Jobs › University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Dining & Retail Services Temporary Positions

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI · $15.00–$17.00 an hour

Posted Jul 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

These roles include food service assistant, cook, dishwasher and cashier. Which ones interest you most, and what experience do you bring to them?

What they are checking: Whether they know which role fits them and can point to real experience rather than saying anything works.

Tell me about a time you worked a rush with a long line. How did you keep up without cutting corners?

What they are checking: Whether they stay steady and careful under pressure instead of rushing into mistakes.

Tell me about a time a customer was unhappy with their food or service. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they stay friendly and solve the problem instead of arguing or passing it off.

What would you do

A customer asks whether a dish contains peanuts and you are not sure. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they check instead of guessing, since a wrong answer on allergens can seriously hurt someone.

If you were working the register and your drawer came up short at the end of the shift, what would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they report problems honestly and right away rather than hiding them.

These are part-time shifts Monday through Friday with some weekends. What schedule can you reliably commit to, and how do you handle it if something comes up?

What they are checking: Whether they will show up when scheduled and give notice early, which matters most in a short-staffed kitchen.

You notice a coworker skipping hand washing between tasks. What would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they will speak up about safety even when it feels awkward with a peer.

About the work

How do you keep cold food cold and hot food hot during a busy service, and why does it matter?

What they are checking: Whether they understand basic food safety temperatures, which protects customers from getting sick.

What are the steps you follow when cleaning and sanitizing a work station or a piece of kitchen equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they know cleaning and sanitizing are separate steps and follow them consistently.

How do you handle cross-contamination when you are chopping raw meat and vegetables in the same shift?

What they are checking: Whether they know to separate boards, tools and hand washing between raw proteins and ready-to-eat foods.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Dining & Retail Services Temporary Positions Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Temporary (Fixed Term) Job Profile: Cook Job Duties: Dining & Retail Services is hiring limited term employees for part-time positions to fill roles such as food service assistant, cook, dishwasher, and cashier. Various shifts are available Monday-Friday with a few options to work on the weekends as well. Food Service Assistant Duties • Performs routine food preparation activities such as portioning, chopping food, and serving food to customers • Greets customers, answers questions, and provides basic information regarding food preparation and associated activities • Prepares a variety of basic dishes and assists in the preparation of more complex dishes • Cleans, inspects, and maintains kitchen equipment and work areas Cook Duties • Perform routine and non-routine food preparation activities including cook-to-order and specialty foods • Greets customers, answers questions, and provides information regarding food preparation and associated activities • C leans, inspects and maintains equipment and work areas to ensure adherence to safe food quality, handling, and sanitation processes and procedures Dishwasher Duties • Operates a dishwashing station and associated equipment • Assists student employees and provides training as needed • Cleans, inspects, and maintains equipment and work areas to ensure adherence to safe food quality, handling, and sanitation processes and procedures • Shelves and organizes (stockroom, warehouse) inventory Cashier Duties • Processes customer transactions by performing cashier duties using the point of sale system • Cleans and stocks work areas in and around the register • Interacts with customer, answers questions, and provides information regarding products, escalating questions as necessary Key Job Responsibilities: • Adheres to federal, state, campus, and local food safety regulations, policies, and procedures • Greets customers, answers questions, and provides information regarding food preparation and associated activities Department: Dining & Retail Services Compensation: $15.00 - $17.00 an hour based on position and experience How to Apply: Applicants must apply online and submit a resume outlining your previous work experience and availability. Positions are open until filled and this posting will be updated as positions are no longer available. Contact Information: Questions regarding available positions can be directed to Katherine Ott ( ottka@uwm.edu ) Reasonable Accommodations Pursuant to university policy , UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability. Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request. CBC and Reference Check Policy Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/ , or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy. Employment Authorization In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Apply at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee