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This position has closed. Hy-Vee removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Meat Cutter

Hy-Vee · Janesville, WI · Part time

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

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

Tell me about a time you worked fast and still made clean, consistent cuts.

What they are checking: Whether they balance speed with quality.

What would you do

A customer asks for a special cut that isn't in the case. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they are happy to cut to order and explain options.

A coworker isn't cleaning equipment properly. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they speak up on sanitation, which protects customers.

A customer asks how to cook a cut of meat. What do you say?

What they are checking: Whether they can give simple cooking tips and help customers buy with confidence.

About the work

This is a fully skilled meat cutting job. Walk me through how you break down a primal into retail cuts.

What they are checking: Whether they have real cutting skills and know the yield of each cut.

How do you stay safe using a band saw, grinder and knives?

What they are checking: Whether they follow safety steps and use guards and gloves every time.

How do you keep your knives sharp and why does it matter?

What they are checking: Whether they know a sharp knife is safer and makes cleaner cuts.

What food safety steps matter most in a meat department?

What they are checking: Whether they know temperatures, sanitation and avoiding cross-contamination.

How do you merchandise meat so the case looks appealing?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to display and package meat well, as the posting says.

How do you reduce waste when cutting meat?

What they are checking: Whether they get the most yield and use trim wisely.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Hy-Vee 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 Hy-Vee.

Additional Considerations (if any): Must be 18+ - At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other. Job Description: Job Title: Meat Specialist Department: Meat FLSA : Non-Exempt General Function The meat specialist is a fully skilled job that cuts and merchandises all fresh meat commodities. Core Competencies • Partnerships • Growth mindset • Results oriented • Customer focused • Professionalism Reporting Relations Accountable and Reports to: District Store Director; Store Manager; Assistant Managers of Operations, Perishables, Health Wellness Home; Service Managers; Meat Department Manager or Assistant Meat Department Manager where applicable. Positions that Report to you: None Primary Duties and Responsibilities • Provides prompt, efficient and friendly customer service by exhibiting caring, concern and patience in all customer interactions and treating customers as the most important people in the store. • Smiles and greets customers in a friendly manner, whether the encounter takes place in the employee’s designated department or elsewhere in the store. • Makes an effort to learn customers’ names and to address them by name whenever possible. • Assists customers by: • escorting them to the products they’re looking for • securing products that are out of reach • loading or unloading heavy items • making note of and passing along customer suggestions or requests • performing other tasks in every way possible to enhance the shopping experience. • Answers the telephone promptly and provides friendly, helpful service to customers who call. • Works with co-workers as a team to ensure customer satisfaction and a pleasant work environment. • Tenderizes, grinds, and cuts merchandise. • Prepares cutting lists for case fills. • Conducts cutting tests. • Orders new items (not strictly for replenishment). • Monitors refrigeration for proper temperatures. • Maintains strict adherence to department and company guidelines related to personal hygiene and dress. • Adheres to company policies and individual store guidelines. • Reports to work when scheduled and on time. Secondary Duties and Responsibilities • Manages the department in the absence of the department manager and assistant department manager • Wraps, weighs, and labels product • Performs cleaning in the department • Replenishes and organizes coolers • Assists in other areas of store as needed • Performs other job related duties and special projects as required Supervisory Responsibilities Manages the department in the absence of the Department Manager and Assistant Department Manager Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Worker Characteristics • Must be able to solve practical problems; variety of variables with limited standardization; interpret instructions. • Must have the ability to do arithmetic calculations involving fractions, decimals, and percentages. • Have the ability to file, post, and mail materials; copy data from one record to another; talk with customers to identify their requests; guide people and provide basic direction. Education and Experience High School or equivalent, Hy-Vee food safety training. Over one year of related work experience preferred Physical Requirements • Must be physically able to exert up to 100 pounds of force (energy exerted) occasionally; exert up to 50 pounds of force frequently; and exert up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. • Visual requirements include vision from less than 20 inches to more than 20 feet with or without correction, depth perception, color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), and field of vision. • Must be able to perform the following physical activities: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Working Conditions This position is exposed daily to dirt, noise, temperature extremes, dampness, vibrations, equipment movement hazards, cleaning chemicals/solvents, and electrical shock. This is a fast paced work environment. Equipment Used to Perform Job Power ban saw, Grinder, Tenderizer, Slicker, Bone duster (where applicable), Knives, Tumblers, Automatic patty machine (where applicable), Automatic stuffier, Wrapping system, Rotisserie, Pallet jack, Familiar with software. Confidentiality Has access to confidential information such as cutting tests, tonnage sheets, monthly reports, and projection sheets. Contacts Has daily contact with customers and the general public, and vendors/suppliers in the absence of the department manager. Are you ready to smile, apply today. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.