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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 2, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Cook/Food Prep Worker - Food & Nutrition, Part-time, Rotating

Northwestern Medicine · Woodstock, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 1, 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 or food preparation work you have done.

What they are checking: The posting asks for a year of relevant experience in lieu of a diploma, and prefers prior cooking.

Part time on rotating shifts at Woodstock. 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

How do you decide what to do with leftovers?

What they are checking: The posting names it explicitly, and it is where food safety and waste pull against each other.

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

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

About the work

Walk me through preparing a dish from a standardized recipe and a production sheet.

What they are checking: The posting names both specifically, and cooking to a sheet is different from cooking.

What do you know about HACCP, and how does it change how you work?

What they are checking: The posting names HACCP directly, and in a hospital kitchen it is not optional.

How do you store and handle food so nothing goes wrong later?

What they are checking: The posting names storage, handling and preparation guidelines together.

What is different about preparing food for a patient on a modified diet?

What they are checking: The posting names conferring with the production manager on modified diet preparation.

How do you keep your work area sanitary through a whole shift?

What they are checking: The posting names sanitation and maintenance of the work area.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Cook/Food Prep Worker position reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine, 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. Cooks and prepares cold food for distribution to patients, the cafeteria, and catering services. Responsibilities: • Oversees personnel engaged in processing, decontaminating, sterilizing and delivering a wide variety of patient care items and surgical instruments according to established policies and procedures. • Prepares food items following standardized recipes and production sheets. • Adheres to all applicable guidelines, including HACCP, regarding the storage, handling and preparation of food and usage of equipment/supplies. • Confers with production manager regarding modified diet preparation and use of leftovers. • Adheres to all applicable guidelines regarding the sanitation and maintenance of work area. • Performs other duties as assigned Required: • High school degree; or in lieu of high school degree, must have a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience in any of the following: cooking, production, or food service Preferred: • Prior cooking experience 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.