SOUTH AFRICA 路 SALARY IN RANDS

Food Preparation Workers

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

  • Cook
  • Cook Aide
  • Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk)
  • Diet Aide
  • Dietary Aide
  • Food Prep (Food Preparer)
  • Food Service Aide
  • Food Service Worker (FSW)
Take the free assessment Compare salaries

What do Food Preparation Workers do?

Food Preparation Workers are essential members of the culinary team in restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice establishments. They assist in the preparation of food by performing a variety of tasks, such as washing, chopping, and slicing vegetables, meats, and other ingredients. These workers often help with basic cooking tasks and ensure that food is prepped in accordance with safety and hygiene standards. They are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen, including washing dishes and sanitizing surfaces, and they may also assist chefs and cooks by preparing ingredients for recipes and helping to organize food storage. Their work contributes directly to the efficiency of the kitchen and the quality of the meals served.

What the work actually is

  • Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
  • Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
  • Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.

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.
  • Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.

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.
  • Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

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.

馃殌 Find Your Dream Job with JobCopilot

AI-powered job search that matches you with opportunities tailored to your skills and career goals.

Start Job Search

How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Some college, no degree
Doctoral degree

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Computer based training software Quizlet
  • Data base user interface and query software CBORD NetRecipe 路 Culinary Software Services ChefTec 路 MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows 路 ValuSoft MasterCook
  • Video creation and editing software YouTube
  • Office suite software Microsoft Office software

Tools

  • Commercial use scales Combination slicers/electronic portion scales 路 Food scales 路 Point of sale POS interface scales
  • Commercial use food slicers Bread slicers 路 Electric meat and cheese slicers 路 Tomato slicers
  • Commercial use food choppers or cubers or dicers Choppers 路 Dicers
  • Cappuccino or espresso machines Cappuccino machines 路 Espresso machines
  • Soft serve machines Frozen custard machines 路 Soft-serve ice cream machines

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.

Advertisement

Get a Well-Paying Job Fast

Start Your Career

Get Started

Does this career fit you?

A free assessment matches your answers to careers, and shows the salary that goes with each one.

Start free

Questions people ask

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in South Africa?

Food Preparation Workers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Food Preparation Workers do?

Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware, Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items and Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.

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.