19-1012.00 Bright Outlook

Food Scientists & Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

Career Cluster:Agriculture
Job Family:Life, Physical, and Social Science
Job Zone:Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
STEM:Research, Development, Design, and Practitioners
Industry:Management of Companies and Enterprises
Build Resume

Technology Tools

HubSpot softwareHypertext markup language HTMLMarketo Marketing AutomationMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointRMicrosoft WordSAP softwareStructured query language SQL

Key Tasks

  • Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
  • Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
  • Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
  • Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
  • Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
  • Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
  • Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
  • Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
  • Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
  • Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
  • Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
  • Demonstrate products to clients.
  • Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
  • Test processing equipment to ensure products are produced according to specifications.

Skills

Reading Comprehension
75%
Active Learning
75%
Critical Thinking
75%
Speaking
72%
Science
72%
Writing
72%
Active Listening
72%
Complex Problem Solving
72%
Judgment and Decision Making
72%
Systems Analysis
66%
Systems Evaluation
66%
Monitoring
66%
Quality Control Analysis
60%
Social Perceptiveness
56%
Coordination
53%
Mathematics
53%
Time Management
53%
Persuasion
53%
Negotiation
53%
Instructing
50%
Service Orientation
50%
Learning Strategies
50%
Operations Monitoring
47%
Management of Personnel Resources
41%
Operations Analysis
41%
Operation and Control
31%
Troubleshooting
25%
Management of Material Resources
25%
Equipment Selection
22%
Management of Financial Resources
22%
Technology Design
22%
Programming
13%
Repairing
0%
Installation
0%
Equipment Maintenance
0%

Knowledge

Production and Processing
85%
Food Production
79%
Chemistry
76%
English Language
74%
Mathematics
68%
Engineering and Technology
67%
Biology
61%
Computers and Electronics
57%
Administration and Management
53%
Customer and Personal Service
52%
Education and Training
52%
Law and Government
51%
Administrative
50%
Public Safety and Security
48%
Physics
47%
Personnel and Human Resources
41%
Sales and Marketing
41%
Mechanical
40%
Design
38%
Economics and Accounting
38%
Communications and Media
32%
Psychology
30%
Transportation
27%
Telecommunications
24%
Geography
19%
Sociology and Anthropology
18%
Foreign Language
18%
Building and Construction
16%
Medicine and Dentistry
10%
Philosophy and Theology
8%
Therapy and Counseling
8%
History and Archeology
7%
Fine Arts
2%

Build a Resume for Food Scientists & Technologists

Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.

Create Resume

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
78%
Deductive Reasoning
75%
Near Vision
75%
Category Flexibility
75%
Oral Expression
75%
Oral Comprehension
75%
Inductive Reasoning
75%
Written Comprehension
75%
Information Ordering
75%
Written Expression
75%
Fluency of Ideas
69%
Originality
66%
Speech Recognition
63%
Speech Clarity
63%
Flexibility of Closure
60%
Number Facility
60%
Mathematical Reasoning
56%
Perceptual Speed
53%
Far Vision
53%
Visual Color Discrimination
53%
Speed of Closure
50%
Selective Attention
50%
Memorization
44%
Visualization
41%
Time Sharing
41%
Hearing Sensitivity
31%
Finger Dexterity
31%
Reaction Time
28%
Auditory Attention
28%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
28%
Control Precision
28%
Trunk Strength
28%
Manual Dexterity
28%
Extent Flexibility
25%
Stamina
25%
Depth Perception
25%
Multilimb Coordination
25%
Wrist-Finger Speed
25%
Static Strength
22%
Dynamic Strength
22%
Rate Control
22%
Gross Body Coordination
19%
Explosive Strength
16%
Gross Body Equilibrium
16%
Response Orientation
16%
Sound Localization
3%
Glare Sensitivity
0%
Night Vision
0%
Peripheral Vision
0%
Spatial Orientation
0%
Speed of Limb Movement
0%
Dynamic Flexibility
0%

Work Activities

Documenting/Recording Information
89%
Getting Information
85%
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
84%
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
83%
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
82%
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
81%
Thinking Creatively
80%
Analyzing Data or Information
77%
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
77%
Processing Information
76%
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
75%
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
74%
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
73%
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
73%
Working with Computers
72%
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
70%
Coaching and Developing Others
65%
Developing and Building Teams
65%
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
64%
Training and Teaching Others
63%
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
61%
Communicating with People Outside the Organization
60%
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
59%
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
59%
Scheduling Work and Activities
57%
Controlling Machines and Processes
57%
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
57%
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
55%
Developing Objectives and Strategies
55%
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
54%
Performing Administrative Activities
52%
Handling and Moving Objects
51%
Performing General Physical Activities
49%
Selling or Influencing Others
41%
Staffing Organizational Units
40%
Assisting and Caring for Others
35%
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
33%
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
33%
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
33%
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
26%
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
24%

Work Context

E-Mail

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

98%

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

98%

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

97%

Telephone Conversations

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

90%

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

84%

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

83%

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

79%

Duration of Typical Work Week

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

78%

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

74%

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

73%

Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?

73%

Time Pressure

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

72%

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

68%

Frequency of Decision Making

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

61%

Health and Safety of Other Workers

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

61%

Spend Time Standing

How much does this job require standing?

60%

Written Letters and Memos

How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?

60%

Physical Proximity

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

59%

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities

How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?

58%

Consequence of Error

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

55%

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

55%

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

54%

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

54%

Level of Competition

To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?

54%

Spend Time Sitting

How much does this job require sitting?

51%

Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

50%

Exposed to Contaminants

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

49%

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks

How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?

48%

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

48%

Conflict Situations

How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?

47%

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

41%

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

38%

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment

How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)

38%

Public Speaking

How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?

36%

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

35%

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

34%

Degree of Automation

How automated is the job?

31%

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

31%

Spend Time Walking or Running

How much does this job require walking or running?

31%

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings

How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?

29%

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection

How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?

29%

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?

28%

Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions

How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?

26%

Exposed to High Places

How often does this job require exposure to high places?

24%

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

18%

Outdoors, Under Cover

How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?

18%

Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body

How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?

18%

Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles

How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?

16%

Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions

How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?

14%

Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling

How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?

14%

Work Schedules

How regular are the work schedules for this job?

14%

In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment

How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?

12%

Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People

How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?

11%

Exposed to Disease or Infections

How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?

11%

Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance

How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?

8%

Exposed to Radiation

How often does this job require exposure to radiation?

5%

Exposed to Whole Body Vibration

How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?

4%

Education

Bachelor's degree

82%

Post-secondary certificate

9%

Associate's degree

5%

Interests

Investigative

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f

78

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t

68

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum

49

Enterprising

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis

26

Artistic

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,

24

Social

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

19

Work Styles

Attention to Detail
90%
Intellectual Curiosity
86%
Dependability
80%
Innovation
80%
Cautiousness
76%
Integrity
72%
Achievement Orientation
68%
Adaptability
62%
Perseverance
53%
Initiative
50%
Self-Confidence
47%
Cooperation
46%
Tolerance for Ambiguity
42%
Stress Tolerance
37%
Leadership Orientation
34%
Self-Control
32%
Social Orientation
32%
Sincerity
22%
Humility
18%
Optimism
10%
Empathy
4%

Work Values

Achievement
67%
Support
67%
Recognition
61%
Working Conditions
58%
Independence
56%
Relationships
56%

Ready to pursue a career as Food Scientists & Technologists?

Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.

Build Your Resume Now