful, team‑focused environment
• Weekly pay