In order to become a food tester, there are certain requirements an applicant needs to meet including having the appropriate education, applying for a suitable position, and understanding the functions of the job. Food testers are commonly employed by restaurants, food companies, and farms to ensure product quality. These professionals are given the tasks of sampling different foods and evaluating them on a variety of criteria, such as appearance, texture, and flavor. The information gained from the taste testers is used to create and improve food products for wholesale and retail sales. For this reason, most companies look for applicants willing to take the time to provide serious, helpful feedback.
The minimal education requirement to become a food tester is a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalent. Most companies will also require that the applicant is at least 18 years of age, though it is not unusual for the hiring department to prefer applicants with more experience. Many food companies and manufacturers are beginning to seek out food tasters with culinary experience to more effectively compete in a growing market. People with food service or preparation experience are often chosen over those candidates with no culinary experience.
To become a food tester, the applicant will have to find a position open within the field. These positions can be found listed in traditional job search locations, such as the newspaper ads, online job boards, and through direct advertising by the company. Many applicants discover open food tasting positions by contacting companies directly. Restaurants, food supply companies, and food manufacturers are most likely to employ food tasters. Applicants who already work in, or have contacts in, the food industry field may learn of these positions faster than other job seekers.
There are more skills required to become a food tester than just tasting foods. Serious applicants should be aware that the job they will perform is vitally important to the production and marketing of a company's products. Not only are taste testers required to taste a wide variety of foods, they are also responsible for making detailed notes regarding such factors as the flavor, appearance, and texture of the samples. In some cases, food testers are asked to taste many different versions of the same food and be able to distinguish minute differences in the samples. Tasters should also have excellent written and verbal communication skills and possess a sophisticated palate.