Line Cook Job Description
A Line Cook is an important member of the kitchen staff who is responsible for food preparation and plating tasks.
They also ensure that all customers’ orders are visually appealing and delivered in a timely manner.
If you are looking for a Line Cook to join your kitchen team, you can copy our Line Cook job description template, optimize it to fit your requirements and post it on your job ad.
Line Cook Job Description Template
You can download our Line Cook job description template below in PDF or Word format as a guideline for creating your own. Feel free to customize the details, such as salary, required experience and specific responsibilities, to match your needs.
Job Overview
We are looking to hire a skillful Line Cook to join our team at [Restaurant Name].
You will be responsible for executing food preparation tasks, plating and keeping the kitchen area clean by following food safety standards.
The ideal candidate should have amazing attention to detail, as well as excellent culinary and communication skills.
- Salary: $17–$25/hour
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, 401(k) matching
- Shift and schedule: 8-hour shifts, Mondays to Fridays, weekends as needed
Line Cook Duties & Responsibilities
- Washing, chopping, slicing and frying food items
- Measuring and mixing ingredients precisely
- Preparing dishes following our established recipes
- Monitoring food preparation to ensure it is cooked to the right temperature and consistency
- Plating visually appealing dishes
- Keeping the workstations clean and sanitized
- Ensuring food preparation safety standards are met
- Tracking inventory items
- Reporting any shortages of spices, vegetables, meats, etc.
- Being in constant communication with front-of-house staff for timely delivery of all orders
Line Cook Experience Requirements & Skills
- Minimum of one year of experience working as a Line Cook in a high-volume, fine-dining restaurant
- Great communication and time management skills
- Extensive knowledge of food preparation techniques
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to lift items up to 40 lbs. regularly
- Outstanding knife skills
Line Cook Education & Qualifications
- Food safety certification (required)
- High school diploma or GED (required)
- Culinary bachelor’s degree (preferred)
Preparing for an interview?
Get Inspired And Learn
How To Write a Line Cook Job Description
If you opt for writing your own Line Cook job description from scratch, you can use this step-by-step guide to help you create a professional-looking job post.
1. Start with your company info
At the very beginning, include the following:
- The name of your restaurant
- The location
It is also a good idea to add your company’s goals and values to give Line Cook applicants a better understanding of your establishment.
2. Write a brief overview of the Line Cook role
Briefly describe what a Line Cook typically does in your restaurant. Add a couple of key responsibilities and character traits you value the most in the candidates.
3. Provide important benefits
As many as 69% of job applicants expect salary, benefits and perks to be openly displayed in a job description. The best practice when writing a job description would be to include the following information:
- Salary range: Provide an exact salary or salary range a Line Cook applicant could expect to earn working for your company.
- Benefits: 97.4% of applicants consider benefits to be the second-most important aspect when deciding whether to apply for a job. This includes benefits such as paid time off and health insurance.
- Job type: Specify if you are looking to hire a part-time Line Cook or are in search of a full-time employee.
- Shift and schedule: Define if a Line Cook in your restaurant is expected to work 8-hour shifts Monday to Friday and if they’re expected to work on weekends. This is important to your candidates as they will be able to see if your schedule matches their working hours expectations.
4. Detail the Line Cook’s duties and responsibilities
Clearly defined duties and responsibilities is something that 91% of job seekers want to see in a job description. To match their expectations, list all daily duties and responsibilities a Line Cook is expected to perform in your restaurant. These may include:
- Preparing food items
- Monitoring stock levels
- Upholding high standards of cleanliness and sanitation in all kitchen areas
5. Define skills and requirements
Indicate what level of Line Cook experience you require in a candidate and what other skills, personal traits and qualifications you deem important. Here you can include:
- Mandatory years of Line Cook experience
- Effective communication skills
- Time management skills
- Any physical requirements of the job (such as the ability to lift 40 pounds or work stood up most of the day)
5. Include desired education and training
Clearly indicate if you are looking for a Line Cook who has finished high school or has formal culinary education. Also, state if you consider those as mandatory or preferred qualifications.
6. Add contact information
Include the following information to make it easier for your Line Cook candidates to reach you:
- Name and email of the designated contact person
- A phone number where you can be contacted
- Your restaurant’s address
How To Hire the Best Line Cook for Your Restaurant
To filter down the best candidate for your Line Cook position, try the following:
- Post your job ad on multiple channels to attract a wider audience
- Offer a fair wage aligned with Line Cook salary trends in your area
- Ask the right questions during a job interview, such as “Explain how you would season a steak?” or ” How do you keep your work area clean?”
- Look for candidates who show passion for cooking and an openness to learn new skills
- Check their references to verify their past work experience
Line Cook Job Description FAQ
You can consider hiring a Line Cook with no previous experience if you have an established training program and people who can dedicate time teaching them all the necessary skills without compromising kitchen operations.
Some of the most frequent mistakes when writing a Line Cook job description are:
- Vague list of duties living candidates unsure of the tasks they are meant to do
- Not specifying salary
- Overusing acronyms and jargon
A Line Cook collaborates on a daily basis with Head Chefs, Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, Dishwashers, and occasionally with front-of-house personnel such as Servers and Waiters/Waitresses.