Institution and cafeteria cooks prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

  • Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
  • Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
  • Rotate and store food supplies.
  • Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
  • Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
  • Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
  • Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
  • Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
  • Train new employees.
  • Take inventory of supplies and equipment.
  • Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.
  • Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.
  • Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
  • Plan menus that are varied, nutritionally balanced, and appetizing, taking advantage of foods in season and local availability.
  • Monitor menus and spending to ensure that meals are prepared economically.
  • Compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures.
  • Determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 83% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Standing — 80% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Contact With Others — 78% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 91% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 68% responded "Extremely important".
  • Time Pressure — 83% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 70% responded "Continually or almost continually".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Monitor food services operations to ensure procedures are followed.
  • Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Move equipment, supplies or food to required locations.
  • Store supplies or goods in kitchens or storage areas.
  • Maintain food, beverage, or equipment inventories.
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Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
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.
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Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Service Orientation
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Abilities

Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
  • Meals Plus
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Spreadsheet software
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