How to Apply to US Foods Holding

Key Takeaways

US Foods is one of the nation's largest foodservice distributors with approximately 28,000 employees and a wide variety of career paths spanning operations, sales, corporate, and technology functions.
The company uses the Phenom talent experience platform — optimize your application by creating a complete candidate profile, using ATS-friendly resume formatting, and incorporating keywords from job descriptions.
Safety is a foundational value at US Foods; prominently feature safety certifications, training, and track records on your resume regardless of the role you're pursuing.
For sales roles, prepare to demonstrate consultative selling skills, territory growth achievements, and customer relationship management experience with quantifiable results.
Operations roles (Warehouse Selector, Delivery Driver, Maintenance Mechanic) commonly require specific certifications, physical capability, and schedule flexibility — address these directly in your application.
Join the US Foods talent community through their careers portal to receive personalized job recommendations and stay connected with recruiting teams for future opportunities.
Interview preparation should include STAR-method behavioral examples, knowledge of the foodservice distribution industry, and genuine enthusiasm for US Foods' mission of helping customers 'Make It.'

About US Foods Holding

US Foods Holding Corp. is one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States, serving approximately 250,000 customers including restaurants, healthcare facilities, hospitality businesses, educational institutions, and government entities. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, the company operates a vast network of distribution centers and employs roughly 28,000 people across the country. US Foods positions itself as a trusted partner in the foodservice supply chain, offering not just food and beverage products but also technology solutions, business consulting, and menu development support. The company's culture commonly emphasizes values such as safety, teamwork, integrity, and a strong commitment to customer service. US Foods is publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: USFD) and competes alongside major players like Sysco and Performance Food Group. The company is widely recognized for its innovation in food trends, its proprietary product lines, and its digital ordering platform. For job seekers, US Foods typically offers a broad range of career paths spanning warehouse operations, logistics, sales, corporate functions, culinary expertise, and technology — making it an attractive employer for professionals at virtually every career stage and skill level.

Application Process

1
Explore Open Positions on the US Foods Careers Portal
Begin your application journey by visiting the official US Foods careers page at careers.usfoods.com. The site is powered by the Phenom applicant tracking system, which provides a modern, AI-enhanced job search experience. You can filter roles by location, job category (such as Sales, Warehouse, Driving, Corporate, or Culinary), and keyword. With approximately 586 active job postings at any given time, it's important to use specific search terms relevant to your skills. For example, searching 'Territory Sales Manager Atlanta' or 'Warehouse Selector' will yield more targeted results than broad queries. Take time to read full job descriptions carefully, noting required qualifications, preferred experience, and physical requirements — especially for operations and driving roles.
2
Create a Candidate Profile in the Phenom Platform
US Foods uses the Phenom talent experience platform, which typically allows candidates to create a detailed profile. You'll likely be prompted to upload your resume, which the system may parse to auto-fill application fields. It's common for Phenom-based portals to offer features like AI-driven job recommendations, a talent community sign-up, and the ability to save jobs for later. Creating a thorough profile — including your work history, education, certifications, and skills — can improve the accuracy of job matches the system suggests. Many applicants report that having a complete profile also speeds up the application process for subsequent roles, as your information is stored and can be reused.
3
Submit Your Tailored Application
Once you've identified a role, submit your application through the portal. Tailor your resume and any supplementary materials to the specific job description. For warehouse and driving positions, emphasize relevant certifications (CDL, forklift operation, OSHA training) and physical capability. For sales roles, highlight revenue achievements, territory management experience, and customer relationship skills. For corporate or remote positions like Digital Commerce Operations Specialist, showcase relevant technical skills and project outcomes. Some positions may include pre-screening questions or brief assessments as part of the application — answer these thoroughly and honestly, as they are commonly used to filter candidates early in the process.
4
Phone or Video Screening with Recruiting Team
Candidates who pass the initial screening typically report being contacted by a recruiter or talent acquisition specialist for a phone or video interview. This conversation commonly covers your background, interest in the role, availability, and basic qualifications. For operations roles (Warehouse Selector, Maintenance Mechanic, Delivery Driver), expect questions about your physical readiness, schedule flexibility, and relevant experience. For sales and corporate roles, recruiters may explore your career trajectory, compensation expectations, and cultural fit. This is also your opportunity to ask questions about the team, growth opportunities, and day-to-day responsibilities. Being prepared with specific examples of past achievements can help you stand out at this stage.
5
In-Person or Panel Interview
Following a successful phone screen, many applicants report progressing to one or more in-person or virtual interviews. For field and warehouse roles, this may involve a site visit to a distribution center where you can see the working environment firsthand. For sales positions like Territory Sales Manager, interviews commonly include behavioral and situational questions focused on customer acquisition, problem-solving, and territory growth strategies. Corporate and specialist roles may involve panel interviews with cross-functional stakeholders. US Foods is known to value candidates who demonstrate alignment with their service-oriented culture, so be prepared to discuss how you've contributed to team success and customer satisfaction in previous roles.
6
Background Check, Drug Screening, and Offer
Candidates who successfully complete the interview process are typically extended a conditional offer pending background verification and, for many positions, drug screening. Driving roles such as Delivery Driver will commonly require a valid CDL, a clean driving record check, and DOT physical examination. Warehouse and maintenance roles may also have specific physical or safety requirements. Once all pre-employment checks are cleared, you'll receive a formal offer with details about compensation, benefits, start date, and onboarding. US Foods is widely reported to offer competitive compensation packages that may include health insurance, retirement plans, employee discounts, and professional development opportunities.

Resume Tips for US Foods Holding

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Mirror the Language of the Job Description

The Phenom ATS used by US Foods commonly employs keyword matching and AI-driven parsing to evaluate resumes. Carefully review the job posting and incorporate relevant terminology directly into your resume. If the posting mentions 'territory management,' 'cold chain logistics,' 'food safety compliance,' or 'SAP experience,' use those exact phrases where they truthfully apply to your background. This alignment increases the likelihood that your application will be surfaced to recruiters during their candidate search.

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Quantify Achievements with Metrics

US Foods operates in a performance-driven industry where measurable results matter. Instead of writing 'Managed a sales territory,' write 'Managed a $3.2M sales territory across 85 accounts, achieving 112% of annual quota.' For warehouse roles, quantify productivity: 'Consistently selected 150+ cases per hour, exceeding team average by 18%.' For maintenance roles, include metrics like equipment uptime percentages or cost savings from preventive maintenance programs. Concrete numbers help recruiters quickly assess your impact and differentiate you from other candidates.

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Highlight Industry-Relevant Certifications and Licenses

Many US Foods positions require specific credentials. For Delivery Driver roles, prominently display your CDL class and any endorsements (hazmat, tanker). For Maintenance Mechanic positions, list certifications in refrigeration, electrical, PLC programming, or HVAC. For warehouse roles, mention forklift certification and OSHA safety training. For food safety-related positions, ServSafe or HACCP certifications are valuable. Place these in a dedicated 'Certifications' section near the top of your resume so they're immediately visible to both the ATS and human reviewers.

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Use a Clean, ATS-Compatible Resume Format

Phenom's parsing technology works best with well-structured resumes. Use standard section headings like 'Work Experience,' 'Education,' 'Skills,' and 'Certifications.' Avoid tables, text boxes, graphics, headers/footers with critical information, and unusual fonts. Stick to a chronological or hybrid format. Save your file as a .docx or .pdf (unless the portal specifies otherwise). Ensure your contact information — full name, phone number, email, and city/state — appears at the top of the document in plain text, not embedded in a header element that ATS systems sometimes fail to read.

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Emphasize Safety and Compliance Experience

Safety is a cornerstone value in the foodservice distribution industry. US Foods operates large fleets, heavy machinery, and temperature-controlled environments where safety protocols are paramount. On your resume, include specific references to safety training you've completed, safety records you've maintained (e.g., 'Zero recordable incidents over 24 months'), and any safety committee participation or leadership. For driving roles, mention your DOT compliance history. This demonstrates cultural alignment with US Foods' well-known emphasis on workplace safety.

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Showcase Customer-Centric and Teamwork Skills

US Foods commonly emphasizes a service-first mentality across all roles — not just customer-facing ones. Even for warehouse and maintenance positions, frame your experience in terms of how your work supported the broader team and end customer. For sales roles, detail your approach to building long-term customer relationships, understanding client needs, and providing consultative solutions. Use phrases like 'partnered with cross-functional teams,' 'improved customer satisfaction scores,' or 'collaborated with operations to ensure on-time delivery.'

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Include Bilingual Skills When Applicable

Several US Foods job postings, such as 'Territory Manager - Bilingual Spanish,' explicitly seek bilingual candidates. If you speak multiple languages, create a 'Languages' section on your resume and specify your proficiency level (e.g., 'Spanish — Native/Bilingual Proficiency'). Even for roles that don't explicitly require bilingual skills, language abilities can be a differentiator in a company that serves diverse customer bases across the country.

ATS System: Phenom

Phenom is an AI-powered talent experience platform used by US Foods to manage its recruitment pipeline. Unlike traditional applicant tracking systems, Phenom offers an intelligent, personalized candidate experience that commonly includes AI-driven job recommendations, chatbot assistance, and dynamic career site content. The platform parses uploaded resumes to extract key data points — work history, skills, education, and certifications — and uses this information to match candidates with relevant openings. Phenom also typically powers the talent community feature, allowing candidates to receive job alerts and stay connected with the employer even before applying. For recruiters, Phenom provides candidate scoring, pipeline analytics, and CRM-like tools to manage relationships with prospective hires.

Complete your full candidate profile in the Phenom portal, including all work history, skills, and certifications, to improve AI-driven job matching accuracy.
Use standard resume formatting with clear section headers — Phenom's parser handles clean, well-structured documents most effectively.
Join the US Foods talent community through the Phenom platform to receive personalized job alerts and stay on recruiters' radar for future openings.
Incorporate exact keywords and phrases from the job description into your resume, as Phenom's AI commonly uses semantic and keyword matching to rank candidates.
If the portal offers a chatbot or virtual assistant, use it to ask questions about roles or the application process — engagement with these tools can sometimes signal candidate interest.
Apply to roles promptly after they're posted, as Phenom's pipeline tools allow recruiters to begin reviewing candidates quickly, and early applicants may receive priority attention.

Complete Phenom Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

US Foods' interview culture is commonly described by candidates as professional, structured, and values-driven.

The company typically seeks individuals who align with its core principles of safety, teamwork, customer focus, and operational excellence. For operations roles such as Warehouse Selector, Maintenance Mechanic, and Delivery Driver, interviews tend to be practical and straightforward, focusing on relevant experience, physical readiness, schedule flexibility, and safety awareness. Candidates for these roles may also be asked to tour the distribution facility to ensure they're comfortable with the working environment, which often involves cold storage areas, heavy lifting, and early morning or overnight shifts. For sales positions like Territory Sales Manager, the interview process commonly includes behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Expect questions about how you've grown a territory, handled difficult customer situations, met or exceeded sales targets, and collaborated with internal teams. Many candidates report that interviewers are particularly interested in your ability to build consultative relationships with restaurant owners, chefs, and foodservice operators. Corporate and specialist roles — such as Digital Commerce Operations Specialist or Sr. Manager of Facility Maintenance — may involve multiple interview rounds, including conversations with hiring managers, team members, and senior leadership. Panel interviews are not uncommon for these positions. Throughout the process, US Foods interviewers commonly assess cultural fit alongside technical competence. Demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the foodservice industry, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to continuous improvement can significantly strengthen your candidacy. Many applicants also note that interviewers are transparent about role expectations, growth paths, and the fast-paced nature of the distribution business.

What US Foods Holding Looks For

Strong commitment to workplace safety and compliance with industry regulations (DOT, OSHA, food safety standards)
Customer-centric mindset with the ability to build and maintain long-term business relationships
Proven ability to work in fast-paced, physically demanding environments (especially for warehouse, driving, and maintenance roles)
Measurable track record of achieving or exceeding performance targets, whether in sales quotas, productivity metrics, or operational KPIs
Team-oriented attitude with effective communication skills across diverse teams and departments
Relevant industry certifications and licenses (CDL, forklift, refrigeration, ServSafe, HACCP) appropriate to the role
Adaptability and willingness to work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays as required by operations
Problem-solving skills and initiative, particularly the ability to identify operational improvements and implement solutions
Bilingual abilities (especially Spanish) for roles serving diverse customer bases or markets
Alignment with US Foods' values of integrity, inclusion, and continuous improvement

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a job at US Foods?

Visit the official US Foods careers page at careers.usfoods.com, which is powered by the Phenom talent platform. You can search for open positions by keyword, location, or job category. Create a candidate profile, upload your resume, and submit your application directly through the portal. You can also join the talent community to receive alerts about new openings that match your interests.

What types of jobs are most commonly available at US Foods?

US Foods typically has a diverse range of openings across several categories. The most frequently posted roles include Warehouse Selector, Delivery Driver, Maintenance Mechanic, Territory Sales Manager, and various operations coordinator positions. The company also regularly hires for corporate functions including finance, IT, marketing, human resources, and digital commerce, with some positions available as remote opportunities.

Do I need a CDL to work as a Delivery Driver at US Foods?

Yes, Delivery Driver positions at US Foods commonly require a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL), typically Class A. You'll also generally need a clean driving record, the ability to pass a DOT physical examination, and compliance with DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements. Some postings may specify additional endorsements. Check the specific job listing for exact requirements, as they can vary by location.

What is the interview process like at US Foods?

The interview process typically begins with a phone or video screening with a recruiter, followed by one or more in-person or virtual interviews with hiring managers and team members. For operations roles, you may be invited to tour the distribution facility. Sales roles commonly involve behavioral interviews focused on territory management and customer relationship skills. Corporate roles may include panel interviews. The entire process from application to offer commonly takes two to four weeks, though timelines can vary.

Does US Foods offer remote work opportunities?

Yes, US Foods does post remote and hybrid positions, particularly for corporate and specialist roles. For example, positions like Digital Commerce Operations Specialist have been listed as remote opportunities. However, the majority of US Foods roles — including warehouse, driving, sales, and maintenance positions — require on-site presence at distribution centers, customer locations, or office facilities. Filter by 'Remote' on the careers portal to find available work-from-home positions.

What benefits does US Foods typically offer employees?

While specific benefits can vary by role and location, US Foods is commonly reported to offer competitive compensation packages that may include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plans with company match; paid time off; employee stock purchase plans; tuition reimbursement; and employee discounts on food products. Many employees also report access to professional development programs and career advancement opportunities within the company's extensive national network.

How can I make my application stand out at US Foods?

Tailor your resume to each specific role by incorporating keywords from the job description, quantifying your achievements with metrics, and highlighting relevant certifications. For operations roles, emphasize safety records and physical capability. For sales roles, showcase revenue growth and customer retention numbers. Complete your full candidate profile in the Phenom platform, and consider joining the talent community to demonstrate ongoing interest. A well-formatted, ATS-compatible resume that clearly aligns with the job requirements will give you the strongest foundation.

Does US Foods value bilingual candidates?

Yes, US Foods actively seeks bilingual candidates for certain roles, particularly in sales territories serving diverse communities. Job postings such as 'Territory Manager - Bilingual Spanish' explicitly list bilingual ability as a requirement or strong preference. Even for roles that don't specifically require it, bilingual skills — especially in Spanish — can be a meaningful differentiator given the diversity of US Foods' customer base across the country.

What is the work environment like in US Foods distribution centers?

US Foods distribution centers are typically fast-paced, physically demanding environments that operate across multiple shifts, including early mornings, nights, and weekends. Warehouse Selectors commonly work in multi-temperature zones, including refrigerated and frozen areas. The work involves repetitive lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods. Safety protocols are strictly enforced. Many employees report a strong team-oriented culture within the warehouses, with opportunities for advancement into supervisory and management roles based on performance.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 216 open positions at US Foods Holding

Sources

US Foods Careers Page — US Foods Holding Corp.
US Foods - About Us — US Foods Holding Corp.
US Foods Holding Corp. - Investor Relations — US Foods Holding Corp.
Phenom Intelligent Talent Experience Platform — Phenom People
US Foods Company Profile and Reviews — Glassdoor