Like most young people, Anupriya didn’t know what she wanted to do after high school.
But when she took a chance and decided to study food technology in India, she discovered her passion for food and beverage processing and the role it plays in all our lives.
“I learned about the food and beverage processing industry and the challenges that we face [with that],” says Anupriya. “That’s what gave me a sense of satisfaction that yes, what I’m going to do is going to impact not only me but everyone around me, my loved ones too.”
Anupriya continued her studies in Canada, earning a Masters of Biological Engineering from the University of Guelph. Now graduated, she’s looking for her first job in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry.
Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector is the largest in Canada, accounting for 37 per cent of the industry’s revenue in the country. The sector has more than 4,000 establishments in the province, employing over 125,000 people.
Helping Anupriya with her job search is CareersNOW!
CareersNOW! Helps You Find Jobs in the Food and Beverage Processing Industry
CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s workforce development initiative for the province’s vibrant and growing food and beverage processing industry. The program is giving jobseekers and recent graduates an opportunity to explore diverse and fulfilling careers in the industry and connect with employers who are looking for people just like them.
CareersNOW! also gives jobseekers access to free events like virtual job fairs and mentorship sessions, so they can learn about the career possibilities in the industry directly from those who are doing it.
Jobseekers also have access to 14 Job Ready skills training courses designed for the food and beverage processing industry.
These courses were curated by Food Processing Skills Canada specifically for CareersNOW! They cover everything from soft skills, like working with others, to more industry-specific skills like allergens and workplace safety. Upon the completion of each course, members get a nationally recognized microcredential certificate. Once they complete all 14 courses, jobseekers receive a graduation package including an official transcript and certificate of completion.
Anupriya discovered CareersNOW! while researching additional courses she could take to add to her resume. She’s now completed all 14 Job Ready skills training courses.
“I’ve learned a lot through them. There were new things that I didn’t have exposure to before and then there were things that I had already studied . . . but it was a review of those things,” she says. “The curriculum is well thought out and well designed. I am so glad that I did the training.”
Anupriya also attended some of the CareersNOW! mentorship sessions and virtual job fairs, where she got to connect with hiring managers from the top employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector.
“It was the first job fair that I had ever been to, and it was a great experience far beyond my expectations. The experience was really great,” she says. “I got the chance to connect and collaborate with many talent acquisition specialists from various food and beverage processing companies.”
Anupriya hopes to land a job in food safety and quality assurance.
“The primary reason for my choice is because it really fascinated me during my studies,” she says.
“And secondly, it’s because of our need to serve safe and quality food to the consumer.”
With the additional training and opportunities she’s received from CareersNOW!, Anupriya is confident her dream career is just around the corner.
“I’ve never looked back since. . . I don’t feel that much stress because I know that yes, I will land a job through CareersNOW!”
Ready to start your career in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry?
Sign up for a FREE CareersNOW! Jobseeker account!
As a CareersNOW! Jobseeker, you’ll have access to Job Ready skills training, online job fairs, mentorship sessions and other resources to learn more about the exciting opportunities in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry!
