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 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 the candidate talking about their strengths and how they will contribute to the team. It is also a good opportunity to see how well they can sell themselves.

Sample Answer: I am a hard worker who is willing to learn. I am a team player who will work well with others.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A sense of humility
• - A willingness to work hard
• - A desire to learn and grow

Question Overview: This question is designed to test the applicant's work ethic and their ability to be on time. It also helps you get a feel for their work history. If they are new to the industry, they may not have a lot of experience with this.

Sample Answer: I was late once because I overslept. I learned my lesson and now set my alarm clock earlier.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - An honest answer
• - A willingness to learn from the mistake
• - A desire to be punctual in the future

Question Overview: This question is designed to determine if the applicant is interested in a long term career in the food industry. If they are only looking for a short term job, you may want to reconsider hiring them.

Sample Answer: I would like to eventually own my own restaurant. I know that it will take hard work and dedication, but I am willing to put in the effort.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - A desire to advance in the food industry
• - A willingness to work hard to achieve their goals
• - The ability to see themselves in your workplace

Question Overview: This question is a simple way to determine if the applicant is available to work the hours you need them to.

Sample Answer: I am available to work any hours you need me. I am also willing to work weekends and overtime.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Availability to work the hours needed
• - The ability to work weekends
• - The willingness to work overtime

Question Overview: This question is designed to test the applicant's ability to handle multiple tasks at once. In a busy kitchen, the cook will be required to multitask. For example, they may need to prepare an order while also keeping an eye on the grill.

Sample Answer: I can handle multiple tasks at once. I have a good sense of urgency and I know that if I don't get the job done, someone else will have to pick up the slack.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - An ability to multitask
• - The willingness to multitask
• - A sense of urgency in their answer

Question Overview: This question is a classic interview question, and it is designed to test the applicant's honesty and humility. A good candidate will be able to identify a weakness and explain how they are working to improve it.

Sample Answer: I work too hard sometimes. I am always looking for ways to improve, and I'm always trying to do more than I should.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - An honest answer
• - A willingness to improve
• - A desire to be the best

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the applicant will handle a difficult situation. You want to see how they will respond to a colleague who is being negative, and you want to see if they will be able to work with that person in the future.

Sample Answer: I would ask them what was wrong and try to help them. I would also try to find out if there was anything I could do to make their job easier.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Acknowledgment that negativity exists
• - A willingness to confront the person
• - The ability to work with the person in the future

Question Overview: This question is designed to test the applicant's ability to work on a team and their ability to complete a project.

Sample Answer: My last project was a special dinner for the mayor. I had to work with my fellow cooks and the wait staff to make sure everything went smoothly. We were able to serve the mayor and his guests without any problems.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - The ability to work well in a team
• - The ability to complete a project
• - The ability to work under pressure

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