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Food technologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Tedley Pihl,
Dr. Sheryl Barringer
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical food technologist skills. We ranked the top skills for food technologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.4% of food technologist resumes contained food safety as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a food technologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 food technologist skills for your resume and career

1. Food Safety

Here's how food technologists use food safety:
  • Recommended processing procedures on new and existing products to ensure food safety and fulfilling shelf-life requirements.
  • Prepared all of technical documents include food safety documents submit to quality system division for endorsement.

2. Food Preparation

Here's how food technologists use food preparation:
  • Managed food preparation equipment, raw product processing and area sterilization.
  • Practice proper sanitation techniques in food preparation and facility cleaning.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Here's how food technologists use regulatory compliance:
  • Analyze documents and customer labels to ensure regulatory compliance.
  • Ensured regulatory compliance of raw materials and products using SAP, Intelex and Genesis.

4. Cleanliness

Here's how food technologists use cleanliness:
  • Exceeded standards and expectations of cleanliness for restaurant image Leadership and Skills
  • Adhered to federal requirments for nutrition and cleanliness.

5. Safety Standards

Here's how food technologists use safety standards:
  • Maintained department sanitation/safety standards effectively.
  • Delegated jobs and managed scheduling, inventory control, product ordering, guest complaints, and health and safety standards.

6. Laboratory Equipment

Here's how food technologists use laboratory equipment:
  • Supervised & trained 5 quality assurance technicians on laboratory procedures, operating procedures and proper operation of laboratory equipment.
  • Develop skills and understanding for proper use of laboratory equipment.

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7. Pilot Plant

A pilot plant is a small, pre-commercial production system that is operated to determine whether a process is feasible and sustainable before using it on a large industrial scale. It is an important test for new processes or equipment in hazard identification before production takes place on a larger scale.

Here's how food technologists use pilot plant:
  • Designed and conducted pilot plant testing of new ingredients and converted developed formulas to production for manufacturing facilities.
  • Supervised and executed pilot plant projects focusing on improving current product line.

8. Food Handling

Here's how food technologists use food handling:
  • Train new employees to use kitchen equipment and correct food handling procedures, in accordance with FDA and OSHA regulations.
  • Prepare food prep and production recipes per Red lobster protocols while practicing safe food handling and cleanup.

9. GMP

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a system that ensures that all products like food, beverages, and medicinal drugs that are produced comply with the quality standards. It helps in minimizing the risks and hazards that cannot be eliminated after the testing of final products.

Here's how food technologists use gmp:
  • Conducted over 50 GMP / HACCP audits of food manufacturers throughout North America; developed and verified audit issue remediation plans.
  • Calibrated lab instruments on a weekly basis and maintained Good Manufacturing Principles (GMP) for the lab.

10. Test Results

Here's how food technologists use test results:
  • Compile and prepared reports on the test results.
  • Presented test results and coordinated product presentations to senior management in a professional setting.

11. Quality Standards

Quality standards are a specific level of standards of products that are set by the companies for the customers that have to be met and maintained throughout the process until the time of delivery. Quality standards are information that includes the customer's requirements, guidelines, and characteristics for the needed final product or service.

Here's how food technologists use quality standards:
  • Performed shelf-life and sensory analysis on new products to quantify quality standards.
  • Implemented stricter quality standards for ingredients.

12. QA

QA, or Quality Assurance is a procedure that entails all of the steps taken to avoid any errors in the manufacturing process or in the production of the goods that a company produces. It can also include ensuring the consistency of the services rendered. Quality assurance ensures that the quality of the service delivered to consumers meets or exceeds the promised expectations. This greatly aids in the prevention of any complications that might arise after the goods or services have been distributed. It makes sure that customers are satisfied.

Here's how food technologists use qa:
  • Performed QA testing on food samples to make sure that the product meets vendor specifications for physical and chemical properties.
  • Interacted with other departments such as QA, Production, Scheduling, and Marketing to assure successful projects.

13. Culinary

Here's how food technologists use culinary:
  • Apply sound culinary techniques to design products with consumer/customer valued attributes.
  • Worked with vendors to execute specific culinary needs.

14. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how food technologists use technical support:
  • Managed projects and technical support at corporate manufacturing facilities and other technical departments within the corporation.
  • Provided customer service and technical support about products and commercialization scale.

15. Shelf Life

Here's how food technologists use shelf life:
  • Established research laboratory at Earthbound Farm for commercialization team to conduct enhanced shelf life testing and quality improvement projects.
  • Conducted processing experiments to simplify production and enhance product shelf life.
top-skills

What skills help Food Technologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on food technologist resumes?

Tedley PihlTedley Pihl LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Arizona

Data analysis, Microbiology, Internships in applied areas.

What soft skills should all food technologists possess?

Dr. Sheryl Barringer

Professor and Department Chair, The Ohio State University

Critical soft skills include problem-solving and the ability to work collaboratively in teams. The issues facing the food industry require expertise in a wide range of areas, and that requires people able to work with colleagues who have different backgrounds. Strong problem-solving skills are required to face the many challenges facing the food industry.

What hard/technical skills are most important for food technologists?

Dr. Sheryl Barringer

Professor and Department Chair, The Ohio State University

The critical technical skills in food science are a good understanding of chemistry, engineering, and microbiology.

What food technologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jeffrey Swada Ph.D.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Director of Undergraduate Food Science Program Associate Professor, Food Science Advisor Food Processing Complex Manager and Mobile Lab Liaison, Michigan State University

I would recommend to students to first build your resume before graduating. Doing internships, research, studying abroad, participating in clubs such as food science club, Product Development team, College Bowl, and other experiential learning opportunities are key. By having a great foundation, this will make you more competitive and stand out amongst other applicants and thus will lead to a better starting salary. Once employed, I'd recommend to go above and beyond to impress your employer. If you are willing to put in the work, go beyond your comfort zone, move up in the company, this will result in a higher pay raise. You can also go back and get a masters degree to make yourself even more desirable.

What type of skills will young food technologists need?

Sajid Alavi Ph.D.Sajid Alavi Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor, Kansas State University

Besides the traditional skills in the area of food science and technology, in these times, adaptability and ability to manage people and use diversity in the workforce to its full potential are additional skills that would be useful. Also, the ability to straddle both the operational and R&D needs of a company, to some extent, would be very beneficial to bridge the gap between production and innovation.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about food technologist

List of food technologist skills to add to your resume

Food technologist skills

The most important skills for a food technologist resume and required skills for a food technologist to have include:

  • Food Safety
  • Food Preparation
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Cleanliness
  • Safety Standards
  • Laboratory Equipment
  • Pilot Plant
  • Food Handling
  • GMP
  • Test Results
  • Quality Standards
  • QA
  • Culinary
  • Technical Support
  • Shelf Life
  • Food Products
  • HACCP
  • Sensory Evaluation
  • Product Quality
  • Product Specifications
  • FDA
  • Product Development
  • Mixers
  • Bench Top
  • Process Improvement
  • Plant Trials
  • USDA
  • Line Extensions
  • Sops
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Product Improvements
  • QC
  • Cost Savings
  • Food Quality
  • Government Regulations
  • Quality Control Procedures
  • Cost Reduction
  • Chemical Analysis
  • SQF
  • Analytical Tests
  • Product Line
  • Cost Optimization
  • Customer Complaints
  • Customer Specifications
  • Ice Cream

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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