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This position has closed. Advocate Health removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Dietary Aide SSUB

Advocate Health · Hazel Crest, IL · $18.85–$28.30 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 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 a time you worked in a fast kitchen or food service job. How did you keep up when it got busy?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay organized and keep quality up during rush periods like patient meal times.

Tell me about a time a customer or guest was unhappy with their food. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stay polite and solve the problem, since patients are often uncomfortable and easily upset.

Tell me about a time you were given feedback at work. What did you do with it?

What they are checking: Whether they take correction well and learn from it, which matters in a job with strict procedures.

What would you do

You're delivering a tray and notice the patient's diet order says low sodium, but the tray has a salty soup on it. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they catch diet order errors and fix them before the patient eats, since some diets are medically required.

A patient tells you they're allergic to something on their tray. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they take allergies seriously, pull the tray, and report it right away instead of picking the item off.

You're finishing your station and a coworker is far behind on theirs. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they are a team player who helps out without being asked.

The job requires every other weekend, every other holiday, and shifts that vary between 11:00 and 8:30. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Whether they can truly meet the schedule, since a missed shift leaves patient meals short-handed.

About the work

How do you check and record food temperatures, and what do you do if something is out of range?

What they are checking: Whether they understand food safety rules and would act on a bad temperature instead of serving it.

How do you keep the nursing unit kitchenettes stocked to par level, and why does that matter?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that patients and nurses depend on those supplies being there at all hours.

What are some things you do to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen?

What they are checking: Whether they know basic food safety like handwashing, separate surfaces and proper glove use.

How do you serve food with the right portion sizes, and why does portion control matter in a hospital?

What they are checking: Whether they understand portions affect patients' diets, costs and food waste.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health 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 Advocate Health.

Department: 11903 Advocate South Suburban Hospital - Food and Nutrition Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Candidates must be available to work every other weekend and every other holiday after required training for various positions. Additionally, candidates must be prepared to work variable shifts within the timeframe of 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Pay Range: $18.85 - $28.30 Major Responsibilities: Perform routine tasks associated with Dietary meal service for patients, cafeteria and catering/special functions according to departmental policies and procedures in compliance with Regulatory Agency and Health Department regulations. 1)Prepares and assembles food in accordance with established recipes and guidelines. Monitors and documents food temperatures as assigned. 2)Stocks patient floor kitchenettes with bulk nourishment and supplies according to par levels. Monitors and documents the nourishment refrigerator temperatures on nursing units as assigned. 3)Serves food to patients, employees and guests using proper portion control, handling techniques and adhering to proper temperature standards as a set by regulatory agency. 4)Prepares assigned area of responsibility by obtaining and organizing necessary food and supplies for services with established time frames; Replenishing as needed 5)Distributes food, bulk nourishment/snacks and patient meal trays according to dietary procedures 6)Keeps trayline refrigertors stocked and replenishes as needed 7)Interacts with patients at the bedside or on the phone to assist with menu selection according to age, abilities, diet prescription, food preferences or cultural/ethnic dietary restrictions. Retrieves menus and edits, cross checking to assure the diet prescription conforms to menu selected. Adheres to established guidelines and principles of safety, sanitation and security according to Accrediting Organization, Health Department and departmental standards. 1)Operates a variety of food service equipment safely and reports any malfunctions to management or designated person in charge 2)Collects and properly dispose or recycle refuse 3)Completes routine cleaning task as assigned using appropriate chemicals according to established procedures 4)Operate dish machine and perform various ware washing tasks such as cleaning and sanitizing of pots and pans, utensils, dishes and glasses; Stripping carts of soiled trays; Sanitizes equipment and work areas Performs other duties as assigned or as necessary for operations of Dietary Service due to variances in staffing requirements. Enhance skills and broaden knowledge base through regular participation in area meetings, in-services, training sessions and mandatory hospital in-services to meet Regulatory Agency standards. Education/Experience Required: High School diploma or 1 year related experience Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: Good Verbal & written communication skills Ability to read, write and speak English Ability to work well with others Customer- oriented N/A Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: - Job requires 100% of standing or walking - Requires lifting of loads up to 40 pounds - Ability to push and pull food carts - Potential for falls, burns and cuts - Bending and frequent changes in body mechanics required during shift. Incorporates the provision of cultural and age specific needs while exhibiting communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses. Primary interaction would be with adult individuals. If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Addendum: ADDENDUM TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS RELATED TO PATIENT SAFETY Report patient safety events and near misses in timely fashion Adhere to all behavioral and procedural patient safety practices Promote culture of safety through identifying threats to patient safety and intervening to prevent patient harm Communicate openly and promote team work Report intimidating behavior and other threats to patient safety promptly 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.