JAMES PARKER
Los Angeles
Summary
Conscientious and focused team player with a strong work ethic, known for following instructions well and working diligently. Thrives on coming up with creative solutions to work-related roadblocks.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Cook/Prep
Kismet Rotisserie
Los Angeles, CA
12.2020 - Current
- Maintained clean and organized work areas at all times to bring safety and quality to food preparation process.
- Maintained a clean and sanitary workspace, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Prepared meals efficiently under time constraints for timely service during peak hours.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills, managing multiple orders simultaneously without sacrificing quality or presentation.
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail, and quality.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Took food orders from cashiers and cooked items quickly to complete order items together and serve hot.
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Managed time by organizing and prioritizing kitchen duties to prepare and serve food quickly.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Enhanced teamwork within the kitchen staff by fostering a collaborative environment focused on meeting high standards of quality and efficiency.
Shift Leader
Family Style Inc.
Los Angeles, California
01.2019 - 08.2019
- Prepared pizza dough, sauces and toppings for cooking
- Monitored the temperature and cooking times of pizza ovens
- Prepared high-quality pizzas according to specific recipes
- Monitored inventory, placed orders for supplies as needed
- Cleaned workstations ahead of food preparation
- Ensured all utensils, cooking equipment was sterilized before use
- Plated and packed pizzas for delivery
- Managed all food orders, assuring they were completed in a timely manner
- Disposed of expired or spoiled ingredients at the end of each shift
Head Cook and Shift Leader
Just Food For Dogs
Los Angeles, CA
10.2017 - 01.2019
- Set up workstations with all necessary ingredients and cooking equipment
- Prepared ingredients for cooking, including vegetables and meat
- Cooked food to exacting and nutritious standards, ensuring great presentation by dressing dishes before service
- Kept a sanitized and orderly kitchen environment at all times
- Ensured all food and kitchen items were stored properly
- Checked quality of ingredients; monitored stock, placed orders when needed
Night Manager
Simply Salad
Los Angeles, CA
09.2016 - 10.2017
- Recruited, trained and supervised staff
- Managed budgets and planned menus
- Ensured compliance with licensing, hygiene, and health and safety legislation and guidelines
Cook and Cashier
Ocho Mexican Grill
Los Angeles, CA
01.2015 - 09.2016
- Handles all customer cash, credit and check transactions
- Scanned goods and collected payments, ensuring correct pricing
- Handled receipts, refunds and ticketing; redeemed stamps and coupons
- Counted money in cash draws at the beginning and end of shifts to ensure correct amounts and adequate change for next shift
- Made sale referrals, cross-sold products, introduced new products
- Resolved complaints and questions to ensure customer satisfaction
- Processed returns, checking for damage; kept detailed transaction reports
- Maintained clean and tidy checkout areas
- Set up kitchen workstations with all needed ingredients and cooking equipment, assuring a sanitized and orderly environment in the kitchen
- Prepared all meal ingredients and cooked food, ensuring great presentation by dressing dishes before service
- Monitored stock, placed orders as and when needed
Waiter/Salesperson
Waffle House
Greensboro, North Carolina
12.2013 - 12.2014
- Twice voted employee of the month by management, working my way up from dishwasher to prep cook due to exceeding management expectations when it came to my willingness to learn and expand my kitchen knowledge
- Greeted guests, seating them according to their preferences; took customer orders, conveying them to the kitchen in an accurate manner
- Communicated daily specials to customers; delivered food and drink orders
- Cleaned kitchen floor, washed dishes and utensils, and ensured ovens and stoves were clean and ready for service
- Assisted in food preparation, preparing vegetables, fruits and salads
- Prepared meat for cooking
- Restocked inventory and ingredient items as needed
Cashier/Stocking/Maintenance Worker
Food Lion/Delhaize America
Greensboro, NC
02.2011 - 01.2014
- Voted employee of the month three times
- Greeted customers upon arrival, providing them with up-to-date information about products and services
- Responded to customers’ complaints in order to resolve any issues
- Identified prices using scanning device
- Entered transaction in computerized cash register, processing cash, credit and check payments; processed exchanges and refunds
- Ensured all checkout counters had reasonable cash floater ahead of shifts
Dishwasher/Food Prep
The Barn Dinner Theatre
Greensboro, NC
05.2011 - 01.2012
- Given a raise for excellent performance
- Cleaned food preparation areas, cooking surfaces and utensils
- Prepared and cooked multiple short-order dishes simultaneously, showcasing my skills at organization in a fast-paced environment
- Maintained sanitation, health and safety standards in all food prep areas
- Operated large-volume cooking equipment
- Prepared and served beverage orders; received and read food order slips or received verbal instructions as to meal requests from restaurant patrons
- Verified that prepared food and meals met quality requirements
- Responsible for cleaning and stocking workstations and food display cases
- Ordered and took delivery of kitchen supplies
- Scheduled activities and equipment use with managers, using information about daily menus to help coordinate cooking times
Housekeeper
Smith Senior Living
Greensboro, NC
01.2010 - 03.2011
- Provided a sanitized and aseptic environment for the safety and well-being of patients, visitors, physicians and employees
- Swept, mopped, vacuumed, scrubbed, dusted, waxed and polished furniture, windows, floors, walls, décor, equipment and hardware
- Cleaned and disinfected washrooms, laboratories and bedrooms
- Disposed of contaminated dressings in a hygienic manner at all times
- Ensured all bathrooms were stocked with necessary hygiene products
- Ordered and distributed custodial supplies, maintaining inventory
- Collected and disposed of waste and garbage
Education
Guilford College
Greensboro, North CarolinaCNA Certified - Medical Transcription
01.2010
Skills
- Adept at conflict resolution
- Food preparation
- Budgeting and finance
- Clear and concise written and verbal communication
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
- A proven problem-solver
- Born organizer
- Flexible team player
- Thorough and conscientious hygiene skills
- Kitchen organization
- Strong attention to safe food handling procedures
- Multitasking and organization
- Frying
- Knife skills
- Cooking techniques
- Sanitation
- Supply restocking
- Surface cleaning
- Hospitality and service industry background
- Food presentation
Accomplishments
Gained raises due to hard work and diligently working to make the workplace a better environment.
Timeline
Cook/Prep
Kismet Rotisserie
12.2020 - Current
Shift Leader
Family Style Inc.
01.2019 - 08.2019
Head Cook and Shift Leader
Just Food For Dogs
10.2017 - 01.2019
Night Manager
Simply Salad
09.2016 - 10.2017
Cook and Cashier
Ocho Mexican Grill
01.2015 - 09.2016
Waiter/Salesperson
Waffle House
12.2013 - 12.2014
Dishwasher/Food Prep
The Barn Dinner Theatre
05.2011 - 01.2012
Cashier/Stocking/Maintenance Worker
Food Lion/Delhaize America
02.2011 - 01.2014
Housekeeper
Smith Senior Living
01.2010 - 03.2011
CNA Certified - Medical Transcription
Guilford College