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Due to an increasingly competitive market for food jobs, and the fast-paced and rapidly expanding nature of the food industry, employers are now starting to look for a certain set of key skills.

Recent research has revealed that one in six UK employers have or are experiencing a skills gap in their workforce. This means that an average company with around 50 employees will lose approximately £160,000 in revenue per year, and will ultimately cost the UK economy a total figure of £10 billion per year. So you can see why skilled and highly trained employees are essential to food job employers.

What are these employable skills?
There are many essential skills needed in food jobs, particularly with more technical and specialist roles, but the following are what most employers will be looking for first:

• Oral and written communication
• Team working
• Customer -handling
• General IT skills
• Organisation and time management
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Problem solving

Food job employers use this set of employable skills initially as an outline for the job description of a particular vacancy, and they then use it to measure each applicant against. These key skills, with the addition of relevant qualifications, experience and training, are exactly what employers are looking for.

Interviews for foods jobs are much the same as any other type of job interview. In order to make the best possible impression, there are a number of things you can do in advance, on the day and most importantly, during the interview.

Here are a few simple tips to help you get your dream food job:

Preparation
This is the most important part of the whole process, and it could make the difference between you getting the job or losing out to the next person. You need to do the following:

• Research the company thoroughly, and understand completely what they do
• Research the market sector you will be working within
• Consider questions they may ask you and prepare some answers via easy-to-remember lists or bullet points
• Plan your travel to the interview

Present yourself well
You need to wear something appropriately smart and don't worry about dressing too formal in these kinds of situations. And, most importantly for food jobs, make sure that your nails, hair and general appearance is clean and tidy. Finally, be confident in both your manner and what you say, even if you have to fake it.

During the interview
Even if you're nervous, do your best to be as friendly and approachable as possible, but still remember that this is a formal situation. Listen carefully to questions, ask for them to be repeated if necessary, and think for a moment before you answer. Last of all; don't be afraid to ask questions!

The very best of luck for your food job interview.

A new set of qualification options has been designed by skills council Improve, aiming to not only help those looking for food jobs make their way into the industry, but also to improve the standard of food job applicants for employers.

Out of the new Improve Proficiency Qualifications (IPQs), designed for those with food jobs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, comes the 'Achieving Food Manufacturing Excellence' qualification. This qualification has two main components:

• Leadership, management, and strategy
• Tools, techniques and approaches relating to sustainable business strategies and lean management techniques

This qualification will also focus on the application of the above components to the food industry, enabling employees to improve performance in whatever level they are at or food sector they work within, and also helping to improve performance, production, efficiency and standards within the food manufacturing industry as a whole.

The development direct at Improve, Derek Williams, has explained that because the new qualification options are focused on continuous improvement and tailored to the specific needs of food employers, they should help those in food jobs to take the industry.

For those working within the food industry, aspiring to reach management level is an admirable goal. These kinds of food jobs have excellent financial rewards, can be extremely rewarding, and are a reflection of both your hard work and the belief that the company has in your ability. However, these roles do not come without great responsibility, so you need to make sure you have the skills and experience to be able to cope.

A particular kind of management level food job is that of project leader. It differs to other roles such as, for example, general manager or commercial manager positions in that you will mainly have to manage both people and an idea or concept. You aren't just keeping things ticking over; you are actually driving a project forward, meaning that the right person for this kind of food job needs a special set of skills. Check the following list and see if you are cut out to be a project leader - are you:

• Passionate about food and the processes involved in manufacturing and retailing it?
• Confident and positive, with good communication skills?
• Good at setting and meeting tight yet realistic deadlines?
• A people person, who can motivate and train less senior workers whilst still maintaining control?
• Able to convert ideas into tangible products, strategies or processes?
• Organised and efficient?

If a number of these qualities apply to you, get the right training and start enjoying your new career as a project leader.

Even if you know exactly what industry you want to work within, it can still be difficult to choose the right role. Especially in terms of the food industry, thinking about your own interests and passions, skills and experience can really help to determine what kind of food job you'd be perfect for.

The following information should help get you started:

General employable skills
Skills such as communication, team working and organisation are important for most kinds of food jobs. You need to be able to express your ideas and understand all information given to you, work well with other people in order to achieve a common goal, and be punctual, enthusiastic and responsible.

Management skills
Some people have the skills and personality to progress well within a management role. Food jobs in management require you to be confident, but also able to communicate well with others. You also need to have strong leadership skills, be goal-driven, organised and focused, and able to handle any responsibility given to you.

Legislation and guidelines
Some people feel more comfortable in roles with a strict framework of guidelines in place. Food jobs in areas such as health and safety, quality control or inspection can be extremely satisfying for organised, exacting individuals possessing excellent attention to detail.

Customer service
This is one of the most varied and enjoyable food jobs available. Friendly and polite people who enjoy interacting with customers will have no problem in customer service.

When applying for some food jobs, the employer may want you to do more than complete an application form. Some food jobs will require you to send a CV along with a 'cover letter'. You can use a cover letter to highlight the strengths and experiences that make you right for this particular food job.

If you've never sent a cover letter before, it can be daunting, but keep it short and simple and you'll be fine:

Writing your covering letter:

• You should write in a formal style.
• Put your address at the top right hand corner of the letter and put the date underneath your address. If possible, write to a specific person.
• The letter should be 3 or 4 paragraphs long:

1. In the first paragraph tell the employer why you're writing, and why you're interested in the food job.
2-3. In the next one or two paragraphs, outline your skills and qualifications and let the employer know why you're perfect for the job.
4. In the last paragraph, be positive. Let them know when you're available and provide your contact info (phone, e-mail etc).

• Finally, sign off with Yours sincerely. If you don't know the name (Dear Sir), then you should use Yours faithfully.

A good cover letter can make a big difference when applying for a food job, so make sure you're happy with it before you post or e-mail it.

As with all other industries, getting a job in the food sector is not as easy as it was in the past. But if you approach your job search and your applications in the right way, you can increase your chances of landing your dream food job.

Of course, half the battle is getting noticed by improving your CV. But if you are offered an interview, then there are still some things you can do in order to improve your chances at interview stage.

The main thing to remember is to research the company that you are hoping to work for. If you can prove that you are interested in them and have taken the time to get to know the company, this will really impress at the interview.

Make yourself familiar with the job that you are applying for so that you can ensure that you are well prepared and then ensure that you have the answers to the following questions: what does the company do? How big are they? What is their history?

By conducting some thorough research, you are really increasing your chances of impressing your interview panel. And it won't be long before you have your dream food job.

If you have a passion for food and want to get a well-paid and successful food job, your options aren't just limited to becoming a chef or professional cook. In fact, you need no cooking skills at all to get ahead in this fast-paced and exciting industry. This is because there are a number of processes and factors involved in the production, retail and distribution of food in the UK, and you could be making a valuable contribution to this industry in more ways than you might think.

Here a just a few examples of the types of food jobs on offer, and the different areas in the industry you can work in:

• Sales and marketing - Marketing campaigns are the first step in the food sales process. They are responsible for everything from labels, branding and packaging to undertaking market and consumer trend analysis. The sales team will then take over to complete the process.

• Finance - For someone with a finance or accountancy qualification, this type of food job could be perfect. The focus here is more on managing the finances of a food retailer, manufacturer or distributer, but it is still a vital part of the food industry, and you may get to work for some fairly prominent and influential companies.

• Health and Safety - This is an essential part of the food industry, and underpins every practise and process involved. Those working with food need to adhere to strict health and safety standards, and without official officers to ensure these are upheld, the industry would be in chaos.

• Human Resources - Like every other industry, employees in food jobs need support and management. If you are organised and good with people, apply for a HR food job today.

If you've just spotted your dream food job, you will want to ensure that your application is the best it can possibly be.

You might have the right qualifications and the appropriate experiences, but without a fantastic CV and covering letter, you may be selling yourself short.

If the food jobs you are applying for are particularly competitive, there is an even stronger need to make your CV and covering letter stand out because it is likely that the employer will be receiving hundreds of applications and he or she will need to be ruthless with narrowing down the candidates.

The trick is to not give the employer any excuse to put your application into the 'no pile'. And the way to do this is by concentrating on the covering letter first.

Begin your covering letter by addressing it to the correct person by name. Then tell them which job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised.

You then need to look at the food job advert and, in your letter, write how you answer the person specification by referring to your previous experiences and interests.

Keep your covering letter concise and ensure that you cover all the points in the person specification. That way, you won't be giving the employer any excuse to put you into the 'no pile'.

Leaving school or university is an extremely daunting time. You can feel completely overwhelmed by the decisions you have to make.

Choosing the career that you want to follow for the rest of your life may seem like huge decision, but you will already have something in mind; some interests and talents that have become apparent over the last few years. So the best thing to do is follow your instincts and start applying for jobs relevant to these interests and talents.

The food industry is one which is bursting at the seams with opportunities and there are plenty of ways in which to develop your career once you have made it into the industry.
But with so many opportunities out there, it is important to get a clear idea of where you want to be before you start applying for anything and everything which comes along.

Look at some of the food jobs advertised and see where your skills would be most relevant to try and narrow down the jobs that you apply for. Get a clear idea of what kind of food job you would suit, whether it is in marketing, packaging or food production.

Stay focussed when you are applying for your chosen roles and only apply if you are suitable for the food job advertised.