12 Essential Tips to Tailor Your Resume for Success in the Food Industry

Last Updated on October 31, 2024

Although there are many opportunities in the food and beverage industry, that doesn’t mean it isn’t unusual for employers to receive hundreds of resumes in response to a single job opening.

To stand out as a strong candidate, you must demonstrate to the potential employer why you would be an excellent fit for the position. This means tailoring your resumé to every position you apply for (clearly and concisely).

Although it can be an annoying task, it is essential. Not only does tailoring your resume help you get through that dreaded applicant tracking systems, it also demonstrates to a hiring manager that you can condense information and care about this specific job. It can be a key indicator of your ability to follow the assignment.

Here’s how you can successfully tailor your resume to any job posting in the food and beverage industry.

1. Actually read and try to understand the job you are applying for

Firstly, take the time to carefully read the job description you are applying for. Whether it is printing it out or opening it on a new distraction-free web browser. The key is to slow down and truly understand what the employer is looking for beyond the title.

Different companies may have varied expectations for a quality control technician. One might prioritize floor inspections, while another may focus on creating HACCP plans.

Make sure to understand the job you are applying for.

Once you understand the you can truly begin to tailor your resume.

2. Put more important things higher up on the resume

You can use several basic types of resumes when applying for job openings: chronological, functional and combination.

• Chronological Resumes: These resumes list your work history, beginning with your most recent position.
• Functional Resumes: These resumes focus primarily on your skills and experience rather than your work history.
• Combination Resumes: This format emphasizes your skills while also allowing ample space to provide detailed information about your previous work.

As a student or recent graduate you may not have a lot of work experience, so it is best to use a functional resume.

Identify the sections of the job description that align best with your skills and experiences and position those prominently at the top of your resume. The items placed higher on your resume should reflect the most relevant information. A hiring manager is more likely to read the upper portion of your resume and skim through the rest as they continue down the page.

3. Focus on soft skills

Although including technical skills on your resume is important, don’t forget to talk about soft skills. For many students lacking work experience your soft skills might need to carry you in your resume.

Your summer job working in at a fast-food restaurant talk you many transferable skills you’re your ability to work in a team, and other soft skills are probably listed as well.  Do your best to spin them and mould them to match the job description.

For example, your could mention under your extra-circulars section

Coordinated weekly meetings and helped organize one mentorship session to help students build soft skills.

4. Figure out what is most important to the company

After reviewing the job description, take a few minutes to visit the company’s website and read sections like “About Us” to understand their values. By incorporating this information into your resume, you can show how you align with the company’s culture and demonstrate to the company why you would be a good fit.

For example, if a company has a mission statement about how regenerative farming is important to them you can talk about how you want to work for a company providing solutions focused on sustainability.

5. Provide compelling evidence

After revisiting the job description you are applying for think about the bullet points for the job. Make sure that those points are prioritized first even if they were not a main responsibility.

For example, if you are applying for an R&D role that emphasizes document control then begin your bullets with examples that show how you organized documentation even if that was performed during school.

Hiring managers want to see the impact that you have had in your past roles. Any time that you have the chance use numerical results to demonstrate the value you have given.

It is unlikely that you have had the opportunity to make 100 000 in sales but there are other ways that you can communicate you have given value for your work. Ask yourself some of these questions as well:

• Did you work in the pilot plant? How many jars of jam did you make? That’s one metric. How many did you sell? That’s another metric.
• Did you win 1^st place in a product development competition? How much money did you win?
• All good internship programs have the intern do a cost-savings project. How much did you save the company? If you don’t know, ask. People are going to take you more seriously by asking.

Related: Resume tips for FoodGrads

6. Correctly save your resume

When applying for numerous jobs, it’s easy to lose track of your resume or accidentally save over it. To avoid this, use a consistent naming convention for your job files that helps you identify the positions you’re applying for. Additionally, make sure to label your resume appropriately, as hiring managers can see the name of the document you’ve saved.

BAD examples of how to name a resume

• ThisistheresumeforXYSCompany.pdf
• Givemeajobplz.pdf
• XYS_COPY.pdf
• XYRS_version342.pdf

GOOD example of how to name a resume

• Smith_John_XYZCompany.pdf

Don’t forget to start a new file and don’t work off an old copy. Make it clear and simple by always having your first and last name included with the word resume.

7. Look for common ground

To take your resume tailoring to another level than consider looking at other similar job postings such as those on AgCareers and CareersInFood. Find five relevant job listings and look for common qualifications among them. For example, in many quality assurance positions it is common for candidates to be familiar with a specific software such as Microsoft Office Suite.

8. Research the company

Another way to help you tailor your resume to a specific job description is to connect with employees who hold similar roles. This can give you an idea to understand a company’s culture, organizational philosophy and employees. Who knows maybe it could also lead to an informational interview?

Take some of the words each employer used to describe themselves. Use social media to your advantage!

9. Use simple words and action verbs

The person reading your resume might not always be the employer or direct manager. Resumes can be reviewed by recruiters or Human Resources specialists who may not be familiar with your specific field. Use simple and plain language, but also persuasive verbs such as handled, managed, led, developed, increased, accomplished, leveraged, etc.

10. Include skills that don’t seem important to you

In today’s age, it might seem like everyone knows how to use computer software, but this isn’t true. Skills in programs like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are not universal. So if you are proficient in them then you can include them on your resume.

Think about any skills you might have learned in your tutorials or labs at school such as being able to do titrations or microbiological tests.

Including these skills on your resume demonstrates that you found your education valuable and have the technical abilities necessary for the job.

However, it’s important to be honest about your abilities. Simply opening a software program does not mean you are adept at using it. It’s a good idea to practice with the software a bit before your interview to refresh your skills.

11. Include your volunteer and non-work experience

Don’t fret if you don’t have enough job experience. Make sure to include any volunteer experience and so on. For example, if you started an Instagram page or blog, a page that relates to you, then include it in your resume. This also signals to the employer that you are willing to apply yourself in your free time.

If you have volunteered with a well-known organization or worked for an important cause, put it in your resume. You should include these experiences under the “Work experience” or the “Volunteer work” section, especially if they are related to the position you are applying for.

12. Proofread your resume

Tailoring your resume will all be in vain if you have a resume full of grammatical and spelling errors. Before submitting your resume you should take a good time to take one last minute to ensure that you used the employer’s keywords and phrases.