10 Tips to Build Your Strategy in Food Industry Jobs for Executives
The food and beverage industry in the United States is huge and booming. Revenues in 2020 hit $18.7 billion, and this is forecast to grow to $25.7 billion by 2025. Even in a pandemic, people still need to eat and drink!
However, landing food industry jobs can often be difficult. Typically, employers will want to see proof that you have the experience they are looking for.
This said, many of the roles within the sector are rewarding options for executives with the transferrable skills to make a difference to a business.
Whether you’re a veteran in the sector or wishing to break into the food and beverage sector, these 10 tips will help you build an effective job search strategy.
1. Keep Your Social Media Updated and Aligned with Your Resume
When it comes to recruiting, many employers will search for prospective candidates online (especially via LinkedIn). Therefore, you must keep your social media accounts up to date with your professional career. Your social media is also a chance for you to show that you stay updated with current trends in the industry.
Employers of food industry jobs will also search for you on social media when you have applied for a post with them. Don’t allow there to be discrepancies between your resume and your social media profile – it could cost you a call to interview.
2. Maintain a Personal Website
The role of a personal website in the job market is becoming more important. It serves as a digital portfolio, a resume, and an online presence for candidates.
Maintaining your website will help you establish your authority in the industry. You will be able to showcase your skills and stand out amongst other job applicants by having an up-to-date website with relevant content.
An extra tip here is to link your website to your social media – and make sure they all tell the same story!
3. Learn About the Hiring Company
Before you apply to a company, you must understand who they are. You should research what the company does, who their competitors are, and what their mission statement is. This knowledge will allow you to demonstrate how you can add value to the business and be effective in the role.
4. Create a Compelling Cover Letter
While the cover letter is not the most important part of your application, it can enhance your chances of getting a callback or an interview. It is your first opportunity to introduce yourself in a way that is personalized to the company. It allows you to demonstrate how you can help them achieve their goals, and it also shows that you are genuinely interested in the company and their mission.
How do you make your cover letter compelling? Mention the keywords and phrases from the job description, and answer questions that you are likely to be asked by the hiring manager.
5. Customize Your Resume
A well-written resume is an excellent way to create a first impression. It should show that you are a good fit for the job and the company culture. A good resume will also be easier for recruiters to find relevant information about you in their database of resumes – such as when you submitted it, where they can contact you, etc.
To do this, customize your resume to the job description. Focus on enriching it with keywords as you summarize your relevant abilities, skills, and accomplishments.
6. Prepare an ‘Elevator Pitch’
The elevator pitch is a quick summary of your skills, accomplishments, and value. It is meant to be short and concise enough to be understood in an elevator ride.
When you create your elevator pitch, make sure it says ‘who’ you are, not ‘what’ you are. Show that you are passionate, ambitious, and have the skillset to succeed in the role. Finally, don’t over rehearse – it should sound natural.
7. Prepare for Your Interview
Preparation for a job interview is a complex process that requires creativity, preparation, and knowledge about the company. So, what can you do to be ahead of your game? Here are six tips that will help you prepare for an interview:
- Research the company and position
- Think of questions you may be asked and prepare answers
- Ensure your answers highlight your fit to the job description
- Practice your responses
- Prepare questions to ask
- The day before, get plenty of rest and eat healthy meals
(Bonus tip: Should the interviewer ask you to introduce yourself, use your elevator pitch!)
8. Promote Your Soft Skills
Your soft skills are just as important as your technical skills. These skills include communication, leadership, problem solving, teamwork and more. You should highlight these on your resume, and make sure to demonstrate them in your interview.
9. Use the Power of Networking
The food and drink industry is a complex one in which it can be hard to break into. It requires a lot of skill, experience and, most importantly, connections.
Turn to your existing network. Let people know that you are seeking a new role. If your existing network isn’t working for you, grow it by adding connections within the food and drink sector. This has never been easier than it is today – create your own website, become more professionally active on Facebook, and use LinkedIn to your advantage.
10. Work with a Staffing Agency
Whether booming or not, it can be challenging for people to break into the food and beverage sector, especially for those with no professional experience. However, if you have a degree or relevant industry experience, a staffing agency can be your most important connection in your network.
Here at ACG, we help candidates with all the above job searching tactics. We’ll give you advice, help you hone your resume, and perfect your interview technique. More than this, we get to know you just as deeply as we know our clients. This means you can be sure that when we recommend a role to you, you are a great fit for the hiring company, and they are a great fit for you.
Start your search for your perfect role in the food and beverage sector today – submit your resume to ACG Resources.
