Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

Line Cook - Food Service Cook, Part-time, Rotating

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

Posted Sep 17, 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

The shift rotates between early mornings and afternoons, with every other weekend and holidays. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states all three shift options, the weekend rotation and the holidays.

This is a union role at a set hourly rate with an evening differential. Any questions about that?

What they are checking: The posting states the union grading, the rate and the differential, so it is settled openly.

What would you do

What is different about cooking for patients rather than for a restaurant?

What they are checking: Therapeutic diets, allergies and a patient who may not want to eat at all.

A ticket comes back wrong. What do you do?

What they are checking: How a cook handles a returned plate says how they work under pressure.

About the work

Tell me about cooking to order rather than in batches.

What they are checking: The posting names preparing hot and cold menu items a la carte in a room service model.

Which cooking methods are you strongest in?

What they are checking: The posting names sauté, grilling, broiling, frying and individual plating assembly.

How do you make sure a modified or allergy order is right?

What they are checking: In a hospital kitchen a wrong tray can harm someone, and the check is the answer.

How do you plate consistently when orders come in a rush?

What they are checking: The posting names plate presentation standards, and room service comes in waves.

Walk me through your food safety checks on temperature and holding.

What they are checking: Food safety in a hospital is inspected, and a patient population is vulnerable.

Tell me about the production equipment you have used.

What they are checking: The posting names tilt fryer and turbo chef oven among quantity food production equipment.

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.

• Hours: 32 (+) Hours Per Week • Rotating Shift: 5:30AM - 2:00PM or 6:00AM - 2:30PM or 2:00PM -10:00PM (Rotating Shift Schedule) (Works Every Other Weekend and Works Holidays) • Location: Feinberg/Galter; FL BS • Union Compensation: $24.70/Hourly (+$0.97/Evening Shift Differential). The role is graded as a non-exempt position meaning you are eligible for overtime. The Line Cook 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 Department of Food & Nutrition by preparing hot and cold menu items in an a la carte fashion (i.e.: cooked to order) within a room service food production environment. Responsible for ingredient preparation and cooking of menu items based on established timing protocols, quality, diet restrictions and presentation standards. Responsibilities: • Prepares room service menu items in accordance with established/approved recipes and plate presentation standards. • Shows proficiency in all a la carte cooking methods including but not limited to sauté, grilling, broiling, frying and individual plating assembly. • Utilizes/understands the proper use of all types of quantity food production equipment to include but not limited to tilt fryer, turbo chef ovens, floor mixer, pressure steamer, combi oven, convection oven, burner range, proof box, blast chiller, grill and flat top griddle. • Prepares hot and cold food to order according to department standards of quality ensuring food is properly prepared, presented and appropriately garnished in a high volume preparation environment. • Maintains proper portion control for each order prepared in accordance with standardized recipes. • Adheres to diet and allergy restrictions for patient food orders while preparing meals. • Ensures the quality of all ingredients according to department guidelines. • Maintains foods at proper temperature. • Performs assigned tasks efficiently during meal service to maintain accurate and expeditious service. • Must be proficient in preparing multiple individual food orders at once using a full range of cooking equipment concurrently. • Follows established food-handling practices to maintain food safety standards and comply with infection control procedures. • Documents quantity and disposition of leftovers and over production. • Must label and date product utilized. • Operates equipment properly, safely and efficiently according to established procedures. • Reports all damaged and unsafe equipment to management. • Completes all assigned cleaning by end of each work shift to include but not limited to detailed oven cleaning, fryer grease removal, floors, walls, ranges, grill, counters, broiler, griddle and kettles. • Cleans assigned areas and equipment according to standards and utilization of proper cleaning chemicals. • Maintains work area in clean and orderly manner. • Completes routine projects or detail cleaning duties as assigned. • Attends department inservices, department meetings and production meetings. • Follows established break schedule unless otherwise directed by manager. • Maintains supplies and equipment to ensure efficiency, including portioning, dating, and storage of food. • Maintains established levels of supplies for work area. • Notifies management of workload status and availability for additional assignments or need of additional assistance. • Assists in the orientation of new employees in the department by demonstrating basic duties of job. • Responds to management requests in a positive and timely manner. • Follows Best Patient Experience Philosophy with emphasis on food quality, accuracy, service, safe food temperature handling and plate presentation. • Meets established timeliness and throughput benchmarks for preparation of food while maintaining quality, temperature and presentation standards. • This position is responsible for preparing and maintaining food quality in hot and cold production by following standardized recipes and procedures to meet approved budget goals. • Performs other duties as assigned. Required: • Two years of high-volume Diner or Restaurant Experience Desired: • Culinary degree and one year of high volume a la carte experience in a restaurant. • Food Handling Certification Health Department -- City of Chicago • High School Graduate. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 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