Welsh cy

Looking for a career in the food and drink industry?

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 - 10:34

In recent years, young professionals have experienced increasing pressure to gain qualifications and to continue into further education; however it is now heavily encouraged to consider apprenticeships or to enter an organisation as a trainee. The food and drink industry offers a diverse range of opportunities that allow young people to start an interesting and challenging career, without the need for a CV full of qualifications and certificates.

As recruitment professionals there are certain expectations we have when speaking with prospective candidates, as do the many leading organisations we work with. Many will assume that this is specific to technical skills and qualifications – while these will always be relevant and held in high regard, many organisations are becoming increasingly focused on personality and team fit.

Within the food and drink industry, there are key attributes that such organisations look for when recruiting young professionals. For example:

  • High energy
  • Engaging
  • Adaptable
  • Charismatic
  • Open-minded

While this is certainly not inclusive of all of the qualities required, they highlight the drive and ambition you must have in order to be successful. The food and drink industry is dynamic and fast-paced with frequent changes and developments, so an individual with an open mind and the ability to adapt would be a strong contender for entry level roles. An engaging personality is important as in any role within the food and drink industry, you will be liaising with professionals at a range of levels within the business so will need to be able to communicate effectively and with confidence.

Demonstrating a genuine interest in the industry and gaining a good understanding of food hygiene is a good starting point for any young professional looking to start their career. At this level in particular, it is vital that any prospective candidates are open and honest as it their personality, attitude and motivation that will attract employers.

As a young applicant, you may wonder how a potential employer could get a fair understanding of your personality and key characteristics in one or two formal interviews. Recruiters, both in-house and agency, now have access to a number of tools that will allow them to carry out personality profiling and psychometric testing - these are designed to provide reliable and objectives measures of personality traits and ability.  Initially this can be an intimidating part of the process, however the tests provide an interesting insight into the way in which you think, what you prioritise and how you process information.

For many organisations, this is a useful tool to assess employment suitability and to ensure candidates will be the right fit for their team – a consideration that should be made by both the employer and employee.

If you are looking to start a career within the food and drinks industry, take the time to learn about the market and the differing organisations that can provide you with exciting new opportunities. If you are passionate and have a genuine interest in this industry, employers will want you on their team!

 

For more information, contact:

James Weaver
Consultant (Food Manufacturing)

T: 0121 454 5000 

www.hserecruitment.co.uk