Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

Food Service Worker Part Time Days/Mid Shift

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Northwestern Medicine

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 any experience you have preparing food or working in a kitchen.

What they are checking: Whether they have basic kitchen skills or the willingness to learn them.

Tell me about a time you handled cash at work. How did you keep it accurate?

What they are checking: Whether they are careful and honest when handling money.

How do you stay organized when many room service orders come in at once?

What they are checking: Whether they can work quickly and accurately during busy times.

What would you do

A patient on a special diet orders something they're not allowed to have. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they follow diet orders and check with the right person instead of just sending the food.

This job has different start times, including early morning and evening. How does that fit your schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably work the rotating start times the posting lists.

A coworker isn't following cleaning procedures. What would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they would speak up to protect food safety and patients.

A family member is unhappy with a patient's meal. How would you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they listen kindly and solve the problem, as the posting asks for problem resolution.

About the work

How do you keep cold food at a safe temperature?

What they are checking: Whether they understand food safety rules that protect patients who may have weak immune systems.

How do you make sure a patient's tray is correct before it leaves the kitchen?

What they are checking: Whether they double-check diet, allergies and order details, since mistakes can harm patients.

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.

T his position requires the following various start times: 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Food Services Worker 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. • Prepares cold food items and assists in various support activities. Responsibilties: • Prepares cold food items for patients and cafeteria. • Take Room Service orders including employee/patient/family initiated orders and those patients needing assistance. • Complete tray assembly. • Ensures food meets all safety and sanitary regulations and completes all required documentation. • Data entry using Microsoft Excel. • Basic cash handling. • Maintains a safe, clean, neat and orderly cooking area. • Ensures all department policies and programs are adhered to. • Ensure satisfaction in quality and service using problem resolution skills as necessary. • Completes daily position checklists, cleaning duties and all required documentation. • Completes all mandatory in-service trainings and meets employee health requirements. • Completes daily position checklists, cleaning duties and all required documentation. • Washes and sanitizes all food service equipment used for patients and cafeteria service. • Replaces items to their proper place of storage. • Demonstrates ability to exercise independent judgment in times of need. • Assist with putting away stock using the FIFO (first in, first out) method. • Cleans and sanitizes cafeteria service items. • Cleans dish machine at end of shift. • Cleans and sanitizers work area. • Cleans and sanitizes food service carts. Behavioral Attributes: • Excellent customer service and critical thinking skills • Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. Preferred: • One-year customer service experience • Familiar with diet restrictions 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.

Apply at Northwestern Medicine

More food service worker mid roles