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kitchen assistant Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top kitchen assistant interview questions and answers.

  1. What food handling certifications do you have? See answer
  2. Can you tell me about a time when you noticed that the kitchen had run out of an ingredient? See answer
  3. What types of food preparation are you most familiar with? See answer
  4. How do you handle stress when the kitchen is overwhelmed with orders? See answer
  5. What is your most enjoyable task as a kitchen assistant? See answer
  6. What is your least enjoyable task as a kitchen assistant? See answer
  7. When given a list of tasks to complete, how do you prioritise your time? See answer
  8. What are the steps you take when converting a recipe to triple the portions? See answer
  9. What was your most rewarding kitchen assistant position and why? See answer
  10. How do you think your previous coworkers would describe your work ethic? See answer
  11. Can you tell me how you maintain and improve your skills as a kitchen assistant? See answer
  12. What are the steps you would take when cleaning a gas oven? See answer
  13. What is one item you would change on our menu? See answer
  14. What is it about our restaurant that made you apply for the position of kitchen assistant? See answer
  15. Can you tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a fellow worker in the kitchen?
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Hire your next kitchen assistant today.

Post a job

Hire your next kitchen assistant today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 kitchen assistant Interview Questions and Answers

What food handling certifications do you have?

This question aims to understand if the candidate has the necessary food handling certifications required for your premises in your province or territory. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness that a food handling certification regulatedin your province/territory is required
  • The candidate has a valid certification
  • Understanding of proper food preparation and safety

Example:

"I have a valid Food Sanitation and Hygiene certificate that I completed last year from Alberta Health Services. It is a provincially recognised certificate that covers all necessary food safety and handling to work as a kitchen assistant."

Can you tell me about a time when you noticed that the kitchen had run out of an ingredient?

This question highlights the candidate's ability to think critically about a problem that could arise in your place of business.They can also show evidence of this experience with an example from a previous role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness ofthe workspace
  • Ability to be proactive
  • Effective communication

Example:

"One example that I can think of is when I was working at my most recent previous position. When I went into the walk-in cooler, I noticed that we were down to only six pieces of chicken. I immediately went to my supervisor and let him know that we were running short. This allowed the kitchen to inform the wait staff to remove the chicken dish from the menu that night after the last dishes were sold."

What types of food preparation are you most familiar with?

The goal of this question is to determine what skills the candidate has developed in the kitchen. This can inform you of their level of experience and skill as akitchen assistant. What to look for in an answer:

  • Explanation of the candidate's food preparation experience
  • Specific skills that the candidate has, such as knife skills and food safety
  • Understanding of the role within the company

Example:

"I have experience with many different types of food preparation, such as preparing raw vegetables and fruits for cold service and preparing vegetables, meat, fish, and poultry for cooking."

Can you tell me about a time when had you a conflict with a fellow worker in the kitchen?

This question highlights the candidate's ability to work with others and positively resolve conflict. It also provides insight into their communication skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Positive communication skills
  • Ability to resolve conflict in a respectful manner
  • Awareness of the role the candidate had in the conflict

Example:

"I did have a conflict with a fellow kitchen assistant in a previous job. We were both assigned food preparation tasks that were urgent and required the same equipment. Instead of arguing over who could use it first, we worked together to complete both of our tasks at the same time."

How do you handle stress when the kitchen is overwhelmed with orders?

This question aims to determine how the candidate handles stress under normal work conditions in the kitchen. It also provides insight into how the candidate would fit into the existing team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Positive communication skills
  • Creative thinking

Example:

"When the kitchen becomes really busy, the first thing I do is look at all of the tasks I am responsible for during my shift. I then prioritise all of my duties, so that I know what is most important at that time. I focus on one thing at a time and move onto the next task, being sure to maintain a high-quality standard in what I am working on."

What is your most enjoyable task as a kitchen assistant?

This question highlights the candidate's preferences within the work environment and what they enjoy doing. What to look for in an answer:

  • Skills that the candidate has
  • Tasks that the candidate enjoys
  • Positive attitude towardss the work environment

Example:

"There are many tasks that I enjoy as a kitchen assistant. One of my favourite tasks is to clean, prepare, and arrange vegetables for banquet vegetable trays. I enjoy this because I can use my knife skills and creativity in making the trays look visually appealing for the guests."

What is your least enjoyable task as a kitchen assistant?

This question aims to understand what the candidate does not enjoy about the role of kitchen assistant. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to perform mundane or less desirable tasks
  • Positive attitude towardss the work environment
  • Ability to perform all required tasks with high quality

Example:

"One of my least favourite tasks as a kitchen assistant is collecting and taking out the garbage. However, even though I don't look forward to it, I know that it is a vital part of keeping the kitchen clean and operating effectively."

When given a list of tasks to complete, how do you prioritise your time?

This question provides insight into the candidate's ability to manage and prioritise their time. It also highlights thecandidate's ability to think critically and problem solve. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to manage time and prioritise
  • Willingness to ask for guidance when required
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

Example:

"When given a list of tasks to complete, the first thing I do is talk to my supervisor to understand which of the tasks is the top priority. Then, I review all of the tasks to see if any of them can be completed together. For example, cleaning and washing vegetables can be done at the same time."

What are the steps you take when converting a recipe to triple the portions?

This question aims to see if the candidate hasbasic understanding of a crucial skill for the role of kitchen assistant, which includes critical thinking and mathematics. What to look for in an answer:

  • Necessary math skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Ability to read and comprehend

Example:

"When converting a recipe, I first read it entyrely to understand the overall ingredients and process. If I know it needs to be tripleaded, I take each ingredient and multiply by three to develop the new amount. Before I get started, I double-check all my math to ensure that the proportions are correct."

What was your most rewarding kitchen assistant position and why?

The purpose of this question is to understand the candidate's personality. Their answer will provide insight into what they enjoy about the role and what motivates them to maintain high kitchen standards. What to look for in an answer:

  • Positive attitude about the position
  • Clear communication
  • Positivity about previous employment experiences

Example:

"One of my most rewarding positions as a kitchen assistant was for ABC Banquet Hall. It was so rewarding because I took pride in the food we were serving and always loved seeing our customers were impressed with the dishes. Because I had a clear understanding of the expectations of my role, I was able to meet those expectations and also go above and beyond for our customers."

How do you think your previous coworkers would describe your work ethic?

This question aims to see how the candidate describes their work ethic openly and positively. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to think quickly without preparation
  • Effectively communicate ideas
  • Describe themselves in a positive way

Example:

"I think that my previous coworkers would describe my work ethic as consistent, high-quality, and always striving to do better. They would say that I was reliable, on time, and if I was ever going to be late, called ahead to tell my supervisor of the delay as soon as possible. I think they would also say that I was professional and a team-player in the kitchen."

Can you tell me how you maintain and improve your skills as a kitchen assistant?

This question provides insight into the candidate's willingness to learn new skills and procedures and their desire to improve continuously. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to take responsibility for their career growth
  • Understanding of what skills and knowledge the candidate needs to improve
  • Positive attitude regarding learning within the role

Example:

"As a kitchen assistant, I know how important it is to stay up to date with new safety regulations. I take it upon myself to renew my food handling certificate every year. I also subscribe to a food magazine to stay informed on the latest trends so that I can contribute to the team with new ideas."

What are the steps you would take when cleaning a gas oven?

This question aims to see if the candidate has the necessary knowledge about a common task for the kitchen assistant's role. If the candidate does not know, you will see how they might handle a situation when they do not have the necessary information. What to look for in an answer:

  • Basic understanding of processes and procedures required for the role
  • Willingness to ask questions for clarity or to ask for help
  • Ability to follow instructions

Example:

"Before I began, I would seek the advice of a fellow kitchen assistant or supervisor. I would pay close attention to their instructions and take notes if necessary. Then I would ask for clarifications about whether the task was a daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning procedure. When I was finished I would ask for feedback to make sure I had done everything correctly."

What is one item you would change on our menu?

The purpose of this question is to see if the candidate has researched your company and has a basic understanding of what items are offered on the menu. It also allows the candidate to highlight their creativity. What to look for in an answer:

  • Basic understanding of your company
  • Creative thinking to provide suggestions
  • Effective communication to describe the candidate's ideas

Example:

"To prepare for this interview, I reviewed the restaurant's dinner menu and understood you offer upscale casual dining. I noticed that there is a nacho platter as one of the appetisers. As nachos are typically a pub or casual dining dish, my suggestion is to re-imagine the nacho platter to present it more elegantly. Perhaps by offering the nachos as individual pieces with different toppings."

What is it about our restaurant that made you apply for the position of kitchen assistant?

This question aims to understand the candidate's motivation for applyingto work for your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Basic understanding about your company
  • Effective communication
  • Positive attitude behind their motivation for applying

Example:

"The reason I wanted to apply for the position of kitchen assistant with this restaurant is because of the positive reputation within the community. I want to be associated with a restaurant that takes care of its employees and provides exceptional food and service to its customers. I also believe there is room for growth here and I feel I could learn a lot from the chef."

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