catering assistamts/cooks primary schools

missa.a

hi anyone here work as a catering assistant.. i have an interview and would like some help in getting the job, i have had few interviews for a few before but not successful.
i have been asked questions like
how would you encourage a child to eat?
what is HACCP and COSHH and how they are used?
knowledge of food safety
personal hygiene?
if a child doesnt like something on the menu what would you do?
safe guarding children
can anyone help with any of them or if you work as a catering assistant/cook could you tell me what else i may need to know.
what else may i get asked? what would a cook look for in a catering assistant many thanks.

DomRavioli

IF you don't know what HACCP is, then you shouldn't be near food, especially not for small children. Do you not have a Food Safety certificate?

Same goes for COSHH.

Surely if you want to work with children, you would know some of the basics such as safeguarding (its mainly common sense - but have a look at the NSPCC as they do a safeguarding course), personal hygiene is common sense.

Desecrated_Landscape

DomRavioli wrote: »

IF you don't know what HACCP is, then you shouldn't be near food, especially not for small children. Do you not have a Food Safety certificate?

Same goes for COSHH.

Surely if you want to work with children, you would know some of the basics such as safeguarding (its mainly common sense - but have a look at the NSPCC as they do a safeguarding course), personal hygiene is common sense.

I agree with you on applying for a job and not knowing the fundamental basics of HACCP & COSHH. This is the very basics and 1 of the first things you will learn about when working in a kitchen. OP you should really get a level 2 food hygiene certificate before applying for this type of job. I am a trained chef and would know straight away by questioning you if you had a knowledge of food hygiene, or whether you had just got your answers off the internet. For the reason of you asking questions like you have done shows you have no knowledge of food hygiene and i am not prepared to give you advice on this issue because you are looking for the easy answer instead of actually learning and without the correct knowledge you would pose a risk to yourself and to the business. The fact you are prepared to try deceive an interviewer when you will be preparing food for children, is very wrong indeed.

missa.a

Ok maybe I should have explained! I have a level 2 in food and safety. I know all the above HACCP and COSHH I know what they stand for and what they are used for.I have 2 young children of my own so I understand the child safety side of it too.
I'm obviously doing a good job if getting to the interview stage. But they always seem to ask and want to know more. For example HACCP I know how its used when making and cooking food, when storing food, and when you recive a delivery also the 7 steps yet I get asked more.what else must I need to know.
I would like to know what a cook is looking for when hiring a catering assistant.
Thanx

DomRavioli

missa.a wrote: »

Ok maybe I should have explained! I have a level 2 in food and safety. I know all the above HACCP and COSHH I know what they stand for and what they are used for.I have 2 young children of my own so I understand the child safety side of it too.
I'm obviously doing a good job if getting to the interview stage. But they always seem to ask and want to know more. For example HACCP I know how its used when making and cooking food, when storing food, and when you recive a delivery also the 7 steps yet I get asked more.what else must I need to know.
I would like to know what a cook is looking for when hiring a catering assistant.
Thanx

Just an aside for the future - why not put this in the original question?

They will be looking for someone who is enthusiastic, committed and capable of the role. Use the job specification, both essential and desirable and think of scenarios you can demonstrate the points on the job spec in an interview setting.

Its really that easy.

mighty_hammers

hi i have worked in a school kitchen for many years, most people who apply have no qualifications what so ever, and do not need to as full training is given within the first weeks. you have had some tough interviews with those sort of questions. what we look for are friendly, smiley people who can work within a team , but also think on their feet. see a job needs doing and get on. you work within a strict time restraint, so being efficient and helpful is key. schools have a set menu, so confronted by a child saying urgh to ever vegetable, you smile at them and say "try it you never know you might be surprised" it is not our job to see they eat it, they are our customers. they need to see service as a happy time , not being forced to have something. We safe guard children by following strict guide lines in food handling, as I said full training should be being offered. I look for someone I connect with in the interview, so think about a cheerful disposition, look neat and well turned out. hope it helps. also try looking at the schools menu, so you comment on it sounding tasty and varied.

Desecrated_Landscape

missa.a wrote: »

Ok maybe I should have explained! I have a level 2 in food and safety. I know all the above HACCP and COSHH I know what they stand for and what they are used for.I have 2 young children of my own so I understand the child safety side of it too.
I'm obviously doing a good job if getting to the interview stage. But they always seem to ask and want to know more. For example HACCP I know how its used when making and cooking food, when storing food, and when you recive a delivery also the 7 steps yet I get asked more.what else must I need to know.
I would like to know what a cook is looking for when hiring a catering assistant.
Thanx

That is a major no! Never say that. Having children means you are experienced in dealing with a fussy child and knowing some basic nutritional requirements. I think you should be taking allergies into consideration and talking about steps of how your knowledge of food hygiene means you can safeguard children with food allergies by using the correct methods to prevent any cross contamination.

What i look out for when i interview chefs is someone who has a passion for food, who is clean and has a desire to develop themselves further. You learn something new everyday in this industry and showing a desire to learn and improve yourself is a big advantage.

Desecrated_Landscape

mighty_hammers wrote: »

hi i have worked in a school kitchen for many years, most people who apply have no qualifications what so ever, and do not need to as full training is given within the first weeks. you have had some tough interviews with those sort of questions. what we look for are friendly, smiley people who can work within a team , but also think on their feet. see a job needs doing and get on. you work within a strict time restraint, so being efficient and helpful is key. schools have a set menu, so confronted by a child saying urgh to ever vegetable, you smile at them and say "try it you never know you might be surprised" it is not our job to see they eat it, they are our customers. they need to see service as a happy time , not being forced to have something. We safe guard children by following strict guide lines in food handling, as I said full training should be being offered. I look for someone I connect with in the interview, so think about a cheerful disposition, look neat and well turned out. hope it helps. also try looking at the schools menu, so you comment on it sounding tastey and varied.

I dont want to be rude, but you work with food and can not spell tasty? Nothing you said here resembles a professional. Maybe i am cut from a different cloth, but if children are not eating their veg, instead of saying "why not try it, you might like it" why not innovate and find a way of getting vegetables into their food without them knowing? Like suggesting creating a pasta sauce jam packed with vegetables? If a child cant see the vegetables then they are more likely to eat it. OP talk about how you incorporate veg in your childrens food without them knowing. Chocolate and beetroot ice cream for example

mighty_hammers

Sorry i made a small mistake in spelling and having never met me, you know i am not proffesional in my job.
when you work in a school, you are given a set 3 week menu. you follow these exactly, including a portion of veg. they are set to the strict goverment guide lines. Children with food allergies have their own menu to follow and has nothing to do with food hygiene / cross contamination.

missa. Unless you are going to be a cook in an independant school, where they set their own menus, then you will have everything you need set out for you, recipes, suppliers etc. I just wanted to to offer you my simple advice, as you obviously were informing them of your qualifications. I would also talk about your children, if you want to, most of the staff have children, as this job fits in with the school holidays. I hope you are successful, as it can be very rewarding... and being accurate in everything you spell, is not a judgement on you being a nice person.:D