Top Cook Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Question Overview: This question is a way to determine if the applicant is familiar with the company and its products. It also helps you determine if they are genuinely interested in the position or if they are just looking for a job.

Sample Answer: I've always wanted to work for your company. I love your products and I know you have a great reputation in this industry.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Knowledge of the company
• - A desire to work for the company
• - A desire to work in the industry

Question Overview: This question is designed to help you determine if the applicant is honest and willing to admit their shortcomings. It also helps you determine if they are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Sample Answer: My strengths are my ability to work with others and my attention to detail. My weakness is that I am not the best at multi-tasking.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Honesty
• - Willingness to work on weaknesses
• - Acknowledgment of strengths

Question Overview: This is a question that is used to gauge the applicant's interest in the position and to help you get a feel for their personality. It is also a good opportunity to see if they have any questions for you.

Sample Answer: I am very interested in this position. I love the food industry and am looking forward to working with you. I have a few questions for you.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A desire to work for your company
• - A willingness to learn
• - A sense of humor

Question Overview: This question is designed to see if the applicant has any areas of improvement. It is important to know what they want to work on, as it will help you determine if they are a good fit for your business.

Sample Answer: I would like to learn more about the business side of the industry. I would also like to improve my cooking skills and my customer service skills.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - An interest in learning more about the business
• - An interest in improving their cooking skills
• - An interest in improving their interpersonal skills

Question Overview: This question is designed to help you get a sense of the applicant's personality. You want to find out if they are a team player, if they are honest, and if they are a hard worker.

Sample Answer: I am a hard worker. I am also honest and I like to help others.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A positive attitude
• - A willingness to work hard
• - Honesty about their strengths and weaknesses

Question Overview: This question is designed to help you determine if the applicant has the experience you are looking for. They should be able to provide a detailed answer that includes the tasks they performed and the skills they used.

Sample Answer: I was a line cook at a local restaurant. I worked with a team of four other cooks to prepare and serve meals. I was responsible for cooking the meat and fish dishes.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A detailed description of their duties
• - The ability to work in a team environment
• - The ability to work independently

Question Overview: This question is important because you want to make sure that the candidate is available for the hours you need them. If they are not available, you will need to find someone else.

Sample Answer: I am available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Availability for the hours you need
• - A willingness to work overtime if necessary

Question Overview: This question is designed to get a feel for the applicant's interest in working for your business. You want to know if they are just looking for any job or if they are genuinely interested in working for you.

Sample Answer: I am interested in working with you because of the reputation of your business. I have heard great things about it from people I know.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A genuine interest in working for your business
• - A desire to work with your team
• - A willingness to work hard

Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the applicant's interests and their personal style. It is also a way to determine if they are a good fit for your restaurant.

Sample Answer: I love cooking all types of food. I love the challenge of making a new dish and making it taste great.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A passion for cooking
• - A willingness to learn new styles
• - A desire to please the customer

Question Overview: This question will help you determine how the applicant prioritizes tasks and how they will handle multiple tasks at once.

Sample Answer: I prioritize my tasks based on urgency and importance. If I have a lot of orders, I will start with the most important ones first.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A sense of urgency
• - The ability to prioritize tasks
• - The ability to work with others

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the applicant handles customer service. You want to see how they will interact with your customers and how they will handle any issues that may arise.

Sample Answer: I always try to make my customers happy. I am always willing to go the extra mile to make sure they are satisfied.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A willingness to go above and beyond
• - A positive attitude
• - An understanding of the customer's needs

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the applicant will sell themselves. You want to see how they will handle a difficult question, and you want to see if they can be honest about their strengths and weaknesses.

Sample Answer: I am a hard worker who is willing to learn and do whatever it takes to succeed. I am also honest and dependable.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Honesty about their strengths and weaknesses
• - A willingness to learn
• - A desire to work for your business

Question Overview: This question is a test of the applicant's knowledge of cooking methods and food safety. The applicant should be able to explain how they determine the temperature of chicken and other meats.

Sample Answer: I use a meat thermometer. I insert it into the thickest part of the meat and wait for it to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Knowledge of food safety
• - Knowledge of food preparation
• - Ability to explain their process

Question Overview: This question is used to determine if the applicant will be able to make it to work on time. You don't want to hire someone who will be late every day, and you don't want to have to fire someone because they can't make it to work on time.

Sample Answer: I live about 20 minutes away from Google. I have no problem getting up early or staying up late if necessary.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A realistic view of their commute
• - The willingness to get up early or stay up late if necessary

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the applicant will handle a leadership role. You want to see if they are willing to take charge and make the tough decisions when necessary.

Sample Answer: I like to lead by example. I am always willing to help my team. I believe in working together to solve problems.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A willingness to lead
• - The ability to delegate responsibility
• - A desire to work with others

Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the applicant's motivation. You want to hire someone who is driven to succeed and will benefit from the position.

Sample Answer: I will gain experience and knowledge that will help me in my career. I want to learn as much as I can about the culinary arts field.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A sense of purpose
• - A desire to learn and grow
• - The ability to work well with others

Question Overview: This question is designed to test the applicant's interest in the position. If they are not interested in the job, they may not be as motivated to do well. It also helps you determine if they have done their research on your company and the position.

Sample Answer: I am very interested in this position. I've done my research on your company and I feel that I would be a great fit for this job.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A genuine interest in the job
• - A desire to work for your company
• - A willingness to learn

Question Overview: This question is an opportunity for the candidate to sell themselves to you. You want to hear that they are passionate about the job and that they have a desire to work in the culinary arts field.

Sample Answer: I am passionate about cooking and serving great food. I have a desire to work with people and help them enjoy their dining experience.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Passion for the culinary arts
• - A desire to work in the food industry
• - A willingness to learn and grow

Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the applicant's values. You want to know if they look up to someone in the culinary industry or if they have a role model outside of the food industry.

Sample Answer: My mother. She is the one who taught me how to cook and bake.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Someone in the culinary industry
• - Someone outside of the culinary industry