Serving up ice cream for a living doesn’t sound too bad when you think about it. But how old do you have to be to work at Dairy Queen?
You must be at least 16 years of age to work at Dairy Queen. However, some locations may accept applications from 14 and 15 years olds provided you have a valid work permit.
Keep reading if you want to find out more!
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Dairy Queen?
Employees must be at least 16 years of age to work at Dairy Queen. However, depending on your location, take Montana for example, some Dairy Queen restaurants will hire 14 and 15 year olds.
Jobs For Teens At Dairy Queen
So what job roles are out there for young teenagers? Let’s take a look.
Kitchen Staff
You may want to apply for this job if you don’t enjoy interacting with customers. A kitchen team member is responsible for handling and preparing all different types of food (and not just ice cream!).
Health and safety procedures must be adhered to in this environment and you will be expected to keep your work area clean at all times. The kitchen staff is also expected to lift heavy boxes of stock and merchandise. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Chill Staff
Chill staff is responsible for creating treat orders. This is an extremely fast-paced environment so you must possess great communication skills as well as maintain focus.
You will also be expected to replenish stock and clean customer areas. We must warn you that being responsible for janitorial duties, you must be able to lift heavy buckets of detergent and carry boxes of stock that could weigh up to 50 pounds. You may want to treat yourself to a pair of dumbbells!
Cake Crew
While this job may seem easy, it’s pretty intense, to say the least. Cake crew members are responsible for soft serve, Blizzard cakes, and decorating cakes with all kinds of icing and accessories.
You must make sure the display freezer is full at all times and that customers are satisfied with the way their order is prepared.
How Much Do Part-time Workers Make At Dairy Queen?
Part-time workers at Dairy Queen can earn anywhere between minimum wage and $12. Kitchen and chill staff members earn around $8 per hour whereas cake crew members earn around $11 per hour.
Do I Need Any Experience To Work At Dairy Queen?
No, Dairy Queen is the perfect entry-level job for teens and no experience is required. Dairy Queen provides on-the-job training, so everything you need to know will become apparent over time.
If you do have prior work experience, you should definitely include it on your resume. Experience is only essential if you are applying for a higher position such as a managerial role.
How To Apply For A Job At Dairy Queen
Technology means we no longer have to leave our beds to hand in job applications, we simply apply online!
To do this you will need to visit dairyqueenworks.com and select ‘Career Search’ on the upper left hand side.
From here you will need to enter details such as:
- What kind of job you are looking for
- The state/city in which you live
- Preferred career category
Your search will then provide you with a list of jobs that are available near to you. Then all you need to do is select a job role and fill out an application. It’s really that easy!
What Kind Of Questions Might I Be Asked At An Interview?
Below are a couple of questions that you may be asked and how to answer them correctly.
Q: “Why do you want to work here?”
A: This is not a trick question and all you need to do is be honest about why you have applied for this position. Maybe you’re a fan of the food or maybe you have a friend or family member that works there.
Q: “What are your weaknesses?”
A: The best way to answer this question is by saying “I don’t feel I have any weaknesses” or you may take a strength and put a negative spin on it i.e. “I am a terrible perfectionist”, “my timing is so prompt that I’ll probably be waiting outside an hour before my shift starts”. Everyone loves a little humor!
Q: “What are your ambitions?”
A: Now is the time to throw some passion into the interview. Maybe your goal is to achieve a managerial position, maybe one day you hope to become the CEO of Dairy Queen! Interviewers love nothing more than a passionate individual who they won’t regret hiring.
Dairy Queen: Work Benefits
Getting a discount on food isn’t the only reason why you should apply for a job at Dairy Queen. Take a look at our list of work benefits below.
- Performance Bonuses
- Vacation
- Paid Sick Days
- Paid Time Off
- Family Medical Leave
What’s not to like?
Is It Hard To Get A Job At Dairy Queen?
Technically no, entry-level jobs are there for those who have little to no experience to give them a step up into the working world.
Fast-paced environments such as Dairy Queen usually have a quick turnover of staff, so the application process is extremely competitive. However, as we said earlier, you do not need any prior experience for an entry-level role. The trick is to work on your interview skills so that you stand out from other candidates.
Before You Go
You must be at least 16 years of age to work at Dairy Queen. As Dairy Queen is a franchise, each location operates independently, so if you have a work permit you can be hired from the age of 15 in states such as Montana. If you are unsure, why not pay a visit to your local restaurant where a team member will be happy to help.