Occupation Details
Food Preparation Workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,400.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$33,200.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$40,020.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
45,990
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
70,370
+2,438 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
12,358
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.5%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Quick Start - High school or less
Experience Requirements
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Education Requirements
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Food Production
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Belt conveyors
- Blenders
- Bread slicers
- Brick ovens
- Cappuccino machines
- Charbroilers
- Choppers
- Coffee brewing machines
- Coffee grinders
- Combination slicers/electronic portion scales
- Commercial cooking ovens
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial microwave ovens
- Commercial ranges
- Commercial stand mixers
- Cotton candy machines
- Dicers
- Dishwashing machines
- Dough mixers
- Drink dispensers
- Electric fryers
- Electric meat and cheese slicers
- Electric meat grinders
- Electronic chicken rotisseries
- Espresso machines
- Food processors
- Food scales
- Frozen custard machines
- Frozen drink machines
- Griddles
Technology
- MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Quizlet
- ValuSoft MasterCook
- YouTube
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- clean equipment or machinery
- maintain records, reports, or files
- requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
- operate food preparation equipment
- measure or weigh ingredients for food preparation
- clean rooms or work areas
- load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
- deliver or obtain mail, messages, records, food or other items
- use knowledge of food handling rules
- serve food or beverages
- provide customer service
- understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
- stock or organize goods
- follow recipes
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- use knives
- retrieve or place goods from/into storage
- wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils
- prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
- carve meat or bone fish or fowl
- place food on dishes or trays or in takeout bags
- prepare beverages
- perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
- knead, shape, cut, or roll food products by hand
- cut, trim, or clean meat, or carcasses
- distribute food to waiters or waitresses to serve to customers
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
- Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Portion and wrap food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
- Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
- Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
- Keep records of the quantities of food used.
- Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
- Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
- Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
- Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
- Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
- Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
- Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
- Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
- Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.
- Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
- Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.
- Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
- Stir and strain soups and sauces.
- Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
- Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Prepare and serve a variety of beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
- Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
- Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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