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Career Exploration

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Also called: Cafeteria Cook, Chef, Cook, School Cook

What they do:

Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • food production
  • manufacture and distribution of products

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Spreadsheet software

  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Microsoft Excel

Data base user interface and query software

  • Meals Plus

Point of sale POS software

  • PCS Revenue Control Systems FASTRAK School Meal Software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $32,510

Education

High school diploma/GED or certificate after high school is usually needed.