ApprenticeSearch.com | Cook (415A)

Cooks prepare, cook, and present a wide variety of foods for anywhere from five to five hundred people. They may work at receptions, house parties, and other events or create individual dishes in restaurants or institutions, sometimes in accordance with instructions from a dietician or chef. Some Cooks may even work in test kitchens where they develop recipes for televised cooking shows or home and lifestyle magazines.

Job Related Skills, Interests and Values

Planning a sequence of tasks to meet production requirements within specified costs

Organizing human and material resources within time constraints to create products
Performing calculations and using formulas in the preparation of soups, stews, gravies, etc.
Working with dieticians, customers, or senior personnel to design meals
Hiring, supervising, and training kitchen personnel
Performing job duties with care and creativity

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

Secondary school diploma with math and English credits; job-related co-op or courses an asset
High school students may benefit from Hospitality and Tourism High Skills Major program
Completion of 5,280-hour apprenticeship and two 12-week in-school training sessions
Exam to obtain Certificate of Qualification

What's Your Future as a Cook (415A)?

Full-time or part-time with evenings, weekends, and holidays; may work long and irregular hours
Generally start as apprentices and progress through Line Cook, Junior Cook, and then Cook; those with extensive experience who supervise others are known as Chefs
May work as generalist or specialize in particular type of cuisine; some may own or co-own restaurant
Employers include institutions, restaurants, catering companies, hospitals, health and social services firms, and recreational chains or resorts

Wage Rate

Apprentice wage starts at minimum wage and increases with skill and experience. Fully qualified workers earn an average of $16.00-$22.50 per hour.

Self-Rating

Cook (415A)

Ask Yourself:	Yes	No
Do you like to create and experiment with new ideas for recipes?
Do you have good reading, writing, mathematical, measuring and problem-solving skills?
Can you work under pressure? Can you make quick decisions?
Are you able to follow Health & Safety guidelines?
Are you able to stand or sit for long periods of time?
Are you detail-oriented? Do you have the ability to work closely with others?
Are you an organized person? Do you enjoy working with your hands and different equipment?

If you checked YES to the majority of these questions, a career as a Cook (415A) may be for you!

You might want to look at these similar trades as well;

Baker
Chef
Restaurant Manager/Owner Operator
Instructor

What does a Cook (415A) do?