Food Preparation Workers

Also known as: Cafeteria Aide, Carver, Caterer (+70 more)

Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

🎓 Experience Level 2 (Some preparation needed) 📈 Hospitality, Events, & Tourism

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What You'll Do

Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
Portion and wrap food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
Weigh or measure ingredients.
Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
Prepare and serve a variety of beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.0/5

Service Orientation 3.0/5

Time Management 3.0/5

Speaking 2.88/5

Coordination 2.88/5

Critical Thinking 2.75/5

Reading Comprehension 2.62/5

Social Perceptiveness 2.62/5

Monitoring 2.5/5

Judgment and Decision Making 2.38/5

Quality Control Analysis 2.12/5

Mathematics 2.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cautiousness, Cooperation, Stress Tolerance

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.0/5

Trunk Strength 3.0/5

Near Vision 3.0/5

Oral Expression 2.88/5

Arm-Hand Steadiness 2.88/5

Manual Dexterity 2.88/5

Finger Dexterity 2.88/5

Speech Recognition 2.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial CBORD Foodservice Suite CBORD NetRecipe Culinary Software Services ChefTec EGS CALCMENU iPro Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Quizlet Recipe software ValuSoft MasterCook YouTube

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

Dependability (High importance: 4.43/5)
Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.23/5)
Cautiousness (High importance: 3.8/5)
Cooperation (High importance: 3.67/5)
Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.65/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Cafeteria Aide Carver Caterer Caterer Helper Catering Assistant Chicken and Fish Butcher Coffee Brewer Coffee Maker Cold Meat Cook Cook Cook Aide Crew Mess Attendant Culinary Worker Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) Deli Slicer (Delicatessen Slicer) Diet Aide Dietary Aide Dishwasher Expo (Expeditor) Food Expeditor (Food Expo) Food Handler Food Order Expediter (Food Order Expo) Food Prep (Food Preparer) Food Preparation Kitchen Aide (Food Prep Kitchen Aide) Food Preparation Worker (Food Prep Worker) Food Server Food Service Aide Food Service Specialist Food Service Worker (FSW) Food Tray Assembler Fruit and Vegetable Parer Kitchen Assistant Kitchen Clerk Kitchen Crew Kitchen Crew Member Kitchen Food Assembler Kitchen Helper Kitchen Runner Kitchen Staff Kitchen Steward Kitchen Team Crew Member Kitchen Team Member Kitchen Utility Associate Kitchen Utility Worker Kitchen Worker Line Cook Line Server Meat Clerk Mess Attendant Nutrition Aide Nutrition Helper Pantry Cook Pantry Goods Maker Pantry Goods Worker Pantry Worker Parer Pastry Cook Helper Peeler Pie Cutter Pizza Maker Prepared Foods Team Member Produce Production Team Member Raw Shellfish Preparer Restaurant Crew Member Restaurant Team Member Restaurant Worker Salad Bar Clerk Salad Maker Sandwich Artist Sandwich Maker Seafood Preparer Slicer Steward

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.

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