Top Cook Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Cook interview by going through these most asked Cook interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • 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: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • 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: What do you want to tell me about yourself?
  • 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: What do you want to work on?
  • 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: What is your strength?
  • 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: What did you do at your last job?
  • 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: When are you available?
  • 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: What interests you in working with us?
  • 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: What kind of cooking do you like?
  • 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: What interests you in working for Freddy's?
  • Question Overview: This question gives you an opportunity to learn more about the applicant. You want to know what they find attractive about your business. You may also want to ask them why they are leaving their current position.

    Sample Answer: I am interested in working for Freddy's because I have heard great things about the company and the benefits are great.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A desire to work for your company
    • - The ability to articulate why they are interested in working for your company

  • Question: Where did you work before?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to help you determine if the applicant has experience in the field. You should expect them to have at least some experience in the industry. If they have no experience, you may want to reconsider hiring them.

    Sample Answer: I worked at a small restaurant in my hometown for two years. I started as a dishwasher and worked my way up to cook. I learned a lot about cooking and customer service there.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A list of previous employers
    • - A brief description of their duties
    • - A list of skills they learned while working there

  • Question: How long do you plan to stay with us?
  • Question Overview: This question is a bit of a trick question. You want to hire someone who is interested in the job and the company, but you don't want to hire someone who is only looking for a short-term job.

    Sample Answer: I plan to stay with you for as long as you will have me. I am very interested in this position and your company.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Someone who is interested in the job and the company
    • - Someone who is willing to stay with the company for the long term
    • - Someone who is willing to invest in the company

  • Question: How much experience do you have?
  • Question Overview: This question is a simple one, but it can tell you a lot about the candidate. If they are new to the industry, they may not have much experience. If they have been in the industry for a while, they will likely have more experience.

    Sample Answer: I have been cooking for 10 years.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - The amount of experience
    • - The type of experience
    • - The amount of time they have been in the industry

  • Question: What is your current skill level?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to test the applicant's honesty. You want to make sure they are not overstating their abilities.

    Sample Answer: I am a beginner. I have a lot to learn, but I am willing to work hard and learn from my mistakes.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Honesty about their skill level
    • - A willingness to learn
    • - The ability to accept constructive criticism

  • Question: How long have you been cooking?
  • Question Overview: This question is a simple way to determine how much experience the applicant has in the industry. It is important to know how long they have been cooking and what their experience level is.

    Sample Answer: I've been cooking for about three years.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Length of time cooking
    • - Level of experience

  • Question: How do you handle stress?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to determine how the applicant handles stress. It is important to know how they will react in a stressful situation.

    Sample Answer: I try to keep my stress level low by exercising and eating healthy.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of stress
    • - A willingness to seek help when necessary
    • - A desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle

  • Question: What was your least favorite part about your old job?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to get a feel for the applicant's attitude. You want to make sure they are not going to complain about their current or previous job. This is a red flag for potential problems in your workplace.

    Sample Answer: I didn't like the long hours. I understand that it is part of the job, but it was difficult to balance my personal life with my work life.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A positive attitude
    • - A willingness to learn and improve
    • - An understanding that there are always aspects of a job that you don't like

  • Question: How long do you plan to work at KFC?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to determine if the applicant is looking for a long-term career or just a job. If they are looking for a career, you will want to hire them. Someone who is only looking for a job will likely leave after a few months.

    Sample Answer: I plan to work at KFC for as long as I can. I love the food and the people.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A desire to work at KFC for the long term
    • - A willingness to work hard and learn

  • Question: What do you think about working here?
  • Question Overview: This question is a simple one, but it can be revealing. The applicant may be nervous and give a generic answer. They may be excited and enthusiastic about the position. They may also be completely uninterested in the position and the company.

    Sample Answer: I think this is a great company with a lot of potential. I would love to work here.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A positive attitude about the company
    • - A willingness to work hard
    • - A desire to be part of the team