Cook Jobs | Monster.com

Whether people are on vacation, celebrating a special occasion, or just don't want to deal with dishes for the night, hungry diners will always look for delicious places to eat outside the home. Those restaurants and eateries rely on competent individuals to fill cook jobs and deliver consistently tasty meals to customers.

As a cook, your day-to-day duties go far beyond preparing and cooking food. You'll mix ingredients, weigh and measure portions, operate cooking equipment, store foods, and ensure that food is served fresh. Additionally, you'll promote high sanitation standards by cleaning work areas, utensils, dishes, and equipment.

Most cooks work directly for restaurants, diners, cafeterias, and other eateries. Some work for private households, cruise ships, and short order businesses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cooking jobs are expected to increase by 10% over the next decade. As a cook, you'll have plenty of room for advancement. In fact, many cooks eventually work their way up to head cook, kitchen supervisor, chef, or restaurant owner positions.

Here are some similar food service jobs that are also worth applying for:

Cook Skills and Training

Want to know what it takes to get hired as a cook? Most jobs in cooking don't require any formal education. You can begin an entry-level cook job with little or no experience and receive a few weeks of on-the-job training. You may start out assisting other cooks while learning how to use a stove, grill, and other equipment while being trained on food preparation, sanitation best practices, and safety procedures.

Some cooks who work in restaurants and private households attend culinary school or vocational or apprenticeship programs. Cooks who receive formal education or vocational training typically learn more sophisticated cooking methods and styles and international cuisines. Postsecondary cooking education can run from a few months to up to two years. If you're interested in pursuing an academic training program or apprenticeship, the American Culinary Federation sponsors many programs.

The most important skills and qualities for cooks include:

The ability to understand food orders and correctly follow recipes.
Good hand-eye coordination when using utensils for cutting, chopping, and dicing.
Physical stamina and the ability to stand for long periods of time.
A keen sense of taste and smell.
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Update Your Cook Resume

Want to be selected as a top candidate for a cook job? Make sure you serve up a high-quality resume that highlights the skills you'll bring to the table. Need help writing your resume? Monster's resume writing tips can help you stand out from other qualified applicants. For a better idea of how your resume should look, refer to our line cook resume sample.

Depending on which job you apply for, an employer may ask for a cover letter. A cover letter is a great way to get your resume noticed, especially when an employer receives countless resumes. You don't need to be the best writer to create an effective cover letter—just follow the steps laid out in our writing tips. We also have several cover letter samples you can use as a visual guide.

Interviewing for Cook Jobs

At Monster, we know how hectic anticipating a job interview can be. Read through Monster's common interview questions and answers to get prepared ahead of time. And don't worry about stumbling on a question. We can show you several ways to recover from common job interview mistakes.

How Much Do Cook Jobs Pay?

The median pay for cooks in the U.S. is $12.95 per hour, but hourly wages range from $10.80 to $16.25. Find out how much you can make as a cook in your area by using Monster's Salary Calculator. Just enter your job title and location to see your results. And if you're looking to move up in your career, this tool will show you salaries for similar positions and potential next steps you can take.

Make Monster Your Recipe for Success

Now that you have the ingredients you need to prepare for your next cooking job, what's next? Get started by making your profile on Monster. Once you join, we'll make sure your resume gets seen by job recruiters and notify you of new cook jobs that have opened up in your area.