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35-3023.00 · Task explorer

Fast Food and Counter Workers: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

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This source lists 27 tasks, including 17 marked Core and 10 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2025.

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27 tasks shown

Core · Task 23100 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.

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Core · Task 23110 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.

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Core · Task 23104 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.

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Core · Task 23103 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.

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Core · Task 23099 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.

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Core · Task 23105 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.

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Core · Task 23108 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.

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Core · Task 23102 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.

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Core · Task 23109 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.

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Core · Task 23107 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.

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Core · Task 23106 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.

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Core · Task 23115 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.

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Core · Task 23113 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.

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Core · Task 23121 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.

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Core · Task 23111 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.

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Core · Task 23101 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.

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Core · Task 23123 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.

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Supplemental · Task 23118 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.

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Supplemental · Task 23122 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.

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Supplemental · Task 23120 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Distribute food to servers.

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Supplemental · Task 23116 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.

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Supplemental · Task 23114 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.

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Supplemental · Task 23119 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.

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Supplemental · Task 23125 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.

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Supplemental · Task 23117 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Replenish foods at serving stations.

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Supplemental · Task 23112 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.

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Supplemental · Task 23124 · 08/2025 · Incumbent

Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.