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Cook

Advocate Health · West Allis, WI

Posted Sep 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to adapt a recipe because of a dietary restriction, like low sodium or pureed texture.

real experience with therapeutic diets, which is central to hospital food service

Tell me about a time you noticed food waste piling up on your line and what you did about it.

cost-consciousness and whether they take initiative on portion control rather than waiting to be told

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a coworker during a busy shift. How did you handle it?

interpersonal skills and composure under the pressure of a shared kitchen

Describe your experience working a fast-paced line where orders come in continuously rather than in one big batch.

whether their three years of experience actually included line-style, order-driven cooking versus only batch prep

Tell me about a time a piece of equipment, like a slicer or mixer, malfunctioned or you got a minor injury on the job. What did you do?

safety awareness and reporting habits in an environment full of knives, heat, and machinery

Technical

Walk me through how you'd read a production sheet and recipe at the start of a shift to figure out what needs to be made and how much.

whether the candidate actually understands how to translate a production sheet into a prep plan, not just cook from memory

How do you check and log food temperatures during a shift, and what do you do if something is out of range?

concrete knowledge of food safety protocol, not just awareness that it matters

What's your approach to storing and rotating inventory so nothing gets used past its safe window?

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How would you plate and garnish a dish differently for a room service tray going to a patient room versus a cafeteria line?

understanding that hospital food service has different presentation and handling standards than a restaurant line

What does age-specific care mean to you in the context of preparing meals for patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric?

whether they grasp the policy language in the posting and can connect it to practical differences in texture, portion, and presentation

Situational

A room service order comes in for a patient with a specific diet order, and you're mid-way through prepping a large batch for the next meal period. How do you handle both?

ability to prioritize between individualized room-service demands and batch production without letting either slip

If you got a tray back because a patient said the food didn't match their diet order, what would you do right away?

seriousness about diet accuracy since a mistake here can be a real patient safety issue, and whether they escalate correctly

This role is on your feet most of the shift with lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally. How have you managed that kind of physical demand in past kitchen jobs?

realistic self-assessment of physical stamina and honesty about the job's demands

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 11903 Aurora West Allis Medical Center - Food and Nutrition Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 24 Schedule Details/Additional Information: This position is 3 days a week/ 6 days per pay period totaling 48 hours per two weeks. It will be primarily first shift as a production cook (prep cook) and Room service cook (line cook). Every other weekend and rotating holidays. Pay Range: $20.80 - $31.20 Major Responsibilities: • Reviews production sheets and recipes to ensure quality and quantity needed for items to prepare. Prepares food on daily production report according to established guidelines. Maintains time and production records. • Measures and mixes ingredients according to recipe. Uses a variety of kitchen utensils and equipment including blenders, mixers, grinders, slicers and tenderizers to prepare soups, salads, gravies, desserts, sauces and casseroles. • Bakes, roasts, broils and steams meat, fish, vegetables and other foods per recipes. Carves and slices meats and cheese. • Garnishes, displays and serves food items according to standards and recipes. • Ensures proper storage and rotation of inventories in refrigerators and freezers. Monitors food temperatures and utilizes established procedures to ensure safe food handling techniques and prevent bacteria contamination. • Follows department standards for safe food handling, storage and sanitation. Maintain temperature logs for production areas per department standards. • Monitors accurate portioning and promotes food waste control. Prepares in small batches to help control waste/cost. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • ServSafe Food Handler certification issued by the National Restaurant Association needs to be obtained within 1 year. Education Required: • High School Graduate (or equivalent knowledge) in. Experience Required: • Typically requires 3 years of experience in food production in settings such as a hotel, restaurant or high end institutional environment. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Familiarity with diet restrictions and ability to adapt recipes accordingly. • Ability to measure and scale amounts of ingredients used in a recipe. • Proficient time management skills. • Strong interpersonal skills. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the duties of the job. • Stands, walks, and reaches above shoulders the majority of the workday as well as squats, bends, twists, kneels and climbs throughout. • Continuously lifts up to 10 lbs., frequently lifts up to 20 lbs. and occasionally lifts up to 50 lbs. • Working atmosphere may contain fumes and odors from food and dust sources such as flour, spices, etc. • May be exposed to mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary. • Will be exposed to sharp knives, other sharp cooking utensils, heat from ovens and other hazards in a cooking environment. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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