Cook Jobs in the United States

Cook Jobs Overview

If you have a passion for food, or at least know your way around a kitchen, working as a cook could be your ideal career move. With a projected growth rate of 16% over the next decade, the job market for cooks is plentiful and varied. Since food is an integral part of all our lives, it's not surprising that cook jobs span a wide range of industries and environments. Some of the most common positions include:

• Line cooks
• Prep cooks
• Restaurant cooks
• School cooks

Regardless of the specific role, you can generally expect to work in a demanding, fast-paced setting. Most jobs are full-time positions and many include schedules that offer long or irregular hours. The typical responsibilities of a cook include:

• Preparing ingredients and workstations
• Adhering to food safety standards and practices
• Cooking and seasoning a diverse range of foods
• Using a variety of techniques and equipment
• Keeping the kitchen clean and organized

How Much Do Cook Jobs Pay?

According to Monster's national salary data, cooks make about $13.44 per hour on average. This equates to $27,955 per year for a standard 40-hour schedule. Of course, these figures may vary considerably based on location, experience level, and other relevant factors.

For example, the median pay for cooks in New York City is $16.41. Depending on your experience and expertise, however, a rate of $20 per hour – around $41,600 per year – may not be unrealistic. Similarly, you can expect higher pay in fine dining establishments, upscale hotels, resorts, and private households. To find out how much you can earn as a cook in your city, check out the Monster Salary Tool.

Find the Right Cook Job for You

Starting a new job is often stressful, but you can set yourself up for success by seeking positions that fit your skills, priorities, and preferences. This requires a bit of self-reflection, so we recommend starting with a few basic questions.

What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

You may make a mean risotto, but can you stand the heat of a chaotic, pressure-packed commercial kitchen? When searching for jobs as a cook, your qualifications and cooking skills aren't the only factors that matter. It's also important to consider other strengths and weaknesses, including your organization and management skills, your performance under pressure, and your ability to communicate and work as a team. Evaluating job descriptions with your individual abilities in mind will help you narrow down your options and avoid roles that aren't suited for you.

What Do You Value Most?

It's hard to find a cook job you'll love if you aren't sure what you want. To avoid making this all-too-common mistake, spend some time thinking about what aspects of a job matter most to you.

Are you someone who prioritizes maintaining a healthy work-life balance? If so, you may want to focus on positions that offer a consistent, predictable schedule. Do you relish being creative and working in an exciting, lively environment? Restaurant jobs are likely to be far more rewarding for you than working in a cafeteria.

What's Your Vision for the Future?

Unless you're looking for temporary work, it's important to consider how a new job fits into your goals for the future. If you aspire to become a chef or personal cook, for instance, a job that develops your skills and looks good on your resume may be more desirable than one that provides greater stability and opportunities for advancement.

Of course, even if you have other long-term ambitions, no one wants to join a sinking ship. That's why savvy cooks pay close attention to the red flags that are often indicative of a failing restaurant.

How to Apply to Cook Jobs

With the groundwork done, you're ready to begin your job hunt in earnest. Once you've identified a few job openings that suit your skills and preferences, carefully review each listing to check for any specific instructions. Next, it's time to make sure you're putting your best foot forward.

Cook Up the Perfect Resume

Much like cooking a mouthwatering meal, creating an enticing resume starts with choosing the right ingredients. That means ensuring you've incorporated everything prospective employers need to know and nothing they don't. In general, an effective resume should include your name and contact information, your work and education history, and a concise summary of your relevant skills and credentials.

Of course, a little technique and presentation can elevate this simple recipe and make your resume stand out from the crowd. Using relevant keywords and action verbs can help you tailor your resume to the cook jobs for which you're applying. But be sure to do so naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. For cooks, some of the most valuable skills and qualifications to include are:

• Cooking, food preparation, and knife skills
• Expertise in various techniques and cuisines
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation
• Organization and time management
• Adaptability and problem-solving
• Communication and interpersonal skills

If your skills with a word processor don't quite measure up to your abilities in the kitchen, don't worry! Monster's resume writing services deliver affordable, high-impact resumes crafted by certified professionals.

Garnish With a Cover Letter

Although it's usually not required for cook jobs, a well-executed cover letter can still help you make a positive impression. While your resume essentially serves as a profile of who you are as a candidate, your cover letter allows you to make a more targeted and personalized pitch. If you have unique skills or a particular passion for the employer's signature cuisine, for example, be sure to highlight this in your letter.

Submit Your Completed Application

Once your resume and cover letter have been polished to perfection, it's time to start submitting applications. The easiest way to do this is right here on Monster. Simply create a free account and upload your documents to start applying to new openings in a matter of minutes.

However, don't forget to carefully double-check each application prior to submission. Attention to detail is a critical trait for any cook, so you can't afford to let errors or missing information slip through the cracks.

Following Up With an Employer

When looking for new cook jobs, waiting is often the hardest part. To make matters worse, it's not always clear when or how to follow up without alienating prospective employers. Fortunately, we've boiled it all down to a few basic principles.

Timing Is Everything

Unless the job listing specifically states otherwise, it's almost always a good idea to follow up after an appropriate period of time. Keep in mind that many restaurants and food service companies don't have full-time hiring managers, so it's best to give them at least a week to review your submission.

Make the Right Connection

For your follow-up to do any good, it needs to reach the right person. Ideally, this should be as simple as locating the phone number or email address of the person who posted the listing. Depending on the employer, they may also have a dedicated hiring manager. If all else fails, call or email the business directly to request the correct contact information.

Keep It Short and Sweet

The last thing you want to do is waste a potential employer's time, so brevity is essential. Whether you follow up by phone or email, politely introduce yourself and:

• State the job for which you've applied
• Reaffirm your interest in the position
• Briefly highlight your skills and qualifications
• Inquire about your application's status

Interviewing Tips for Cook Jobs

Job interviews can be unpredictable and nerve-wracking, but with the right tools and preparation, you'll be ready to knock it out of the park. Give yourself the best possible chance for success by following these simple strategies:

Don't Skimp on Interview Prep

The more you know about the business and the position for which you're interviewing, the better equipped you'll be to handle anything that's thrown your way. You should already be familiar with the job description and responsibilities, but why stop there?

Check out the employer's website, critic and customer reviews, social media accounts, and other related sources to glean more information on their style, values, workplace culture, and culinary philosophy. Not only will this research help you fine-tune your responses for each interview, but it'll also allow you to ask smarter questions of your own.

Become a Job Interview Superstar

Do you suffer from pre-interview jitters? Are you prone to rambling or forgetting key details when you're nervous? No problem! The STAR method, which stands for "Situation, Task, Action, Result" offers an easy-to-follow framework for delivering focused, informative answers to a wide range of interview questions.

To learn how to employ this method effectively, we suggest practicing with a few common questions you're likely to be asked. For cook jobs, good examples include:

• Describe the most stressful experience you've had professionally and how you handled it.
• How would you deal with the kitchen being understaffed during a dinner rush?
• What would you do if asked to prepare a dish you've never cooked before?

Follow Through With a Friendly Follow-Up

After crushing your interview, ask the interviewer when you should expect a response. If you're not contacted within this time frame, follow up with a quick email or phone call. It's important not to sound too pushy or overly familiar, though, so keep it short, courteous, and professional.

In addition to expressing your continued interest and thanking them for their time, consider adding a relevant detail or two from your interview. Finally, kindly request an update on the hiring process at their convenience.

What To Do When You Get an Offer

So, you've received an offer for one or more of the cook jobs you've selected. Congratulations! Feel free to take a well-earned sigh of relief, but there are still a couple of steps to go before you cross the finish line.

Your first priority should be to acknowledge the offer quickly and express your gratitude to the employer. If terms haven't been provided, be sure to ask when you can expect more details and when you'll need to make your final decision.

Before accepting any offer, review the salary, benefits, and other terms of employment very carefully. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. You can also use Monster's convenient salary calculator tool to see if the offered compensation is competitive with similar jobs in the area.

Career Paths for Cooks

There are all sorts of jobs for cooks in the food service industry, which means plenty of potential opportunities and career paths to pursue. If you have strong organizational and interpersonal skills, experience in a commercial kitchen can make you an attractive candidate for jobs like kitchen assistant, kitchen manager and food service director.

With the right qualifications, working as a cook could even be the first step toward launching your career as a private chef. Some large food service companies offer training and development opportunities for their employees, while industry groups like the American Culinary Federation provide certification programs, educational courses, financial aid, and other valuable resources.

Similar Occupations

If you're interested in a career in the food service industry, it pays to cast a wide net. To further expand your opportunities, we recommend checking out these similar job postings:

• Chef jobs
• Food preparation jobs
• Caterer jobs