Cooks, Short Order

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Food Preparation & Serving
• O*NET-SOC code: 35-2015
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 11
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
• Take orders from customers and cook foods requiring short preparation times, according to customer requirements.
• Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
• Order supplies and stock them on shelves.
• Accept payments, and make change or write charge slips as necessary.

Tools and technology

Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro, Apple corers, Bakers' peels, Blenders, Boning knives, Broilers, Cappuccino makers, Carbonated beverage dispensers, Cash registers, Chefs' knives, Colanders, Commercial coffeemakers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cooks, Restaurant
• Cooks, Fast Food
• Food Preparation Workers
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
• Bakers
• Butchers and Meat Cutters
• Cooks, Private Household
• Fast Food and Counter Workers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Cooks, Short Order — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.