SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Cooks, Short Order

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Caterer
  • Cook
  • Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook)
  • Food and Beverage Attendant
  • Grill Cook
  • Line Cook
  • Pizza Maker
  • Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)

What is a cooks, short order?

Cooks, Short Order are culinary professionals who prepare quick and simple meals, typically in a fast-paced dining environment such as diners, cafes, or fast-food establishments. Their primary responsibility revolves around cooking food items that are ordered by customers, which must be executed swiftly to meet the demands of a busy kitchen. These cooks prepare a variety of dishes, including breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, and salads, often using grills, fryers, and other cooking equipment. They need to have a solid understanding of food safety and sanitation practices, as well as the ability to work efficiently under pressure. Cooks, Short Order must be skilled in multi-tasking, ensuring that orders are precise and timely, while maintaining the quality and taste of the meals they serve. This role is essential in the food service industry, as it directly impacts customer satisfaction and overall dining experience.

What the work actually is

  • Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
  • Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
  • Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
  • Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
  • Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.

Skills employers expect

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.
  • Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.

Abilities

  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Knowledge

  • 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.
  • Food Production Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  • Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Less than high school diploma
Some college, no degree

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Point of sale POS software Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro · Foodman Home-Delivery · Plexis Software Plexis POS · RestaurantPlus PRO
  • Inventory management software Inventory control software

Tools

  • Commercial use cutlery Boning knives · Chefs' knives · Paring knives
  • Commercial use ranges Electric ovens · Electric stoves · Gas ovens
  • Domestic strainers or colanders Colanders · Strainers
  • Commercial use steamers Steam kettles · Steamers
  • Commercial use graters Fruit zesters · Graters

Who it suits

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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Questions people ask

How much does a cooks, short order earn in South Africa?

Cooks, Short Order salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What is a cooks, short order?

Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables, Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea and Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.