Following LinkedIn’s recent announcement that the role of chocolate taster at Mondelēz International was one of the site’s most viewed job adverts of 2017*, the UK’s largest branded food manufacturer is once again searching for chocolate connoisseurs to test out new inventions from its brands including Cadbury, Oreo, Milka and Green & Blacks.
This time there are four vacancies to be filled, which require tasters to test chocolate and cocoa drinks and provide honest feedback, helping Mondelēz perfect and launch new products to be sold all over the world. The successful candidates will work up to 8 hours a week in order to avoid ‘palate fatigue’.
The new search comes a year after the company was almost overwhelmed by 1,500 applications in the first 24 hours after its original job advert was posted, with 6,000 applications received in total from as far afield as Australia and the USA. The job advert was the fifth most viewed on LinkedIn last year.
The successful candidate then was Angela Castleton, from Reading, who was hired after passing a series of chocolatey challenges, including being able to detect almost imperceptible differences between two pieces of chocolate – a vital skill for any taster and one which this year’s shortlisted applicants will also have to prove they possess.
Angela now works at Mondelēz International’s Reading Science Centre, where the new jobs will also be based and where some of the company’s most exciting innovations are dreamt up, using cutting-edge food science including electron microscopy and a device that acts as an artificial nose.
Since joining the team Angela’s panel has provided crucial feedback during the development of delicious new products including recently launched Green & Black Pralines. Angela says: “I’m really enjoying the role. Of course it’s lovely tasting chocolate for a living but the best bit has to be working with my team – we get on brilliantly and we work really well together. This first year is a steep learning curve – there’s so much more to chocolate than you’d think – but the job has fitted into my life perfectly.”
Afsha Chugtai, Group Leader, Consumer Science, has overall responsibility for the tasting panels at Reading. She says: “Chocolate tasters are vital to our business as their input helps us to perfect our products before they hit the shelves. As Angela has discovered, food science is a fascinating field and I can’t wait to see who makes the cut this year to join our 4,000 chocolate-loving employees across the UK who invent, test and make some of the nation’s favourite treats.”
To apply for the job click here. The closing date for applications is 16th February.
To gain an insight into what a chocolate taster does at Mondelez watch this video
Key responsibilities of the Chocolate Taster
· Be able to taste chocolate and cocoa beverage products and give objective and honest feedback.
· Work within a team of panellists to share opinions and collaborate to reach an agreement on taste.
· Use a clearly defined vocabulary to describe products and aid in the discrimination between products.
· Be consistent in the results given.
· Know the ethical and legal compliance responsibilities of the position; raise questions and concerns when faced with an ethical or compliance issue; apply integrity in all aspects of professional conduct.
Qualifications
Formal qualifications are not required as training is given, but certain qualities are essential including:
· A passion for confectionary and taste buds for detection
· Honesty when it comes to giving an opinion
· Eager to try new inventive products
· A communicative personality to build great relationships with your panel
· A firm grasp of the English language
*Link to LinkedIn job advert story Jan 2018
