OfferDrill.

Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 5, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Cook - Food & Nutrition, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine · McHenry, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

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

About your past

Tell me about cooking in a kitchen that serves large numbers.

What they are checking: Volume cooking is a different craft from restaurant work, and the posting serves café, patients and catering.

Full time days at McHenry. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the schedule and location the posting states.

What do you think a good meal means to someone who is in hospital?

What they are checking: Whether they see the patient at the end of the tray line.

What would you do

A recipe calls for something you do not have. What do you do?

What they are checking: The posting is built on approved recipes, and improvising has limits in a hospital.

The café, patient trays and a catering order all need you at once. How do you decide?

What they are checking: The posting names all three, and the timing is the pressure.

About the work

Walk me through cooking a protein safely: how do you know it is done and held right?

What they are checking: The posting names testing for doneness, adjusting heat and holding at proper temperatures.

How do you monitor and record steam table temperatures through a service period?

What they are checking: The posting names it specifically, and it is the record that proves food was safe.

Tell me about your knife skills and where you learned them.

What they are checking: The posting names consistent knife skills including chopping, slicing, dicing and paring.

What equipment are you comfortable with: mixers, slicers, steamers, ovens?

What they are checking: An honest inventory against the list the posting gives.

How do you cook to a dietary guideline without the food being dull?

What they are checking: The posting asks for dietary guidelines and food that is flavorful and attractively presented.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Cook II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. • Supports the Food and Nutrition Team by preparing food and meal items in a safe and sanitary manner. Responsibilities: • Measures, mixes, and prepares ingredients according to approved recipes. • Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to: blenders, mixers, grinders, slicers, ovens, steamers, etc. • Demonstrates consistent use of knife skills (chopping, slicing, dicing, paring) • Prepares and presents café, patient, and catering menu items according to recipes and standards. • Prepares and presents sauces, soups, stews, casseroles, and desserts meeting established dietary guidelines. • Cooks meats, fish, and fowl safely in a variety of ways such as baking, roasting, broiling and steaming. Carves meats into individual servings according to recipe and/or diet order. • Monitors and records temperature of steam table and hot held items throughout service period. • Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are prepared, held or served at proper temperatures. • Produces food that is flavorful and attractively presented. • Only changes ingredients or seasonings when directed by chef or culinary leader. • Maintains product levels and appearance of service stations. • Consults with manager regarding handling of any leftovers. • Observes infection control and HACCP practices at all times. • Proper completion of all daily temperature logs and daily production sheets. Assists supervisor with corrections as needed. • Maintains kitchen/station in a safe and organized manner. • Manages work schedule efficiently completing tasks at assigned times. • Monitors cooking equipment as needed. Communicates with a manager to initiate any repairs. • Other duties may be assigned by managers or supervisors due to operational needs. Required: • High School diploma or equivalent; or in lieu of high school diploma/GED, must have a minimum of 1 year relevant experience in any of the following: cooking, production, or food service. • Successful completion of Safe Food Handler certification within 1 year of hire. Preferred: • Previous healthcare cooking experience. • Completion of some culinary schooling • Basic knowledge of special diets. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.