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Cooks, Short Order

O*NET files this work under Cooks, Short Order: people who prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. The skills rated most useful are time management, reading comprehension, and active listening. You may also need to clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (6.1 of 7), then Conventional (4.4) and Enterprising, which gives it the code RCE. Getting in usually takes a few months to a year of learning on the job, a level O*NET calls some preparation. It tends to suit people who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, and it offers little for anyone seeking research, analysis and working through hard problems.

What they do

Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.

Main tasks

  • Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
  • Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
  • Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
  • Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
  • Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
  • Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.

Skills

  • Time Management
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Service Orientation
  • Coordination

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on time management and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCE takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Broiler Cook
  • Cook
  • Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook)
  • Food and Beverage Attendant
  • Grill Cook

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.