About CareersNOW!
From passion to profession
CareersNOW! is connecting jobseekers with Ontario’s leading food and beverage processing employers.
The program provides a suite of free online resources for jobseekers and professionals to discover new opportunities and advance their career.
A Bridge to the Workforce
CareersNOW! helps bridge the industry’s growing labour gap by providing free job matching, skills training, and career development resources to jobseekers while supporting businesses in attracting and retaining talent.
With Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector experiencing an immediate need for talent, CareersNOW! ensures the industry has a steady pipeline of skilled and motivated employees ready to take on in-demand roles. Whether you’re looking for your first job, considering a career change, or seeking professional growth, CareersNOW! offers the tools and connections to help you succeed.
How CareersNOW! Supports Jobseekers
CareersNOW! is a comprehensive career-building platform that helps jobseekers gain the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to succeed in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry.
- Job Matching & Employment Support – CareersNOW! offers a free job portal, in partnership with Magnet and Careers in Food, that connects jobseekers with over Ontario’s processing employers. Jobseeker also gain access to one-on-one career coaching to refine resumes, find career matches, and interview guidance.
- Virtual Job Fairs – CareersNOW! hosts regular virtual job fairs, where participants can meet employers, ask questions, and apply for open positions in real time.
- Job Ready Skills Training – CareersNOW! offers free online training courses designed to equip jobseekers with the skills employers are looking for. Developed in partnership with Food Processing Skills Canada, training includes 15 industry-specific courses covering everything from workplace safety and food handling to leadership and communication skills. Participants receive micro-credentials and a certificate upon completion, making them more competitive candidates in the job market.
- Free Mentorship and Career Resources – Jobseekers can engage with a variety of articles, videos, podcasts, and livestreams featuring industry professionals sharing their real-world experience working in the sector.
How CareersNOW! Supports Employers
Ontario’s food and beverage processors face a growing labour shortage, and CareersNOW! helps businesses attract, train, and retain talent. The program provides free recruitment tools and resources designed to simplify hiring, improve employee retention, and connect businesses with skilled workers.
- Job Posting – Employers can use the CareersNOW! Employer portal to post openings and connect with a refined pool of qualified talent actively looking for work in the food and beverage processing industry.
- Virtual Hiring Events – Businesses can participate in virtual job fairs to promote open positions, meet potential hires, and showcase their company’s products and culture to a wide audience of jobseekers.
- Hire a Student– College and university students bring their enthusiasm and their specific skills sets. Through CareersNOW!, employers can hire students for one, or multiple, co-op or internship semesters and receive up to $7,000 in wage subsidies per student, per semester.
- Workplace Development & Retention Resources – CareersNOW! provides support for businesses looking to improve hiring practices, create inclusive workplaces, and strengthen employee retention strategies.
Why Choose a Career in Food and Beverage Processing?
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry is one of the province’s largest and fastest-growing sectors, offering a diverse range of career opportunities in manufacturing, technology, science, logistics, management, and more.
The industry provides:
- Job Stability & Career Growth – Food and beverage processing is an essential industry, making it a recession-resistant career choice with opportunities for advancement.
- Competitive Pay & Benefits – Many employers offer above-average wages, comprehensive benefits, and job security.
- Training & Professional Development – The processing industry takes pride in training and promoting employees in-house, laying a foundation for exponential career development, endless opportunities, and success.
- Work-Life Balance – Many roles in the industry offer predictable schedules and steady employment, allowing workers to balance their professional and personal lives so they can focus on what matters to them.
Whether you’re looking to launch a career or take it to the next level, CareersNOW! is your gateway to success in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry.
Sign up today to explore job opportunities, access training programs, and connect with leading food and beverage employers.
The Organization Behind CareersNOW!
CareersNOW! is the flagship workforce development initiative of Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO). It was created in 2021 in response to a growing workforce shortage in Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector and additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has since evolved into a suite of free resources to bridge jobseekers with leading employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry.
The CareersNOW! program is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development through the Skills Development Fund.
Our Partners
Workforce Diversity & Demographics
Hiring People with Disabilities
Connecting with Indigenous People
To engage with Indigenous People on careers in the food and beverage processing industry and share the potential for food entrepreneurship, CareersNOW! has partnered with the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association. This organization of First Nation Education Counsellors recognizes that the development of Native communities requires specific tools and programs and the partnership with CareersNOW! is based on this foundation.
