About the test
The Cook - Short Order Pre-Employment Assessment was designed to help you hire staff in this role. The test provides a whole-person evaluation by measuring job-relevant cognitive ability, personality, knowledge, skills, and relevant behavioral history.
Each component provides important data for hiring decisions. Cognitive ability has been linked to overall job performance in most jobs and correlates with a candidate's
ability to learn new skills and to solve complex problems. Personality characteristics determine how well the candidate will fit-in with a corporate culture. Knowledge and skills indicate how much training will be needed before a new employee becomes productive. Finally, relevant behavioral history detects counter-productive behaviors that can impact job performance.
The Cook - Short Order test includes an animated work simulation in which candidates meet customers, colleagues and supervisors in a job-related context. Post-test surveys indicate the majority of candidates react favorably to these simulations.
The specific attributes measured include:
Cognitive Ability
- Analytical Thinking and Attention to Detail
- Multitasking
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Knowledge and Skills
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Personality
- Adaptability
- Drive
- Integrity
- Resilience
- Teamwork
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Behavioral History
- History Survey - Performance
- History Survey - Tenure
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Following completion, the test produces a Candidate Selection Report that includes an overall score and detailed scores for each attribute. The overall score weighs each of the factors based on research and analysis from the U.S. Government's Occupational Information Network (O*Net). O*Net represents over a decade of dedicated research evaluating the relative importance of various factors that lead to success in almost 1,000 different job roles.
The Candidate Selection Report also provides expert interview questions that help you probe critical or low-scoring areas, along with a guide for noting your evaluation of the candidate's responses. Consistent use of an interview guide is an important part of gaining better candidate insights and making better hiring decisions.
About the job
Cook - Short Order
Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
Top activities and tasks for this job:
- Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
- Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
- Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
More information about this Job
| Annual US Wages (2024) |
| Bottom 10%: | | $23,770 or less |
| Bottom 25%: | | $30,160 or less |
| Median: | | $35,620 (Average) |
| Top 25%: | | $39,990 or more |
| Top 10%: | | $46,010 or more |
| Hourly US Wages (2024) |
| Bottom 10%: | | $11.43 or less |
| Bottom 25%: | | $14.50 or less |
| Median: | | $17.12 (Average) |
| Top 25%: | | $19.23 or more |
| Top 10%: | | $22.12 or more |
| US Employment Statistics |
| 2024: | | 151,100 |
| 2034 (projected): | | 142,700 |
| Annual U.S. Job Openings: | 20,600 |
Top Knowledge Requirements
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Communications and Media
- Chemistry
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Top Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
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Top Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Trunk Strength
- Information Ordering
- Manual Dexterity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Control Precision
- Finger Dexterity
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| Education Requirements |
| No High School Diploma: | | 14% |
| High School Diploma: | | 66% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate: | | 7% |
| Some College: | | 9% |
| Associate's Degree (2 yr): | | 2% |
| This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role who have their highest education in each category. |
| Related Work Experience Requirements |
| None: | | 49% |
| 3 - 6 Months: | | 17% |
| 6 Months - 1 Year: | | 14% |
| 1 - 2 Years: | | 8% |
| 2 - 4 Years: | | 7% |
| 4 - 6 Years: | | 3% |
| This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role whose related work experience before they entered this position falls into each category. |
Alternate Titles for this Role: Barbecue Cook, Bed and Breakfast Cook (B&B Cook), Breakfast Cook, Breakfast Line Cook, Broiler Cook, Chuck Wagon Cook, Cook, Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook), Food and Beverage Attendant, Food Clerk, Griddle Attendant, Griddle Cook, Grill Associate, Grill Attendant, Grill Cook, Grill Line Cook, Grill Person, Grill Prep Cook (Grill Preparation Cook), Hash Slinger, Hasher, Line Cook, Pizza Cook, Pizza Maker, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook), Prepared Foods Clerk, Sandwich Artist, Short Order Cook, Short Order Fry Cook, Snack Bar Cook
Related Jobs based on Skills & Abilities: Cooks, Restaurant, Cooks, Fast Food, Food Preparation Workers, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, Bakers, Butchers and Meat Cutters, Cooks, Private Household, Fast Food and Counter Workers, Chefs and Head Cooks, Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders, Dishwashers, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders, Baristas, Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers, Food Batchmakers, Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers, Waiters and Waitresses, Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products, Food Service Managers
Version: 5, Created: 06/3/2026 2:54 PM,
(Internal Use) pid=6365, CTB Direct Test