Line Cook Interview
Questions

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"As a line cook, working in a fast-paced environment under pressure comes with the territory. It is the only environment I know! In all of my roles as a line cook, I have continued to contribute high performance during high-pressure meal servings when it pays greatly to hustle!"

"A large part of the line cook role is setting up a station for the day. Food preparation and cleaning happen hand in hand to ensure the shift runs smoothly."

"Effective time management makes all the difference in the success of the line cook. I often apply different techniques to making sure I can effectively manage my time to the best of my potential. This includes combining tasks where possible and making time management a priority in my day to day work."

"Steady organization and pace or putting things in sequence for service is the basis of any type of food service organization. To ensure this, I make sure that there is sufficient stock and levels of food supplies available to line stations at all times. This helps to ensure we are equipped with the tools to operate steadily. Taking good care of yourself inside and outside of the workplace is a crucial part of keeping your energy levels up at a steady pace. I exercise, eat and sleep well which helps to me be ready to conquer a shift."

"I absolutely love cooking and it is my long-term career aspiration to become a top chef in a fine dining establishment. It will take hard work and I am willing to take the necessary steps to get there. To help accelerate my long-term goals, I welcome the opportunity to learn from the leaders around me and work with a mentor to achieve my career goals. Who knows?! One day, I could own my own restaurant!"

"There is no one that will work harder and be more dedicated to your kitchen than I can be. I am passionate about culinary arts, customer service and adding value to your establishment. My experiences working as a Line Cook in ABC Family Restaurant have prepared me to do this job well. I am beyond confident that I can perform this job above and beyond to your expectations. I'm excited to do it too!"

"You are only as good as the team you are working on, so working on a team is critical to my own personal success. As a team player, I notice when people are struggling and seek them out to help mentor or coach them wherever possible. Communication amongst the team is also critical to our success."

"I am qualified for the role as a line cook and love your restaurant! There is nothing better than doing what you love for a place you admire. You have a great reputation in this area and I aspire to contribute value long term to your success as a restaurant."

"While some line cooks might take complaints personally, I do what I do to make sure my clients are having a pleasant meal experience. If they are not happy, I will listen to the complaint and come up with solutions to resolve them. If meat is over or under cooked, and we did not get it right the first time, I will work quickly to prepare the meal again in hopes to get it right. Depending on the situation, I will work with the server to provide a discount on the meal ticket or suggest alternative meals they might like. There have been times I have personally delivered the corrected meal and brought it out to share my apologies for not hitting it on the mark the first time!"

"During the last holiday season while I was in charge of the pastry station, a colleague who was in charge at the entrée station had to go on urgent leave. I covered up for him while maintaining my own station as well. The first day was a bit difficult but then I developed and applied some effective strategies and did all that was possible before hand to ensure timely food service. I was able to run both stations simultaneously without extra help for a week."

"Math is in every kitchen, on every recipe card, and at each holiday gathering. The mathematics of cooking often goes unnoticed, but in reality, there is a large quantity of math skills involved in cooking and baking. Additionally, we apply math and time management to making sure orders are prepared or ready when they need to be. We also utilize math with inventory management and maintaining the budget of the kitchen. It is the food we make that makes you a great cook, and math is a large part of what happens behind the scenes."

"I take pride in my work station being clean and organized. Often times, I will arrive to work early to make sure everything is properly stocked and set for the day. Inventory management done well and in a proactive way is a great way to prepare for success. Additionally, working in a clean space helps everyone stay organized and on track."

"Cooking is the thing that I am most passionate about. When with my family, I enjoy creating new dishes and taping into cuisines that I do not typically cook. When people get together for a meal, it is a pleasure to provide them with an experience that is memorable for whatever occasion is at hand."

"During the last holiday season while I was in charge of the dessert station, a colleague who was in charge at the entrée station had to go on urgent leave. I covered up for him while maintaining my own station as well. The first day was a bit difficult but then I developed and applied some effective strategies and did all that was possible before hand to ensure timely food service. I was able to run both stations simultaneously without extra help for a week."