Preparing a food production resume can feel like a high-pressure kitchen, but it doesn't have to be. It's just a neat summary of your skills and experience, tailored to a detail-oriented industry.

Here, we cook up some tips, examples, and a handy template to help. Remember, the aim is to stand out in a crowd of applications.

Greenhouse Worker Resume Sample
Greenhouse Worker Resume Sample
Food Service Worker Resume Sample
Food Service Worker Resume Sample
Farm Worker Resume Sample
Farm Worker Resume Sample

In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about optimizing your resume for jobs in food production. Keep reading and learn how to:

  • Choose a resume format that fits your experience level
  • Tailor your resume summary for food production
  • Include skills that are relevant to food production
  • Showcase your key responsibilities and accomplishments in your work experience section
  • List your educational background in food production properly
  • Access top resources for job-seeking food production professionals

1. Choose a resume format that fits your experience level 

The food production industry is a vast field with many different specializations. As such, food production workers can exist at a range of experience levels – from entry-level to management. 

It is highly important when crafting your resume to choose a format that fits your current experience level. This will help you to include the best details and your most prominent strengths, making your resume more compelling to employers as a result.

Here is a quick breakdown of 3 resume formats and when to use them:

  • Reverse-chronological: The reverse-chronological resume is the most commonly used format and is the standard expected by most employers. It prioritizes work experience, making it the best choice for workers with at least 1 to 3 years of experience in the industry. To follow this format, simply list your most recent job first and work backward from there. Other sections will fall either below work experience or in a sectioned-off sidebar. 
  • Functional: The functional resume removes the focus from work experience and places it instead on education, skills, and unpaid experience. There is no strict order for these sections to come in – rather, you should prioritize whichever section contains the most relevant experience or strengths. This format is well-suited for recent high school or college graduates with limited work experience.
  • Hybrid: The hybrid format combines elements of both the reverse-chronological and functional resumes. Work experience will generally be the first section, but it will be smaller and more limited than on an RC resume. This format works well for workers who are new to the industry, changing career paths, or working around large gaps in their work history.  

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2. Tailor your resume summary for food production

A resume summary is a brief introductory statement that comes at the top of the document. The summary sets the stage for the rest of the resume and can often be the difference between an employer reviewing your entire resume versus your resume ending up in the discard pile. 

With this in mind, it is crucial to tailor your resume summary to the job as much as possible. To illustrate this, let’s take a look at the following examples:

Incorrect food production resume summary example

Young professional with a good work ethic and interest in the food and beverage industry. Previously worked in a kitchen helping to organize food items and carry out daily inventory. Interested in growing skillset to achieve a leadership role. 

What's wrong with this example? There are strong elements to this summary, such as listing previous job responsibilities that have to do with food production. However, this summary can be much more specific to the job and highlight the applicant’s strengths and professional goals with more clarity. 

Corrected food production resume summary example

Driven Food Production Worker with over 2 years of experience working in a fast-paced back-of-house environment. Responsibilities included organizing food items, completing daily inventory tasks, and preparing food items for cooks. Highly interested in expanding food production skills and advancing to a team lead position within a fine-dining kitchen. 

Why is this better? This resume summary is far more specific than the former. The applicant more clearly relates their prior experience to food production, as well as proving an evident interest in remaining committed to the field. 

3. Include skills that are relevant to food production

As you write your food production resume, you should insert your best skills in your resume summary, work experience section, and a dedicated skills section. While there are many technical (hard) skills involved in food production, it is equally important to showcase your interpersonal (soft) abilities as well. 

Here are 10 hard skills and 10 soft skills that are excellent to include on a food production resume

Hard skills

  • Knowledge of OSHA standards
  • Food prep
  • Inventory
  • Manufacturing of food products
  • Data recording
  • ERP systems & transactions
  • Computer skills
  • Seller & server certifications
  • Food handling
  • Knowledge of kitchen and production equipment

Soft skills 

  • Teamwork 
  • Verbal communication
  • Customer relations
  • Leadership
  • Patience
  • Safety-conscious
  • Attention to detail
  • Situational awareness
  • Time management
  • Collaboration

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4. Showcase your key responsibilities and accomplishments in your work experience section

Your work experience section is where you have the best opportunity to highlight the responsibilities and accomplishments from previous positions. When writing this section, make sure to include specific and relevant details that showcase your abilities and work ethic. 

Here is an example of a work experience entry from a food production resume

Food Production Lead | ABC Foods, Inc. 
Boston, MA | March 2018 to November 2020

  • Led team of 30+ staff members to meet and exceed daily targets, reducing order fulfillment time by 15%. 
  • Strictly adhered to OSHA standards and company safety practices at all times.
  • Implemented a new organization system for perishable items according to expiration dates, reducing food waste by nearly 20%. 

5. List your educational background in food production properly 

There are many pathways to becoming a food production worker, including formal higher education and training within an entry-level position.

No matter where you gained your educational credentials, it is essential to list them accurately on your resume.

For your academic background, be sure to include:

  • Your highest level of education
  • What school you attended
  • When you graduated/your anticipated date of graduation

For food production certifications, you may want to place these in their own dedicated section if you have more than 2 to 3.

When listing certifications, make sure to include:

  • The formal certification title
  • Where you earned the certification
  • When the certification expires

6. Include relevant extra sections in your food production resume

In the world of food production, where flavor, quality, and safety are paramount, it's crucial to go beyond just showcasing your work experience and technical skills on your resume.

Adding relevant extra sections can make your food production resume truly stand out. These extra sections allow you to highlight additional qualifications and experiences that demonstrate your commitment to excellence in the industry.

Here's an example of a valuable extra section listed on a food production resume

Food Safety Certifications

  • Certified Food Safety Manager, ServSafe (Place: Anytown, USA, Time: January 2020)
    • Completed a rigorous training program focusing on safe food handling, sanitation, and risk management.
    • Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of food safety regulations, best practices, and preventive measures.
    • Implemented strict food safety protocols resulting in a 20% decrease in health inspection violations.
    • Trained and educated kitchen staff on proper food handling techniques and maintained a culture of food safety awareness.

7. Top resources for job-seeking food production professionals

Whether you're a seasoned food production pro or a fresh face in the industry, there's always something more to learn. It's a field that values continued growth, so having trusted resources at hand is crucial. Here are some resources that might come in handy:

  • Industry blogs and websites: Sites like Food Safety Magazine offer insightful articles on the food production and overall job market. 
  • Social media groups: Join Facebook and LinkedIn groups specific to food production. It’s a great way to network and glean advice from fellow professionals.
  • Online courses: Websites such as Coursera and Udemy offer courses specific to food production, a great way to keep your skills sharpened and stay in tune with industry standards.
  • Professional organizations: Membership in groups such as the Institute of Food Technologists can open doors. They offer networking events, industry news, and other resources.
  • Job boards: Look beyond the general job boards. Sites like Careers in Food and FoodManufactureJobs have openings just for food production professionals. 

Remember, these resources can help put you on recruiters' radars, but they're supports, not substitutes for a well-crafted resume. Stay relevant. Keep learning. And keep updating your resume to reflect your growth. Just like a great chef, a top food production professional knows the value of refining their craft and presentation.

Your focus should be on showcasing your specialized skills and experience in the industry. Highlight specific duties and responsibilities you've undertaken, special milestones, or problems you've solved.

Keywords are crucial. They illustrate your understanding of the industry and could be the ticket to getting past applicant tracking systems, which are programmed to pick resumes with relevant terminology.

You should include previous jobs that demonstrate relevant skills or experiences. If you've had a lot of work history, it’s acceptable to limit the details to the most recent and relevant positions.

It's best not to. Each job posting may require different skills or experience. Take time to tailor your resume to each job, highlighting the skills and experiences that best match the job description.

If you’re new to the industry, focus on transferable skills from other jobs or areas of your life. Do you have experience with handling deadlines, working fast, or following procedures? These can be framed as relevant skills for food production. Also, consider getting training or certifications in related fields to boost your chances.