HR Mini-Series Part 3, Senior HR Manager: Career Insights with Olga Cenic | That’s a Food Job! #127
About Olga Cenic
Olga Cenic is the Senior HR Manager at Voortman Bakery – a Burlington, Ontario-based bakery celebrating 75 years in business and home to the number one sugar-free wafer in North America. Now operating under the Second Nature Brands umbrella, Voortman runs a unionized facility of approximately 300 employees producing cookies, wafers, and turnovers. Olga joined the company in September 2021 after a recruiter call caught her attention during the height of COVID-19. With a long background in HR across multiple industries, she brought a fresh perspective to food manufacturing – and has since become a passionate advocate for students looking to break in.
What We Cover in This Episode
This episode is part three of FoodGrads’ three-part HR mini series. Olga shares practical, no-nonsense advice on what hiring managers actually look for on a student resume, how to use LinkedIn strategically to connect with mentors and target companies, and the often-overlooked pathways into food manufacturing – including co-op placements, temporary agencies, and weekend sanitation roles. She also breaks down what makes a strong interview candidate and how to follow up in a way that keeps you on a hiring manager’s radar without crossing into annoyance territory.
Key Take-aways
- LinkedIn is not optional.
- Non-food experience counts.
- Don’t self-select out of roles you feel under-qualified for.
- Come to your interview prepared with questions.
- Follow up – but know the difference between persistence and annoyance.
- Mentorship is more accessible than it seems.
Sponsor
De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants.
Watch the Episode Below
Links
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 00:57 – Olga Joins Voortman
- 02:57 – What HR Looks For
- 03:43 – LinkedIn Strategy
- 05:00 – Foot in the Door
- 06:36 – About Voortman Bakery
- 09:01 – Culture & COVID
- 11:49 – Co-op Programs
- 14:11 – Sanitation Crew Opportunity
- 16:28 – Temporary Agencies Explained
- 21:34 – Resume Tips
- 29:33 – What Is Mentorship?
- 38:00 – Interview Tips
- 40:52 – Questions to Ask
- 43:00 – Following Up After Interviews
- 45:00 – Assessing Company Culture
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