Cooks, Fast Food

Cook
Deep Fat Fryer Operator
Fast Food Cook
Fry Cook
Fryer
Grill Cook
Line Cook
Pizza Cook
Pizza Maker
Prep Cook (Preparatory Cook)

What is a Cooks, Fast Food?

Cooks in the fast food industry are responsible for preparing and cooking food items that are typically served quickly and efficiently in a high-volume environment. They work in establishments such as fast food restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias, where the menu often includes burgers, fries, sandwiches, and various side items. Fast food cooks must adhere to strict food safety and hygiene standards while managing the rapid pace of customer orders. They follow standardized recipes and portion sizes to ensure consistency in taste and presentation. Cooks need to be adept at using various kitchen equipment, such as fryers, grills, and ovens, and must be able to multitask effectively to meet customer demand during peak hours. Good communication and teamwork skills are crucial, as cooks often collaborate with other kitchen staff and front-of-house personnel to maintain service quality. In addition to cooking, they may also be involved in food preparation, inventory management, and maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen area.

Career Assessment
Career Assessment

Tasks

  • Order and take delivery of supplies.
  • Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
  • Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
  • Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
  • Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.

Technology Skills

  • Spreadsheet software
    • Microsoft Excel
  • Point of sale POS software
    • Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
    • Foodman Home-Delivery
    • Plexis Software Plexis POS
    • RestaurantPlus PRO
  • Electronic mail software
    • Microsoft Outlook
  • Word processing software
    • Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Knowledge

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Transportation

    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Public Safety and Security

    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills

  • Active Listening

    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Service Orientation

    Actively looking for ways to help people.

Abilities

  • Oral Comprehension

    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Information Ordering

    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • Near Vision

    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Speech Recognition

    The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

  • High school diploma or equivalent
    58 %

    or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

  • Less than high school diploma
    42 %

Work Activities

  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

  • Getting Information

    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

  • Handling and Moving Objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

  • Performing General Physical Activities

    Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Cook foods.
  • Prepare foods for cooking or serving.
  • Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.
  • Serve food or beverages.

Work Interests

  • Realistic

    Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

  • Conventional

    Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

  • Enterprising

    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

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Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$21800.0 - $36510.0

New job opportunities are less likely in the future. : Below Average

Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.