May 20, 2026 0 comment

6 Things We Learned About Getting Hired from That’s a Food Job! HR Mini-Series

Last Updated on May 31, 2026

FoodGrads spoke with three HR professionals for our Get Hired! That’s a Food Job! podcast mini-series to find out what hiring managers in the food and beverage industry are really looking for in young professionals — from standout applications to the decisions that get candidates hired.

Here are the 6 tips that stuck with us most.

Table of Contents

1. There is no perfect formula for getting hired however there are clear ways not to

After interviewing all three professionals, it became apparent that they each have preferences when it comes to hiring. On the one hand this can be concerning because it makes you question what exactly you are supposed to do. But on the other hand this can be a good thing. It can move you away from having a perfectionist mindset.

The simple reality is that there is no definitive way to get you a job.

What impresses one hiring manager may not impress another. Even if you do everything “right,” it might just mean that you’re not a good fit for that company and that is all right.

However, do keep in mind that there are many mistakes that you can make and those will cost you the job. Typos and grammatical errors signal carelessness (which employers do not want to see). Showing up late or low-energy to an interview sets a tone that is hard to recover from later on in the interview.

So while fit and impression are partly out of your hands, eliminating preventable mistakes is entirely within your control regardless of experience level.

2. Resumes say more than what is on the page

Nicolas Pretorius, Talent Acquisition Manager at High Liner Foods Ltd, told us that there is more to a resume than what is on the page. When looking at resumes, Nicolas says that he is trying to figure out the impact you will make when hired. A resume helps provide him with clues on whether or not you will do this.

“What I’m looking for is more so how they clearly translate what they’ve done into skills and outcomes… if I’m able to see results, improvements, real responsibilities, it moves up that list really quickly.”

So take a look at your resume and ask yourself: does it demonstrate impact?

Nicolas says that anything that demonstrates that you took ownership over something counts. It could be as simple as managing a part-time role during your studies or volunteering regularly at a local food bank.

Other examples include:

Taking a leadership position in a campus group such as a basketball or anime club
Managing (and uploading) consistently on a food science Instagram account
Tutoring students in your class on a school subject

When companies post entry-level or co-op positions, they already know the applicants will have little to no industry experience. They are not looking for years on the job. They are looking for clues about who you are, how you think, and what kind of employee you will become.

3. Cover letters matter – even to the hiring managers who weight them less heavily.

As I mentioned earlier, there is no “exact” blueprint when it comes to getting a job. This was apparent when we asked the hiring managers about cover letters.

The universal answer on cover letters was: it depends on the company.

Some hiring managers read every single one. Olga Cenicm, Senior HR Manager at Voortman Bakery is one of them, and she pays close attention to spelling and punctuation. Others, like Steve MacIntyre, treat them as supplementary. He actually said that he doesn’t care for cover letters because they introduce another opportunity for the applicant to make mistakes. Although this sounds harsh, it is likely due to the amount of resumes they receive for a job posting. He doesn’t have the time to look over every single one. Instead, cover letters are more relevant to those applying for senior-level jobs.

Regardless of where hiring managers stand on cover letters, a polished resume is non-negotiable. A well-crafted, error-free resume can be the difference between landing an interview and being passed over, so it’s worth the extra time to get it right.

Related: Check out our interview with Olga Centic,Senior HR Manager at Voortman Bakery

4. Most important things first

Steve mentioned that he only takes 5–7 seconds to review a resume before he decides which pile to put it in. That means the things that you put at the top of your resume are more likely to be read.

As a student or new grad, you will not have as much experience — and they already know this. If the only experience you have is related to school, then you really have to make things work and figure out ways to stand out.

One way you can do this is through your personal statements at the topic.

Think about how you can use this to stand out. Saying that you are a hard worker doesn’t exactly make you stand out compared to other applicants, but if you can be specific and signal to the hiring manager that you are someone who can do the job, this will make you more likely to be considered for an interview.

5. The questions that you ask the interviewer are just as important as the one’s that you answer

Every single interviewer told us that candidates who ask thoughtful, specific questions stand out every time. Candidates who ask no questions at all signal a lack of curiosity — or worse, a lack of genuine interest in the role.

Olga recommends arriving with at least two prepared questions, with room to develop more as the conversation unfolds. These should not be generic questions you could ask anywhere. They should reflect actual research into the company, the team, and the role.

In addition, Steve described what genuinely gets his attention:

“It’s always impressive to me if someone says, ‘I was reading the LinkedIn post from your CEO and they said this.’ That demonstrates this person is going above and beyond — and it causes me to want to lean in and learn more about them.”

So while you are researching for the interview, make note of things that interest you and that you are genuinely curious about. Take it a step further than just the company LinkedIn. Check out upper management and see what they are sharing. This is also beneficial because it gives you an idea of the company you are going to work for and whether it will be a good fit.

6. There are other ways you can get in pile of applications besides applying to a job posting

You may have heard that there are other ways to get in front of the eyes of a hiring manager. So don’t just rely on applying for jobs online.

Some quick fire tips that we heard:

Talk to your professors outside of class as they may have connections with the industry
Comment on upper management’s posts on LinkedIn as they likely don’t have many followers and you can get noticed
Take on a job at a temp agency to get your foot in the door and gain industry experience

Remember, many jobs are never publicly posted — so putting yourself in front of the right people before a position opens up can make all the difference.

Conclusion

There were a lot of good nuggets of information that were given during our HR mini-series and there are even more specific ones buried in the episode. If you want to get the full context then you should listen to the entire episodes as they can speak better to the tips.