Free template · Word and PDF

Kitchen Hand reference check template

A short reference check form for kitchen hands, dishwashers and food prep staff. It adds eight questions on reliability, speed, hygiene and taking direction during service.

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  • Free, no sign-up
  • Editable Word file
  • 8 kitchen hand questions

What to focus on in a kitchen hand reference check

Kitchen hands keep a kitchen running. Ask the head chef or kitchen manager about turning up, keeping pace in service and following hygiene rules. Keep the form short: chefs answer between services.

8 reference check questions to ask about a kitchen hand

Ask these after the standard verification and performance questions. They are already in the Word and PDF template.

  1. 1.How long did the candidate work in your kitchen, and which services did they cover?
  2. 2.How did the candidate keep up during a busy service?
  3. 3.How well did they follow cleaning, hygiene and food safety routines?
  4. 4.How did the candidate take direction from chefs, including when spoken to sharply?
  5. 5.Did they help with prep? How accurate and safe were they with knives and equipment?
  6. 6.How reliable were they with start times, double shifts and weekends?
  7. 7.How did they get on with the rest of the kitchen team?
  8. 8.Would you have them back in your kitchen?

What a strong reference sounds like

  • Keeps the dish station clear in a full service
  • Follows hygiene routines without reminders
  • Turns up and stays until close
  • Chef would rehire

Red flags to follow up

  • Regular no-shows or walking out mid-shift
  • Ignores hygiene rules
  • Conflict with chefs or other staff
  • Referee is unsure about rehiring

Download the kitchen hand reference check template

Free, no sign-up. The Word version is editable; the PDF is ready to print.

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Want more questions? See 35 reference check questions to ask references. Prefer referees to answer online? HiveRef sends the form, chases replies and builds the report. Start with 4 free checks.

Kitchen Hand Reference Check Template

For phone or written reference checks. Use the same questions for every referee so answers are comparable.

1. Candidate and referee details

  • Candidate name
  • Role applied for
  • Referee name
  • Referee job title and organisation
  • Referee email and phone
  • Relationship to the candidate (for example, direct manager)
  • Date of reference check
  • Checked by

2. Consent

Confirm the candidate agreed to you contacting this referee. Tell the referee their answers are used only for this hiring decision.

  • Candidate consent confirmed (yes / no)
  • Date consent was given

3. Verification questions

  1. 1.How do you know the candidate, and what was your working relationship?
  2. 2.What were the candidate's start and end dates, as far as you remember them?
  3. 3.What was their job title, and did it change while you worked together?
  4. 4.Did the candidate report to you directly? If not, how often did you see their work?
  5. 5.What were the main reasons the candidate left, as far as you know?

4. Performance questions

  1. 6.Which parts of the role did the candidate own day to day?
  2. 7.Tell me about a deadline the candidate missed or nearly missed. What happened next?
  3. 8.Give an example of the candidate producing good work with incomplete information.
  4. 9.What result improved while they were in the role, and what was their contribution?
  5. 10.When results were below expectations, how did they respond to feedback?
  6. 11.What skill did the candidate develop most while you worked together?

5. Kitchen Hand questions

  1. 12.How long did the candidate work in your kitchen, and which services did they cover?
  2. 13.How did the candidate keep up during a busy service?
  3. 14.How well did they follow cleaning, hygiene and food safety routines?
  4. 15.How did the candidate take direction from chefs, including when spoken to sharply?
  5. 16.Did they help with prep? How accurate and safe were they with knives and equipment?
  6. 17.How reliable were they with start times, double shifts and weekends?
  7. 18.How did they get on with the rest of the kitchen team?
  8. 19.Would you have them back in your kitchen?

6. Working style and integrity

  1. 20.Describe a disagreement the candidate had with a colleague. How did they move the work forward?
  2. 21.How did the candidate ask for help when they needed it?
  3. 22.When the candidate made a mistake that affected others, what did they do?
  4. 23.What would you tell a new manager about working with this person?

7. Closing questions

  1. 24.Is there anything we have not asked that you think we should know?
  2. 25.What kind of manager or team would get the best out of this person?
  3. 26.Would you hire or work with this person again? Why or why not?

8. Recommendation

  • Overall: recommend / recommend with reservations / do not recommend
  • Strengths confirmed
  • Concerns or follow-ups
  • Signed and dated

Do not ask about health, family, age, religion or other protected personal information, and check the law where you hire.

Frequently asked questions

Who should I ask for a kitchen hand reference?

The head chef, sous chef or kitchen manager they worked under. For a first job, a school, sports coach or volunteer supervisor can speak to reliability.

How many references for a kitchen hand?

One solid reference from a recent kitchen is usually enough for casual roles. Ask for two for full-time roles.

What should I not ask a referee?

Do not ask about health, visa details, age, family or religion. Ask about the work.

Send these kitchen hand questions online instead.

HiveRef emails the referees, chases them for you and puts every answer into one report. First 4 checks free, no card needed.

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