Each month we publish a One Minute Message (OMM) on a topic that is important to our company’s success, as well as, the well-being and personal success of our Food Manufacturing Professionals.

August’s OMM topic was ‘Commitment’. Specifically, what does commitment mean and why is it important to the success of our S.A.F.E. Certified Food Professionals?

In this episode, we are proud to have one of the Supervisors from Harlan Foods’ Avon, Indiana production facility share what Commitment means to him and to his team.

Click here to stream August’s One Minute Message

Apple Valley Foods US is a part of the Harlan Foods family of companies which operates across the United States and Canada.

Harlan Foods, and our team here at Apple Valley Foods US, believe that we can only create world class food products by recruiting and developing professional-grade talent.

Developing food manufacturing professionals is important to our family of companies for a very important reason:

Each week across all of our production facilities, we are responsible for manufacturing the food products that over 66,000,000 people enjoy and rely on at meal time each week. 

And, our Apple Valley Foods team is directly responsible for manufacturing the finest pies, commercially available in the United States.  For nearly the past five years, our professionals have won a record number of blue-ribbon first place prizes at the American Pie Council’s National Championship.  This year, our team of Food Manufacturing Professionals brought home a record 27 First Place Ribbons.

Delivering on this responsibility requires a commitment to quality and professionalism from every single team member.

Here at Harlan Foods and also at Apple Valley Foods, we don’t just refer to our team members as ‘Professionals’.   We treat our team members as professionals.  To ensure we meet our high standards each day, Harlan Foods has developed a professional standards program called S.A.F.E., which stands for Standards-Based, Accountability Driven, Food Excellence.

S.A.F.E. has many important programs, which are all part of ‘How We Work’.  These programs range from Mentor programs, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) Trivia, success bonuses for Mentors, success bonuses for achieving safety goals, as well as, achieving S.A.F.E.’s professional certifications.  S.A.F.E. and the unique approach to ‘How We Work’ helps our professionals to build trust and reliance with one another, as well as in many cases, developing lasting friendships.

Employees who receive their S.A.F.E. Certifications after completing the necessary training and development work also receive promotions and raises as part of their S.A.F.E. Certification.  And, this training is provided to our employees at no cost as part of Harlan Foods and Apple Valley Foods’ commitment to the professional development and success of our employees.

Harlan Foods is the only food manufacturer making a professional improvement program such as S.A.F.E. available to its team members.

Our One Minute Messages are part of our commitment to the education and development of our team members.  We hope you enjoy our One Minute Messages!

If you are a Harlan Foods/Apple Valley Foods team member, thank you for your professionalism and commitment to excellence.

If you are interested in joining our team, click here to get started!

If you are a customer of Harlan Foods/Apple Valley Foods, thank you for trusting us to deliver safe, quality and delicious food products, manufactured with care by the team of people you see speaking in our One Minute Messages.

It is impossible to build a successful career, move up, and achieve the goals of increased pay and greater responsibility without building trust with the people you work with.

As part of the Harlan Foods’ family of companies, our team at Apple Valley Foods US understands that to be a valuable part of a large and successful team, we have to build trust.

For a company to be trustworthy, each employee must work to build trust.  That’s right, trust begins with yourself.  To be successful in your career, you have to trust yourself to do the right thing at all times.  You have to build a foundation of trust with your team members and also with your superiors and managers.  Trusting in yourself and having others trust you isn’t hard.  It just takes a few things to make this happen but trust only comes when you do these things consistently.

In this post, we look back at one of Harlan Foods previous One Minute Messages which focuses on how to build trust.  We share some surprising facts about the importance of trust and in the video link below, we share the some of the secrets to successfully building trust, which are the foundation for career success, upward mobility and job satisfaction.

Here are some interesting facts on the importance of trust in the workplace…We want to share these trust building secrets so you can succeed and increase your success no matter where you work.  Or, if you are looking for a new job or career where you can grow and move up faster, we want to offer you something to think about when considering a new workplace.

Did you know that:

• Workplaces where surveyed employees have low levels of trust in their team members or management have, on average, over double the number of safety incidents over workplaces where there are high levels of employee trust.
• Workplaces where surveyed employees have low levels of trust in their team members or management have 3x the turnover over workplaces where employees indicate high levels of trust.
• Companies with high levels of trust tend to promote from within much more frequently than companies that don’t.
• Companies where employees have a high levels of trust in one another also indicate high levels of job satisfaction.

Our team created this video to help everyone understand the importance of trust and how to easily develop this with your work place team members, no matter whether you work at Apple Valley Foods, Harlan Foods or somewhere else we knew this message was important, so we want to share it with everyone.

Our leadership team believes that everyone should enjoy a workplace where mutual respect, trust, safety, quality, respect for diversity and career growth are part of our daily activities and goals.  We also want our employees to work in a place where all employees can have fun, thrive and grow.

Click here to check out our One Minute Message video on the simple but secret things you need to know to build trust and move up in your career faster.

Our entire team here at both Harlan Foods and here at Apple Valley Foods US works hard every single day to create a workplace where every employee feels valuable and can succeed in achieving their personal and professional goals.

We know it is important to create an environment where all of our employees can thrive, build self confidence and construct a strong foundation of trust and respect with everyone they work with.

If trusting yourself, growing and succeeding in your career is something you a would like to experience more of, then consider joining our team of Food Manufacturing Professionals.

Interested in building a success?  We can help you supercharge your skills and abilities, turning them into career and pay growth.  Click here and get started today!

Last month our Apple Valley Foods U.S. team, along with our Canadian sister company, Apple Valley Foods and our parent organization, Harlan Foods presented our very best at North America’s largest Bakery, Dairy and Deli (IDDBA) trade show.

This year, the IDDBA show was held in Houston, Texas.  Some of the largest retailers, who we, as well as Apple Valley Foods Canada and Harlan Foods, sell product to were in attendance.

Hundreds of manufacturers, like us, spend months preparing for this show in order to attract the attention, and the business, of these recognized retail brands.  Performing well at these shows can make or break a manufacturer’s reputation and also impact business for the coming year.

Paying attention to every detail and making sure that each product and product sample made available at the show attendees to inspect and try is perfect.  The level of competition is to high to make a single product mistake.

However, this year like many previous years, our group had an advantage.  Only a few months before the June IDDBA show, we also participate in the American Pie Council’s National Pie Competition (APC).  The pies our teams make compete alongside pies from global companies as well as small artisan bakeries.  At the APC pie contest, the competition is every bit as high as at IDDBA.

Fortunately, our Food Manufacturing Professionals across North America, including our Chaska team, is used to performance under pressure-and winning.  At the APC this year, our group won more first place blue ribbons for our pies than any other competitor.  And, for the fourth year in a row, our team set a record in the number of Blue Ribbons awarded, across ALL participant categories!

In 2024, we set a new record with 27 First Place Blue Ribbons!

Each year we take our blue ribbons, along with the winning pies, to the IDDBA show along with the wide variety of products our companies manufacture.  This year, that ranged from bagels to organic granola to delicious muffins and even fresh baked cookies!

We also brought some of our newest products including a new line of pretzel snack products, a line of shelf stable cream pies, our iconic, fresh and frozen fruit pies.

Did you know we own our own orchards in Canada?  It’s true! And, is part of how we ensure delivery of the best quality pies in North America.

At IDDBA this year, we also came with a new spin on an old favorite pie.  We brought to the show a dinner pie to compliment our many dessert pies!  That’s right, we were excited to debut a show favorite, our savory Chicken Pot Pie!

Here at Apple Valley Foods U.S. we know pie.  We live pie.  We love pie.  We are really good at making pies.

Our professionals are some of the most committed and talented food manufacturers in North America.  Our success at APC, IDDBA, as well as, our continued growth and expansion is proof of that.

It isn’t just the quality ingredients and talent that makes our team here in Minnesota special.  It’s the culture we are building that sits upon our three guiding Mission Pillars; Integrity, Quality & Customer Service.

Building a culture of respect, trust, communication, teamwork, professionalism and pride in the tasks we undertake every day allows us to continue to raise the bar in performance…and First Place Blue Ribbons every year.

If you are interested in becoming part of our well paid, award-winning team, then drop us a line here to get started.

Keep in mind though, we have worked hard to build our reputation and are looking to hire only the best!

If that is you, then click here!

Here at Apple Valley Foods US, we pay a lot of attention to the ingredients we use in our products.

For instance, when we source eggs, it is critical for us to pay attention to the conditions of the farms that produce them, the feeds that are used for the chickens, the ecological surroundings, just to name a few things.

Why do we do this?  Because all of these factors impact the quality of the eggs we source for our pies, just like all the other ingredients we source.

Poor ingredients mean a product which may not be delicious, visually appealing or worse, it may not be safe for the millions of Americans who trust us to deliver the highest quality products to their family’s table.

The same holds true with our employees.  It is important to us not to simply fill a position with any worker.

We have to work hard to source quality employees over time to build a work force which is made up of quality individuals who exhibit the qualities that are important to our brand.

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Work Ethic
• Communication Skills
• Team-Minded
• Goal Oriented
• Self-Improvement Motivated

Building a solid team doesn’t happen overnight and takes a lot of effort.  However, it is something that we as a company are 100% committed to delivering.  It is as important for our employees to be satisfied with what we provide as customers.  Without a quality and committed team, we cannot deliver quality products consistently!

If you are interested in raising your game and these behaviors are things which are important to you, then consider helping us build our team with individuals just like you.

Get started today by filling out our Fast Track Application.  Simply click here to begin.

Does a positive workplace culture matter?

It’s pretty simple really.  Yes.

You can determine if your workplace has a good culture by asking yourself a few simple questions.

• Do you like going to work?
• Do you feel valued or part of a team?
• Do you feel like what you do matters, or is it just a job?
• Does management communicate where the business is heading, how it is doing and importantly, give you the ‘why’ behind any of this?
• Are you provided with clear opportunities for professional and personal growth that can help to make you better?
• Do people in your workplace smile, joke, laugh or have fun on the job?
• Do you look forward to leaving more than you don’t?
• Is diversity encouraged and supported in your workplace?

If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, then your workplace might not have the best culture.  And, if any of these things are important to you, you might want to look for a new job.

Why?  Today, you can find a job pretty much anywhere you want.  You can always find a place to make money.  You can’t get the time you waste in a dead end job back though.  Never waste your time in a dead end job with an employer that doesn’t care about you.  Never.  You are worth more.

Building a positive culture takes time and isn’t easy, especially when there are a lot of employees who are from diverse backgrounds.  The thing you want to look for in an employer is are they committed to constantly improving culture along with business performance?

The team at Harlan Foods realizes how important a positive culture and workplace is.  We have launched a number of programs designed to grow and expand the well-being of our team of Food Professionals.  Yes, we call our employees ‘Food Professional’ because that is what they are.  Each week, we feed 1 in 10 Americans with safe, nutritious and delicious food.  Only professionals can do that.

For 2023, our mission is to link our mission of feeding American families with our S.A.F.E. program and a positive, healthy culture which fosters personal growth and team unity.

Here are some of the programs we have launched for our team’s well-being and success:

• Mentorship support program for new employees
• Mentor success bonuses that are directly tied to the success and happiness of new employees
• Safety bonuses
• Pay for Performance
• Company paid healthcare clinic available for our Food Professionals, which is also accessible by spouses and children
• Job/Interest/Skills matching
• 2023 Base pay increases
• Specialty role bonuses
• Industry-leading professional training and certifications

In the first half of 2023, we are launching even more programs designed to improve the welfare, happiness and satisfaction of our team.  They are our greatest asset.  As a family run company, our commitment to this cause is in part why 20% of our workforce has been with us ten years or more.

We’d thought we would share a few pictures of a day at Harlan.  If you like what you see and are looking for a better opportunity, then give us an opportunity to share with you what Harlan is all about.

Meet Destiny.  Destiny has been with Harlan for over 5 years and works at our Irvington, Indiana facility.  Destiny recently was promoted to a Champion Level Mentor where she works with new employees, who are called ‘Apprentices’ to ensure they are successful during their 90 day food manufacturing internship.

After the first two weeks of paid, on the job training, every single Apprentice is assigned their own Mentor, like Destiny.  The Mentor’s primary role is to help Apprentices be successful and find happiness in what they are doing as they learn their new roles.

After successfully completing the Mentorship program, Apprentices are able to earn their AFP certification as soon as 90 days from when they are hired.  When an Apprentice achieves their AFP certification, they receive an IMMEDIATE pay increase!

How does this make our employees feel?  Here is Johnson after he received his AFP certification.  He looks pretty happy!

As a Mentor, Destiny can earn $500 for each Apprentice she works during their 90-day Mentorship program.  That can add up to a $6,000 in bonus pay each year!

Destiny recently shared, “I love helping my Apprentice team mates become happy and successful here.  It’s very rewarding to me to be able to work with them each day and see them grow in their new roles.  When I am able to help them graduate and achieve their AFP Certification, it is so worth it.  They get a very important industry certification for free and a pay increase to go along with it!  What’s not to love about that?!”

Click on Destiny’s picture or click here to hear more about Destiny’s role as a Harlan Mentor and how making more money doing that has made her even happier here at Harlan.

Being a mentor is open to all Harlan employees who have been with the company for a year and have passed both their AFP Certification as well as their Champion Mentor Certification.

What would you do this holiday season if you knew you’d be making up to an additional $6,000 per year just by helping others?

Satisfaction.

sat·is·fac·tion

noun

“The fulfillment of wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this.”

Shouldn’t the time you spend at work make you satisfied?

The rest of the world is stressful enough.  Going to your job should be something you enjoy.  You look forward to.  It should be something you are proud of doing.  Shouldn’t it be doing something worthwhile?  Shouldn’t you go home each day, safe, satisfied and fulfilled?

Mission based work…

There are lots of just jobs.  Plenty of them.  They are promoted on semi trucks, billboards and busses.  Sorting boxes filled with online orders is a job, no matter how it is presented.

Feeding families who rely on what you make, for breakfast time.  For family dinners.  For birthday parties and family celebrations.  That is mission-based work.

All things being equal, wouldn’t you rather get well compensated for doing something that really matters?

If you answered ‘yes’, then you are just a little different from everyone else who is just looking for a job.  You are special and, you matter to us.

Someone who helps to feed families across America is important and should be invested in.  That’s what we do at Harlan Foods.  We find people who matter, we invest in them, and turn them into Certified Food Manufacturing Professionals who each day feed 1 in 10 Americans.

When you become a Certified Food Professional, work is no longer work.  It is fun.  It is fulfilling.  It is rewarding.  These are things that all our Food Manufacturing Professionals deserve-fun, fulfilling and rewarding roles they and their families can be proud of and pay and benefit packages that allow them to live the lives they want.

If mission-based work, solid pay, performance bonuses, free healthcare, free training and professional certifications, upward mobility, a stable and positive work environment, and job to interest and skill matching are important to you, schedule a face to face or a phone interview and see what Harlan Foods has to offer you.

Click here to see what satisfying, mission-based work looks like here with us.

Get started on a more rewarding journey today as part of our team of Food Manufacturing Professionals.

Satisfaction.

sat·is·fac·tion

noun

“The fulfillment of wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this.”

Shouldn’t the time you spend at work make you satisfied?

The rest of the world is stressful enough.  Going to your job should be something you enjoy.  You look forward to.  It should be something you are proud of doing.  Shouldn’t it be doing something worthwhile?  Shouldn’t you go home each day, safe, satisfied and fulfilled?

Mission based work…

There are lots of just jobs.  Plenty of them.  They are promoted on semi trucks, billboards and busses.  Sorting boxes filled with online orders is a job, no matter how it is presented.

Feeding families who rely on what you make, for breakfast time.  For family dinners.  For birthday parties and family celebrations.  That is mission-based work.

All things being equal, wouldn’t you rather get well compensated for doing something that really matters?

If you answered ‘yes’, then you are just a little different from everyone else who is just looking for a job.  You are special and, you matter to us.

Someone who helps to feed families across America is important and should be invested in.  That’s what we do at Harlan Foods.  We find people who matter, we invest in them, and turn them into Certified Food Manufacturing Professionals who each day feed 1 in 10 Americans.

When you become a Certified Food Professional, work is no longer work.  It is fun.  It is fulfilling.  It is rewarding.  These are things that all our Food Manufacturing Professionals deserve-fun, fulfilling and rewarding roles they and their families can be proud of and pay and benefit packages that allow them to live the lives they want.

If mission-based work, solid pay, performance bonuses, free healthcare, free training and professional certifications, upward mobility, a stable and positive work environment, and job to interest and skill matching are important to you, schedule a face to face or a phone interview and see what Harlan Foods has to offer you.

Click here to see what satisfying, mission-based work looks like here with us.

Get started on a more rewarding journey today as part of our team of Food Manufacturing Professionals.

Are looking for a new job?  Does your current place of employment no longer excite you?

Maybe it never did.  Or, possibly what was advertised wasn’t exactly the reality you go into each day.

There is a big difference between a job where you trade your time for a paycheck, and a place that values you and excites you.  A place where you feel you are making a real difference in your life and the lives of others.

Don’t settle for trading your time for a paycheck.  We only have so much time and can never get it back!

As valuable as you are, you should always be investing in yourself and you should look for an employer who does the same.  Hiring bonuses and hype around ‘find a new career’ isn’t about you, it’s about a company trying to fill an empty slot.  So look for more.  Look beyond the signing bonus.  What happens next?  What is that employer doing every single day to help you feel fulfilled and to increase your professional value.

Why would they do this?  Simple…

• 73% of Gen Z are motivated to do a better job when they feel their supervisor cares about them.
• Employees involved in mentoring are promoted 5x more often than those not involved in mentoring.
• Those who serve as a mentor are 6X more likely to be promoted to a higher position.
• Millennials are more likely to quit because of a lack of career advancement opportunities (35%) and a lack of learning and development opportunities (28%).
• Gen Z strongly believes in learning, as 76% see learning as critical to their career advancement.

Take a look at the infographic we put together that contains a few more interesting facts about Mentorship programs and also Mentorship here at Harlan Foods.

If you would like to know more about open positions and opportunities for growth here at Harlan Foods, click here.

Did you know Harlan Foods feeds 1 in 10 Americans?  If you are interested in learning about the wide variety of foods we make which make their ways to grocery, club stores and quick serve restaurants around the country every single day, click here.

If you would like to hear from one of our Mentors, you can hear his advice by clicking here.

Hope.  According to the dictionary, the word ‘hope’ has three meanings.

1. A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
2. A feeling of trust.
3. To want something to happen or be the case.

What does the word ‘hope’ have to do with jobs?  Simple!  For team members to find satisfaction in their tasks and roles, they should have hope that they will have opportunities to grow, explore and try new things.  In other words, employees want to be challenged, find success, feel rewarded by seeing what they do come to life in some way.

Employees should hope that their employers and team members care about their well-being, desire to grow and to perform.  Employers should care about clearly communicating the mission and purpose of what’s being done and even the why behind what is being done!

As an employee, understanding this and then having the opportunity to choose how you as a participant can add value to the cause, mission and even improve yourself along the way seems pretty important.  Having that gives hope that what you do has meaning beyond the paycheck.

You can get a paycheck anywhere.

So, ask yourself.  What do you hope for in your work life?

As you think about this, here are a few things about Harlan that might align with what you are hoping for in your work life.

Each day, we feed one in 10 Americans. 

If we were to shut down all of our food production, a number of grocery store shelves and freezer cases across the country would quickly go empty.  Restaurant patrons would be disappointed to learn that many of their favorite items were not available.  Providing families and communities with safe, nutritious, delicious and affordable food is important.  This is our mission and our promise every day.

Our team members are professionals in the truest sense of the word.

We invest in training team members, just like every other employer.  However, we go a step further.  We provide all of our employees with a comprehensive continuing education program as part of our SAFE initiative.  SAFE stands for Standards Based, Accountability Driven, Food Excellence.  Under SAFE, each employee can achieve either an AFP or CFP certification.  These industry leading certifications mean Harlan team members are the best of the best in food manufacturing.  We take great pride in doing things well.

We motivate, coach and inspire.

Studies have shown that companies which provide mentorship programs produce happier, more productive team members who advance faster.  As part of SAFE, Harlan has rolled out a comprehensive Mentorship program to assist our Apprentice Food Professionals (new employees) grow and thrive during their first 100 days.  This program not only benefits our Apprentice Food Professionals but also the Mentors who get a great deal of satisfaction and even performance compensation for ensuring the success of the Apprentices they work with.  It is our way of providing certainty that new employees are successful in their roles.

Finding what you love.

As part of SAFE, Harlan has developed workplace simulations which allow prospective employees to explore and understand all of the various departments, teams and tasks found within Harlan.

This gives the job-seeker the opportunity to find what they are interested in or tasks which align with their personal skills.  The job simulation also provides individuals who might not find food manufacturing for them an opportunity to quickly understand this and adjust their job search.  Harlan wants to ensure that every new Apprentice says “I love this” instead of ‘This isn’t what I expected.”

So, what do you hope for in your work life?  A better job?  A promotion?  More pay?  Better benefits?  Sure.  All of those things are important.  You should work to make sure these things are available to you.

However, maybe there is something else.  Having a real purpose in what you do.

Does feeding families across North America every day give your inspiration?  Does achieving professional accreditation which tells others you are at the top of your profession?  How about being mentored by other professionals or perhaps having others look up to you for help and inspiration as a mentor?

How about finding a work environment and role that aligns with your personal sense of purpose?

This is what our team at Harlan can offer.  If you like the sound of it, reach out and say hello.  We’d love to meet you.

On the home page you will find a link to our open positions, or drop us a message in our contact form.  We’ll get in touch with you quickly and work to find you a role you can be passionate about as a Harlan Food Manufacturing Professional.

Harlan team members are passionate about their mission and purpose.  Regardless of their role, each Harlan Food Professional is critical to ensuring that Harlan delivers on its promise to feed America.  Today, one in ten Americans rely on Harlan Foods for safe, nutritious and delicious food.

See what a member of our Sanitation team members have to say about the role they play in helping to deliver on this promise.

Harlan Foods team is made up of a wide variety of skills supporting an equally wide variety of departments and roles.  Harlan’s Food Professionals represent an equally wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.  Vietnam, Burma, Afghanistan, Mexico, Canada, India, China among others are all nationalities which make up our family.

We find our strength in our diversity and also our common bond in the passion we have for making safe, quality food for our friends and neighbors.  Many of our team have found their forever home.

Over 20% of our team has been with Harlan over a decade and numerous team members have been with Harlan since its inception.

If this resonates with you and you want want to join Sammy, Tammi and the rest of the Harlan team in a career as a certified Harlan Food Professional, click on this link to get started.  We look forward to having you as part of our growing family.

Harlan wants to recognize and congratulate James Murphy on his success as a Harlan Foods mentor. James is a Champion-Level Certified Harlan Food Professional who is one of our Employee Mentors.

Studies have shown that over 85% of employees involved in mentorship programs indicate they are happier and more successful in their roles.

Each new employee has the opportunity to enter into Harlan’s Mentorship program prior to receiving their Harlan Foods AFP Food Professional Certification.

James recently graduated his first mentee and his team was on hand to recognize his success. Congratulations James!

Harlan Foods is one of a number of leading companies such as General Electric, Caterpillar and Intel Corporation who believe investing in the success and well-being of their employees through a mentor program pays dividends for both the employee and the company.

Harlan is committed to our employees well being and success.

If you are interested in learning more about Harlan’s mentor program, please click here.

If you are interested in James’ advice on how to be successful as a Food Manufacturing Professional, please click here.

Harlan Foods currently has a limited number of employment opportunities open for new applicants.  If you are interested in joining Harlan’s fast track to success, growth, better pay, benefits and career advancement, click here.

Insider Job Tips from a Certified HR Professional

Our HR Director Rebecca Ehsan, PHR, SHRM-CP is a Human Resources insider with a load of practical knowledge on how to assess an employer and the questions you should ask before talking a job.  Each week, Rebecca’s team interviews dozens of candidates for one of Harlan Foods open AFP (Apprentice Food Professional) classes.

You can see the first episode here.

New hires go through on-boarding, mentorship and training as a group, or a class.  This way, new employees have a group of peers to better support them.

There are a lot of jobs open but like employers they are all not created equal. What looks good on the surface might not be what you thought 6 months later. Don’t waste your important time in the wrong job!

Take a look at this helpful video and learn from the insights Rebecca shares!

Let’s break down Rebecca’s advice here:

Career Advancement Tip #1

Look for an organization that is growing.  Ask this question of your prospective employer.  This helps to better understand what opportunities for personal growth and upward mobility exist with that company.

Fact:

In the past 3 years, Harlan Foods has nearly doubled its size.

Career Advancement Tip #2

Look for job stability.  Steer clear of firms where the majority of the open positions are tied to seasonal fluctuations or temporary positions.  Look for firms that are classified as ‘Essential Employers’.

Fact:

None of Harlan Foods positions are seasonal or temporary.  Harlan Foods is an Essential Employer.

Career Advancement Tip #3

Look for employers with an active mentorship program.  Ask for details about the program.

Fact:

Less than 1/3 of employers have a mentorship program.  87% of employees who participate in mentorship programs have higher job satisfaction and receive higher pay.

Career Advancement Tip #4

Look for employers who can demonstrate they reward employees who proactively step up, perform and lead.

Fact:

Harlan Mentors are volunteers who go through advanced training and are well compensated for their mentee’s success.   Harlan Foods has several similar programs that reward employees beyond base pay.

Career Advancement Tip #5

Look for organizations that have a learning driven, team oriented culture.

Fact:

Harlan Foods has a wide variety of training and educations programs designed to engage employees and provide the tools and knowledge required for greater job satisfaction and upward mobility.  This includes Harlan’s SAFE program (Standards Based, Accountability Driven, Food Excellence) and Harlan Food Manufacturing Professional Certifications.

Career Advancement Tip #6

Make sure the employer isn’t just using the word ‘career’ to attract your attention.  There is a big difference between a career and a job.  Career means a consistent path of employment in an area of specialty or consistent employment with a single employer who affords you growth and advancement opportunities.

Fact:

Over 20% of Harlan employees have been with the company for a decade or more.  Most team leads and supervisors have risen to their management posts from entry level jobs.  Harlan Foods promotes from within.

Career Advancement Tip #7

Invest in yourself.

• Look for growth opportunities.
• Make sure career paths are documented and available to you.
• Find out how much time and what is required to move up the various career paths.
• Find out who makes up team lead roles and supervisor positions.  How did they get there?

Fact:

Harlan Foods career paths are documented.  We promote from within.

These secrets are what drive Harlan’s Food Manufacturing Professionals to succeed

Here at Harlan, we are always working to improve.  Operational excellence and career path growth for our Food Manufacturing Professionals is very important to us.  To improve your career, you have to improve yourself.

In the last year, Harlan has launched a number of programs designed to help our team members grow and succeed in their careers as Food Manufacturing Professionals.  These  include our Mentorship Program, Our Apprentice Food Professional Program, Our Certified Food Professional and Master Certified Food Professional certifications and our Safety Sweepstakes just to name a few.

We decided it was a good idea to share some of the career secrets we use at Harlan.  If you feel that the approach we take to employee success is something you’d like to know more about, we would love to talk to you about joining the Harlan team.  You’ll find a link at the bottom to help you get started.

Opportunity Often Hides in Plain Sight

Why do we go to work?  Every day we trade our time for money.  A paycheck, right?  Well, that is true for most people. However, you are NOT most people!

Have you ever wondered what it would take to have more?  Have you ever thought about where you wanted to be in a year?  Two?  What would your life look like?   Does it have a nice new car or a better place to live?  College courses?  Maybe a better vacation? More money in the bank?

What does your future life feel like?  Do you feel happier, more satisfied, more confident?  Does your ‘Future You’ feel more at ease?  Less anxiety about money?  Imagine that feeling.  Do you like what the ‘Future You’ looks like and feels like?

So how do get from your ‘Right Now You’ to the ‘Future You’?  Actually it is pretty simple and it doesn’t matter if you are working your first job, are under employed  or are the CEO of a company.  Put these 3 secrets to work and you will improve!

Secret Number One:  Invest in the ‘Right Now’ You

Improvement happens one step at a time.  It is a process, to improve your career, you have to want to do it.

In order to get to your ‘Future You’, you have to describe what goals the ‘Future You’ has achieved and the steps the ‘Future You’ took to achieve these goals.  In other words, you have to invest time and effort into the ‘Now You’ to get to the ‘Future You’.  Here are some examples of how to do that:

1. Improve my communication skills.  I am going to work on communicating with others by not just listening to what they say but observing their body language.  I am going to do a better job in listening to what others say and how they act.  I am also going to learn 2 new words a week and work to include them in all of my communications.
2. I am going to smile more and make better eye contact with others.  The vibe I put out is the vibe I will get back.
3. I will practice constructive feedback.  At work and at home, I will ask those who I respect and trust as well as work for what I can do to improve.
4. I will improve on being curious.  I will work to ask more questions and learn from what I hear.
5. I will practice these activities until they become a habit.

Harlan employees putting the three secrets to work by smiling more

Secret Number Two: Build Upon Your Success

Once your Secret Number One activities start to become a habit, build on them.  How do you do this?

Here are some examples:

1. Be confident.  Know what your are doing to improve yourself is the right thing.  Confidence like the other steps above comes from practice and habit.  Know that your current situation doesn’t define you.  What you do defines you.
2. Look for opportunities to learn a new skill or master a new task at work.  Master these new skills or tasks.  Take inventory of the improvements you have helped to make.  Communicate these improvements to your boss and ask for more.
3. If new opportunities or responsibilities are not available to you at work, you might be in the wrong job.  However make a list of the tasks and responsibilities you want to take on.  This will help you in interviewing for a new and better job.
4. If your situation or work environment is holding you back from improving, change it.  Move on.  The worst thing you can do is go to work every day and never improve your career path.

Secret Number Three: Teach Others What You Now Know

Harlan Food Professionals are always helping others learn

Secret Three builds on the activities of Secrets One and Two.  The only difference is you now are sharing these knowledge with others to help them on their career path.

• Know how to do a task you see a new co-worker struggling with?  Don’t just help them do it, help teach them how to do it right!
• See a safety issue but its not in your department as are walking to your lunch break with a co-worker?  Find the right supervisor and report it!  Explain to your co-worker why that was the right thing to do.
• See a co-worker who is not integrating well into the team?  Ask them what they can do to better fit in and then help them do this by pairing that person up with someone you know.

Moving up and improving your career and in turn your life requires only a couple of things.

1. Always work to be improving and learning.
2. Be friendly and approachable.
3. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities.
4. Be able to communicate well.  This includes asking for and taking feedback.
5. Be willing to help others improve.

These five things are all forms of good leadership and it’s mastering these things that will transform the ‘Now You’ into the ‘Future You’.  By adopting these three secrets and working at it consistently, in two years, you and your life will look very different.

Ready to get started on the ‘Future You’?  Your path to success is just one click away.  Just look for the ‘Get Started at Harlan’ form on the home page.

There are a lot of good reasons to come to work here at Harlan.  Free healthcare for one.  But free Smart TV’s?   Ok wait.  Let’s back up and cover reason number 3.

Reason Number 3: Harlan invests in the well-being and happiness of our Food Manufacturing Professionals.

There are lots of reasons to consider taking a new job.  Here at Harlan, not only will we work to outline the 25 reasons to become a Harlan Food Professional, we will also provide you with tips and tricks to help you land a better job, no matter where that is.

Free Health Care

That’s right.  Free health care for you.  Harlan has partnered with Proactive MD to deliver an end-to-end healthcare clinic to address virtually every health need you have from prescriptions to check ups to testing just for our employees!  And…

It’s free.

We’ve put together this video of what our Proactive MD clinic provides for our Food Manufacturing Professionals.  Click here to check it out.

As a Harlan Food Manufacturing Professional, free healthcare is one of the many benefits you get working for a food manufacturer that delivers safe, nutritious and delicious food to 1 in 10 Americans.

Free Health Care is amazing but what’s that about free TV’s?

During our Harlan’s recent open enrollment, Harlan raffled off a big screen smart TV.  Win a free TV by signing up for free health care?  Yep, that is how Harlan rolls.

The winner of that TV was our Bake Line 3, Avon, Indiana Senior Team Leader employee, Felix Sanchez Aguiar. Felix has been with the company for nearly 8 years, and he is responsible for oversight of all the 2^nd shift BL3 line employees. Felix has successfully moved up the ranks of management during his career at Harlan.

Careers at Harlan are rewarding.  In multiple ways!  Get started on your upward journey today by clicking here.

Interview your interviewer

Most employees think they are getting interviewed for a job.  It never dawns on them that they should be interviewing the company they are considering for employment as well.

Find an Employer Who Will Invest in You

Most people don’t think about what their job means.  Think about it.  Where is the one place you spend most of your time?  It’s probably a tie between with your friends and family and at your job.

You invest your time for a paycheck.  But what else should you get out of the time you spend working?  Experience?  Sure.  Shouldn’t you get something more though?  After two years with an employer, should you be the same person as when you started?

If you are, your employer isn’t doing you any favors.  Often, employers see employees as just workers, not a valuable asset.  How do you see yourself?  How does your family see you? Can you be replaced without any thought or are you valuable?

If you see yourself as valuable, look for employers who think the same way as you.  After two years of employment, you should not be the same employee as when you started.

Recently, Harlan opened its Workplace Simulation to help prospective employees identify a role they will love.  Instead of taking the traditional approach of simply describing a job, we allow future Food Manufacturing Professionals the opportunity to experience a variety of roles and select the one they feel is best for them.

Harlan’s innovative approach has proven very successful.  Since the simulation opened, new employee retention and satisfaction is up significantly.  Take a look at Harlan’s workplace simulation here.

5 tips to identify employers who will invest in you

1. Make sure the employer is willing to show you exactly what the work environment is like.
2. Make sure that the employer help you match your interests with different types of work.
3. Make sure the employer provides you pro-active support and resources that extend beyond the first day or week.
4. Make sure the employer provides you in-depth and on-going training that has some form of certification or certificate of completion.
5. Make sure the employer can clearly outline to you the advancement and/or promotion path and can validate to you that the path is real.

Let’s break these 5 tips down

Make sure the employer is willing to show you exactly what the work environment is like.  While you are interviewing for a job, you have to do that job somewhere.  What is that ‘somewhere’ like?  Some questions to consider:

• Can I move around or am I in one spot all day?
• Is my work area cramped or crowded?
• Am I part of a team or will I be working alone?
• Is it loud?
• How is the lighting?
• Is my work area hot?  Cold?
• What exactly will I be doing?
• Do I have to wear special equipment or PPE?  If so, what is that like when I am working?

Harlan job candidate participating in a simulation activity

Make sure that the employer help you match your interests with different types of work.  There is more to a job than what’s in a job description.  Let’s use a job we have open as an example.  Quality Assurance Technician. Here are 3 of the job responsibilities:

• Enter results of product evaluations and production checks into the computer database, using Microsoft Excel; analyze the data using charts, graphs and statistics, report trends to the QA Supervisor
• Publish reports based on the production data and non-compliance to specifications or standards
• Collect ingredient samples for analysis, conduct tests, initial and file raw material COA’s and report any results out of specification

If you don’t like technology, are not good at concentrating for extended periods of time, are not super-detail oriented and are not naturally curious, you won’t like this job.  At least not for long.  But these things are not always in the job description.  So the only way to find out if you will like it is to experience what it is like first hand.  By simulating what the job is like and what the environment is like, you get a really good idea if it is a good fit for you.  So invest in interviewing employers who provide you this opportunity!

Harlan’s Bake Line Simulation Area

One of Harlan’s actual bake lines

Make sure the employer provides you pro-active support and resources that extend beyond the first day or week.  Most employers have an ‘on-boarding process’.  Often, this can last a day or a week.  After that, well, you are on your own to figure it all out, which can often be difficult and sometimes frustrating.  Invest in interviewing employers who have a solid mentorship program that lasts at least 2-3 months.

Harlan Mentors are both knowledgeable and fun to be around

One of Harlan’s Master-Level certified mentors

Some questions you might want to consider asking the employer:

• How many people does the mentor work with? (The mentor should be working with no more than 4 new hires.  Three is better)
• Is the mentor trained? (Do they receive any special training or certification?  The information and know-how they provide you should always be correct and they have the tools to help you excel).
• Is the mentor rewarded for my success?  If so, what exactly does ‘success’ mean? (The mentor should be incentivized to meet with you frequently, be a trusted advisor and ensure you achieve your personal and job goals)

Make sure the employer provides you in-depth and on-going training that has some form of certification or certificate of completion.  If you have ever played a video game, you know that the better you get at the game, you advance upward and often collect badges which recognize your achievement.  The same should hold true with your job.  After two years with your employer,  have you moved up based on mastering certain skills and activities?  Did you get any additional or advanced training as part of your employment?  Did you receive any certifications?  Ask these questions when you are interviewing your next employer!

• Is there a program which allows me to move up if I master certain skills and activities?
• Do I get any advanced training as part of my employment?
• Am I eligible for any specialty certifications?

Make sure the employer can clearly outline to you the advancement and/or promotion path and can validate to you that the path is real.   The best way to explain this is to outline what we do here at Harlan.

Our SAFE program, which stands for Standards Based, Accountability Driven, Food Excellence, has several certifications within it.  Every employee goes through the process and is required to achieve 2 of the 3 certifications.  Once the employee achieves the second certification, they are eligible for advancement and promotion.  This can happen within the first year of employment!  If you chose to interview with us, make sure to ask about our certification programs.

We’ve created a video that helps to bring some of the things we have touched on here to life.  Our goal is to help you find a place you can build a meaningful career, not just find a job.  Jobs are plentiful.  Opportunities to grow and advance from that job require a little more effort on your part.

If growing and advancing is important to you, please use this information as a guide and if you are interested in joining Harlan, simply click here.

Let’s face it.  Today, if you want to find a new job, it’s pretty easy.  Just drive down the highway or city street for 10 minutes and you’ll see ‘NOW HIRING!’  billboards and signs everywhere.

Most employers have to offer competitive wages and benefits if they want to have a chance at attracting potential employees.  If you are a job seeker, you have lots of options right now.

So which one is best for you?

When you go to an interview, how honest is that employer going to be about what that job is really like and what task it really includes?  Think about your last job interview.  Did the person interviewing you really work to match your interests with a job description or did you just interview for a generic open job?

Harlan believes that it is important for our job candidates to know exactly what a Food Manufacturing facility is like and what a Food Manufacturing Professional is responsible for doing day to day.

Why is this so important? 

Because food manufacturing isn’t a distribution job.  It isn’t a services job.  Harlan approaches getting started very differently that most other companies.  This is because our employees are required to become Certified Food Professionals through the training Harlan provides.

Why do does Harlan do this?

Because 1 out of 10 Americans have had a food product made by our Food Professionals.  Feeding America’s families is a very important responsibility.

To ensure we consistently deliver on our promise of Safe, Quality Food, Harlan attracts the highest quality candidates who are looking for a work place they can stay for 10+ years instead of just a few months.  We take our role and duties as Food Manufacturing Professionals very seriously.

By the way, over 21% of our Food Manufacturing Professionals have been with Harlan for 10 or more years and many of our supervisors and managers started out in entry level positions!

To help attract the right candidates Harlan has opened its Workplace Simulation Center to help job applicants understand what it is like to work as a Food Manufacturing Professional and to help them find a role they will love and can excel in.  We built our work place simulation so prospective employees who are unfamiliar with our industry can experience it all first hand BEFORE they sign on.  Our simulation also helps job candidates determine what role is most interesting and will help to fast track employees for growth and advancement.

After all, we know that if you have doubts on day one, you won’t stay.  We also know that if you don’t love what you do, you won’t can’t build the foundation for a solid professional career.  To help bring this to life, in this Workplace Simulation image, you see a prospective employee trying a task in a specific department she doesn’t have much interest in.  Instead, she was able to try other tasks in other departments and found something she loved to do and was passionate about!

Lots of job advertising talks about careers right now, however, few companies actually are investing in providing the tools needed for employees to love their jobs and to excel.  A great career can begin with a solid job but it also requires access to training, learning, growing, more responsibility, advancement and access to better benefits and pay.  Great careers are the by-product of employers and employees working together as a team.

If you are looking for more than you are currently finding, then come visit Harlan.  You’ll quickly experience the difference just like our most recent hire, Omo.

“The Harlan Workplace Simulation gave me the opportunity to try different things and find something I can do very well.  This was the only employer I have interviewed with that cares about helping me find something I want to do.   I can’t wait to start.  I am going to be a Food Professional!”

Get started today on YOUR journey to become a Harlan Food Manufacturing Professional by clicking here to schedule your interview and Work Place Simulation visit.

Food is life and the Food Professionals at Harlan help to feed 1 in 10 people in America.  Having a valuable mission and purpose in your life can be as important as a good paycheck. Actually, wouldn’t both be nice?

Think about it.  When you go out with your family or friends to a popular restaurant and when the delicious breadsticks are delivered to your table, how would you feel when you say to those sitting around the table, “Hey, I made that”.  How about when you go through the drive thru and in the bag you open are products you have made or as you walk through the isle in the grocery store, you see products that you helped make be put into shopping carts.

Being proud of what you do really comes to life with these examples, doesn’t it?

Food Manufacturing isn’t for everyone.  We are looking for people committed to more than just showing up for a job.  We are looking for professionals that want more out of life and seek real upward mobility.

We’d like to share our company Newsletter, ‘The Dish’ with you so you get a feel of what we are about.  We are a family owned company that has been in business for 30 years.  Our jobs are not seasonal and we want to work along side other professionals that are seeking stability and are willing to invest in themselves in order to move up into more pay, more responsibility and authority in their roles.

Take a look at the latest issue of The Dish.  If you like what you see, set up an interview here or simply visit us in Avon, Indiana during the week to participate in our open interviews.

Either way, we would love to meet you!

1. Haga clic aquí para aplicar en una nueva carrera como Profesional en Alimentación.
2. Programe y a complete con éxito su entrevista de nueva carrera profesional
3. Complete exitosamente su primer día de proceso de integración. Haga clic aquí para ver una clase reciente de nuevos empleados a través del proceso de orientación de Harlan
4. Complete con éxito el entrenamiento de Nuevo Empleado y de Aprendiz Profesional en Alimentos.

Necesitamos que usted tome la decisión y complete los pasos 1 y 2. Juntos, completaremos con éxito los pasos 3 y 4 para ayudarlo a lograr su objetivo de convertirse en un Profesional Certificado en Alimentos.

A continuación, se incluyen algunas preguntas frecuentes que le ayudarán a decidir si una nueva carrera como Profesional en Alimentación es para usted.

P: ¿Qué es la certificación AFP / CFP?

R: AFP son las siglas en ingles de Apprentice Food Professional (Aprendiz Profesional en Alimentos). Esta fase de su carrera durará varias semanas después de ser contratado. Durante su período de AFP, aprenderá los conceptos básicos de su función y tareas, los elementos fundamentales tanto para la calidad como para la seguridad del producto. Durante este tiempo, usted también conocerá cómo funciona el equipo al que está asignado y la línea de producción a la que está asociado. Al final de su aprendizaje, tomará una prueba de certificación y se graduará a su período de capacitación como CFP (Certified Food Professional – en español Profesional en Alimentos Certificado).

Su período de formación de CFP durará aproximadamente 8 semanas. Durante este tiempo, aprenderá información detallada sobre cómo dominar completamente y sobresalir en su función. También aprenderá y entenderá todos los aspectos de la fabricación y la seguridad de la planta. Dominará y memorizará todos los aspectos asociados con la calidad de fabricación del producto.

Como parte de este proceso, se le enseñarán técnicas más avanzadas de comunicación y colaboración en equipo. Durante su proceso de formación de CFP, todas estas habilidades avanzadas también se pondrán en práctica. Durante este período de tiempo, su supervisor lo calificará y completará los módulos de capacitación y evaluación a través de nuestro sistema de gestión de aprendizaje.

Cuando concluya su período de capacitación en CFP, tomará una prueba final y se graduará en CFP (Certified Food Professional – en español Profesional en Alimentos Certificado).

P: ¿Qué nivel de certificación tiene más sentido para mí?

R: Todos los empleados deben pertenecer a uno de los tres grupos. 1. Entrenamiento de Nuevo Empleados, 2. Aprendiz Profesional en Alimentación, 3. Profesional en Alimentos Certificado. A medida que elija ascender y ser promovido dentro de la empresa, también tendrá la oportunidad de graduarse a niveles de CFP más altos. La siguiente tabla desglosa los diferentes niveles.

P: ¿Cómo me ayudará una certificación AFP / CFP en mi progreso profesional dentro de Harlan?

R: Al igual que muchas certificaciones o títulos avanzados, tener la designación CFP indica a la industria que ha dominado las mejores prácticas específicas y que cumple y/o supera los estándares y prácticas aceptados por la industria.

P: ¿Cuáles son los requisitos de elegibilidad para las certificaciones AFP / CFP?

R: Primero, debe ser un residente legal del país en el que reside la instalación de Harlan a la que está solicitando (es decir, Estados Unidos o Canadá). Debe tener competencia en hablar, leer y comprender el idioma inglés. El inglés es nuestro idioma para la calidad y la seguridad.

En segundo lugar, debe completar con éxito su período probatorio. Esto significa presentarse al trabajo a tiempo y todos los días. Durante su período probatorio, se le asignará un mentor Profesional en Alimentos de Harlan. El comprometerse con su mentor y aprender de él también es un requisito para ser elegible para pasar del nivel probatorio al AFP y del AFP al CFP.

P: ¿Cómo mantengo válida mi certificación?

R: Cada línea de manufactura debe cumplir con ciertos criterios de desempeño definidos, incluyendo que los miembros del equipo estén en buen estado. Esto significa que todos los empleados vinculados a un equipo específico (como mantenimiento, envíos, etc.) o una línea de manufactura específica debe estar al día como nuevos empleados, AFP o CFP. Además, cada equipo y línea debe completar con éxito y aprobar las auditorías en curso. Si todos los profesionales en alimentación están al día y su equipo o línea aprueba las auditorías, obtienen la Certificación de Centros de Excelencia.

Además, cada CFP debe volver a certificar su estado de CFP anualmente. La certificación sigue siendo válida siempre que se vuelva a certificar con éxito y su equipo o línea tenga un estado de COE activo. No aprobar su recertificación de CFP o la incapacidad de su equipo/línea para recuperar un estado de COE perdido invalidará el estado de CFP de los miembros del equipo afiliados a ese equipo o línea de producción.

Todos reconocemos que la excelencia es algo que debe ganarse. En Harlan, la excelencia también se premia.

Harlan ofrece beneficios competitivos para todos sus Profesionales en Alimentación. Éstos incluyen:

• Médico
• Dental
• Visión
• Seguro de vida
• Discapacidad a corto plazo
• Discapacidad a largo plazo
• Clínica compartida
• Cuenta de gastos flexible
• Enfermedad crítica
• Accidente
• Indemnización Hospitalaria
• Grupo Legal
• Protección de identidad
• 401K

Los detalles sobre estos beneficios se le describen durante el proceso de entrevista. Esperamos que comience su trayectoria Profesional en Alimentos, así que ¡inscríbase hoy! ¡Haga clic aquí para comenzar ahora!

Our career opportunities are diverse and provide competitive pay and benefits!

There are four simple steps involved in becoming a Certified Food Professional.

1. Click here to apply for a new career as a Food Professional.
2. Schedule and successfully complete your new career interview
3. Successfully complete your 1 day on-boarding process.  Click here to follow a recent New Hire Class through the Harlan On-Boarding Process
4. Successfully complete your New Hire & Apprentice Food Professional training

We need you to make the decision and take the action to begin your journey to career growth.  Together, we will successfully  help you achieve your goal to become a Certified Food Professional!

Here are some frequently asked questions which will help you in deciding whether a new career as a Food Professional is for you.

Q: What are the certifications Harlan offers?

A:  The most common is the Harlan CFP certification.  To be eligible for the CFP Certification, team members must first complete the AFP process.

AFP stands for Apprentice Food Professional.  This phase lasts 90 days from completing the on-boarding and initial training process.  During your AFP training period, you will learn the basics of your role and tasks as well as the foundational elements for both product quality, communication, safety.  During this time, you will undergo how the team you are assigned to works as well as the production line or team you are affiliated with.  At the end of your apprenticeship, you will take a certification test and graduate to your CFP (Certified Food Professional) training period.

Your CFP or Certified Food Professional training period will last approximately 8 weeks.  During this time, you will learn detailed information on how to fully master and excel in your role.  You will also learn, and commit to memory, every aspect of manufacturing and plant safety.  You will master and commit to memory every aspect associated with product manufacturing quality.

Harlan is the only food manufacturer to offer this certification to employees.

As part of this process, you will be taught more advanced communication and team collaboration techniques.  During your CFP training process, all of these advanced skill will be put to practice as well.  During this time period you will be scored by your supervisor as well as complete training and testing modules through our learning management system.

As your CFP training period concludes, you will take a final test and graduate to CFP (Certified Food Professional).

Q: What level of certification makes the most sense for me?

A: All employees must fall within one of three groups- New Hire Trainees, Apprentice Food Professional or Certified Food Professional.  As your career advances, you will have the opportunity to also graduate to higher CFP levels.  The below chart breaks down the different levels which include Several CFP Levels based on role and responsibility as well as Master CFP Options based on skill and expertise gained on the job.

Q: How will an AFP/CFP certification help in my career progression within Harlan?

A: Like many advanced certifications or degrees, having the CFP designation indicates to the industry that you have mastered specific best-practices as well as meet and/or exceed industry accepted standards and practices.  As your CFP Certifications expand, so does upward mobility!

Q: What are the eligibility requirements for the AFP/CFP certifications?

A: First, you must be a legal resident of the country in which the Harlan facility you are applying to resides (i.e. United States or Canada).  You must have proficiency in speaking, reading and understand the English language.  English is our language for quality and safety.

Second, you must successfully complete your New Hire period.  This means showing up for work on time and each day.  During your New Hire period, you will be assigned a Harlan Food Professional Mentor.  Engaging with and learning from your mentor is also a requirement to be eligible for moving from New Hire to AFP and from AFP to CFP.

Q: How do I keep my certification valid?

A: Each manufacturing line must meet certain defined performance criteria, including that team members all being in good standing.  This means all employees tied to a specific team (such as maintenance, shipping, etc.) or a specific manufacturing line must be in good standing as a New Hire, AFP or CFP.  Also, each team and line must successfully complete and pass on-going audits.  If all Food Professionals are in good standing and their team or line passes the audits, they achieve Center of Excellence certification.

Also, each CFP must re-certify for their CFP status annually.  Certification remains valid as long as they successfully re-certify and their team or line have an active COE status.  Not passing your CFP re-certification or your team/line’s inability to regain a lost COE status will invalidate the CFP status of team members affiliated with that team or production line.

At Harlan, excellence in attitude and performance is rewarded.

Harlan offers competitive benefits for all its Food Professionals.  These include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Healthcare Clinic available to employees and immediate family members free of charge
• Flexible Spending Account
• Critical Illness
• Accident
• Hospital Indemnity
• Group Legal
• Identity Protection
• 401K

Details on these benefits are outlined to you during the interview process.  We look forward to you getting started on your Food Professional Journey so apply today!  Click here to get started now!

Are you frustrated with having a job but knowing that job offers you very little future? Do you ever think about rising up the ranks but wonder how you are going to make that happen?

Every day you probably work hard in your job but are your efforts working for you in return? At the end of this year, will you be any closer to a larger role with more responsibility, authority and pay?

Do you want more from your work life than you are getting? If you are willing to invest in yourself, leave the job behind and begin building a career as a Food Professional. We are hiring talented, motivated and committed team members who aspire to be certified professionals.

Moving into a rewarding career is easier than you might think.  Click here to see how simple changing your life can be.

1. Pick a role that you think is a good fit for you.
2. Complete your application here.
3. In 24 hours, our HR team will contact you to schedule your interview.

It is that simple!  If you are looking to improve your work life, becoming a Harlan Food Professional is the best way to kickstart a new and prosperous career!