MightyRecruiterPrep cooks are responsible for ensuring all the ingredients and utensils are ready to use by the head chef. This can include washing food, checking its expiration date and chopping vegetables. They also play a role in ensuring all the supplies are stocked and preparing a unique menu.
A keen sense of taste will come in handy because prep cooks may need to recommend what should go in a dish or how much of an ingredient should be used. Dexterity is also good to mention in your prep cook job description because these professionals will be using delicate hand tools to finely chop and slice products.
Physical stamina is good to have because prep cooks will constantly be exposed to a hot environment where they will have to stand for hours at a time. Include all this in your prep cook job description so that it resembles the example below.
Prep Cook Job Summary
Are you passionate about cooking and want to put your skills to the test in a fun, team-centric environment? We are a first-class restaurant that consistently gets five star reviews on Yelp, and a big part of that is due to our excellent team. We require a new prep cook who is willing to work a variety of shifts and has a strong commitment to the details. You will be helping a world-renowned chef prepare dishes, so while there are challenges with the job, this is a great opportunity for someone who hopes to become a head chef one day. We still manage to have fun, so apply today if you think you are ready.
Job Responsibilities
- Ensure all food is stored properly so it remains sanitary and clearly mark the expiration date on the package
- Maintain the overall cleanliness of the kitchen by sweeping the floors at the end and beginning of each day and cleaning all kitchen equipment
- Prepare ingredients so they are ready to be used by the head chef, which can entail slicing vegetables, cooking fish, boiling water or anything else
- Keep inventory of all of the restaurant’s food and input necessary orders into the establishment’s inventory software system
- Assist the head chef with the actual creation of dishes and be in charge of preparing food if the head chef is not there or is busy with other tasks
- Analyze recipes to see how cost-effective they would be to serve based on all overhead costs
- Determine how certain dishes need to be presented on the plate
- Go out into the community to assist with catering jobs and special events
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma
- At least 18 years old
- Ability to work within a team
- Great communication skills
- A desire to learn and grow as an individual
Preferred:
- Prior experience working in a kitchen
Prep Cook Job Responsibilities
The job responsibilities section of a prep cook job description should be the first portion to catch a reader’s eye. It should accurately describe the day-to-day duties of the position so jobseekers have a strong idea of what to expect. This is why the responsibilities section is where you should plan to spend the bulk of your time. This section should be meaty but it need not be exhaustive. Focus instead on the most important daily duties of the position rather than additional ones that won’t play as large of a role in the job.
Following some of the tips already shared on this page, it’s good practice to organize these responsibilities in a bulleted format. Bullets help streamline the bulk of information you’ll be putting here and make it easier for jobseekers to understand what managers will expect of them, which translates to more resumes from eligible candidates. You should also start each phrase with an expressive verb and use between four and eight bullet points to keep your prep cook job description concise and focused.
Here are some examples of prep cook job responsibilities:
- Help organize banquets and other events, including setting tables and arranging items
- Ensure each order is completed correctly
- Monitor the proper assortment of ingredients in each dish
- Report inventory levels to the chef or sous chef at regular intervals
Prep Cook Job Specifications
Writing the job qualifications and skills section of your prep cook job description may seem like a simple task at first glance, but don’t underestimate it. This section includes the minimum requirements to apply for the position, such as education and relevant work experience. If you don’t communicate these ideas clearly, you will often confuse jobseekers regarding their eligibility for the position. This usually results in fewer applications, or worse, a heightened number of applications from unqualified candidates.
To avoid this unfortunate situation, sit down with your upper management to work out the details of their expectations for prep cooks. This will give you a clear vision of what you should include in the job qualifications and skills section and simplify the writing process. Be sure to separate the non-negotiable skills from preferred ones on the prep cook job description. This will give candidates a firm understanding of whether they have what it takes to apply.
You can use these examples of well-written prep cook job specifications as a reference:
- 2 or more years’ experience in food preparation
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Flexible schedule for evenings and holidays
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-stress work environment
- Strong team-player attitude
