How to get a job in the disruptive food industry
Food has been a pillar of the 'exciting career' sphere forever, and it's easy to see why. We ask some of the leading brands how you can crack a career in the industry.
Food, glorious food! One of the world’s oldest industries; a constant throughout the ages. In the UK, we spend close to £100billion on it every year.
With hundreds of thousands of brands saturating the market, it takes real tenacity and drive for small companies to get recognition and custom. So when they do start drawing attention, it’s no surprise we’re attracted to working at them! Inevitably, such attention leads to stiff competition among applicants looking to get a job in the disruptive food industry.
So, what are these food brands actually looking for in a new teammate? How can you make sure your application stands out from the crowd?
We checked out some of the most exciting challenger companies we’ve worked with to get the lowdown on how to crack the nut of getting into Food!
Meet the brand: Oatly
Kicking off our list is disruptive food giant Oatly, the smart Swedes who’ve become just as famous for their unapologetically transparent marketing as their smooth, sustainable oat milk.
Top tip: Use Your Personality
You. Are. Not. A Robot. Got that? Good. Job seekers often feel like they have to put their application through a formal, jargon-adding machine. But a lot of your abilities can be gleaned through allowing who you are as a person to shine through.
Meet the brand: Love Cocoa
Straight from the great-great-great-grandson of the Cadbury chocolate founder comes this innovative British disruptive food brand; good for the planet and (dangerously) good for you.
Top tip: Know Your Audience
You’ve spent countless nights perfecting your self-promotion pitch, but have you spent the same time learning about the company you’re proposing to work for?
- Know the company
- Research their history
- Try their products (if possible)!
And make sure you adapt your cover letter to reflect this – short and relevant trumps long and generic every time.
Meet the brand: Deliciously Ella
Ella Mills began her eponymous plant-based food startup less than a decade ago, but it’s now nationwide. The disruptive food brand also has an app, store and podcast!
Top tip: Be Interested In Food
Obvious, right? So obvious that you don’t have to state it? Never! It’s all very well (and necessary) talking about your relevant skills and experience, but nothing will excite your potential employer quite like knowing you share their inherent love of good grub!
Meet the brand: Brave
Brave makes snacks out of peas and chickpeas, locally-grown and free from nasties. In their own words, their snacks are like Clark Kent: “mild-mannered and humble, but underneath it all they’re superpowered.”
Top tip: Be Organised
Disruptive work = YES!! // Disrupted work = Uh-oh
The way startups break into the market and get attention is by offering something unique, different and exciting. And, well, you can’t act on these opportunities for a breakthrough if you’re not organised. Give an example of a time in which being organised paid off for you and it’ll be appreciated.
Meet the brand: Joe & Seph’s Popcorn
According to Stylist, open a bag of Joe & Seph’s and you’ll “meet your new addiction”. The gurus use an original method to create mouth-watering gourmet popcorn.
Top tip: Get Savvy With Social
In the 21st century, running a successful disruptive food brand without an effective social media presence is the stuff of fantasy. Whether or not it’s part of the job you’re applying for, demonstrating a good understanding of social media and its role (as well as any skills you have in it) will help you stand out from the pack.
Meet the brand: Nurture Brands
Nurture Brands is a small collective encompassing 3 startups dedicated to making plant-based, sustainable snacks. The Collective is all about nurturing good choices in the FMCG space.
Top tip: Think Differently
As the saying goes “There are no original ideas; just original people”. Find a way to show that you’re a creative thinker who can invigorate the company you’re applying to with innovative solutions for their problems. Oh, and simply saying “I am a creative person” is quite obviously not creative.
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