Kinsa Group Blog

One of the biggest challenges facing HR and other food & beverage hiring managers is finding candidates who are the “right fit” for their respective organizations.

But just what, exactly, is the “right fit”?

For many employers, it means finding a candidate who shares the same belief systems and values as the company’s, and who meshes with the corporate culture.  To identify this type of individual, these employers often turn to values-based recruiting.

Values-based recruiting goes beyond examining competencies and experience.  It’s about creating a values match by building a model that outlines behaviors associated with corporate values, and then assessing candidates for those behaviors.  The process typically yields hires whose thinking, values and ways of doing business closely match those of the employer.

But what if your company needs a proverbial “shot in the arm” to fuel its success – a new direction, fresh business perspective or innovative ideas to re-energize your organization?

In a case like this, the right fit for your food & beverage organization will be an individual who, by definition, is not a perfect values-based match.  Rather, this candidate should be selected based on a model that outlines behaviors associated with leading your company in new direction.  To begin this process, your company must first determine new goals, create a list of competencies and values for the available position that will support those goals, and then recruit and select accordingly.

Which type of recruiting is right for your business needs?

Kinsa’s recruiting experts will work with you to determine how to find the right fit for your company’s needs.  Whether you require an individual whose values closely match your company’s, or someone who will bring fresh ideas and perspective to your business, Kinsa’s exclusive recruiting process will deliver only A-level candidates.

During the Position Specification phase of recruiting, Kinsa Group will precisely define who we are searching for and what this person needs to accomplish.  This guarantees that our recruiting is strategic, accurate, and highly expeditious.  A discipline-specific Consultant will work with you to create the Position Profile (performance goals, qualifications, candidate profile, compensation package) and the Marketing Platform (an overall promotional summary of your company’s story, career track and location attractions).

Contact us today to find out how Kinsa’s 8-Step Recruiting Process for food & beverage executives and professionals can deliver the right fit for your organization.

Can nice guys (or gals) finish first?

That is the question that John Hausknecht, assistant professor of Human Resource Studies at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, wanted to know.  In conjunction with Green Peak Partners, a Denver-based organizational consulting firm, Hausknecht and his research team conducted a unique longitudinal study of 72 senior executives to define the qualities that lead an executive to excel in his or her position.

The study consisted of two phases:

• Phase 1: Between 2005 and 2008, Green Peak Partners conducted four-hour background interviews (covering family, education, early-career and recent professional experiences) with executives to identify individuals’ qualities, leadership styles and technical competence.
• Phase 2: Between April and October 2009, researchers then interviewed those executives’ supervisors, to determine how well the execs performed on the job.

What made this study special is that it examined both short- and long-term indicators of executive performance for a relatively large sample of individuals.  Some of the study’s findings were surprising:

- Interpersonal skills mattered. Executives with weak interpersonal skills rated poorly:

• on their ability to deliver bottom-line results;
• on every performance dimension, including managing talent, inspiring followership, business/technical acumen and strategic intellect;
• as people managers.

- Self-awareness was a primary driver of an executive’s effectiveness. A high self-awareness score was the strongest predictor of overall success.

- While gender and birth order did not correlate with performance, executives with more siblings were better at driving results.

- “Bully” traits were typically signs of incompetence and lack of strategic intellect. While traits such as being “arrogant,” “impatient,” and “stubborn” are often viewed as part of a business-building culture, they correlated to low ratings for delivering financial results, business and technical acumen, (and not surprisingly) managing talent and being a team player.

- Experience at multiple companies did not predict executive success. In fact, the study found that candidates who changed jobs frequently were often trying to outrun problems.

Can nice guys (or gals) finish first?

According to J. P. Flaum, Managing Partner, and Dr. Becky Winkler, Principal, at Green Peak Partners, soft values drive hard results.  Strong bottom-line executive performance is most likely to come from those who are both emotionally intelligent and self-aware.  According to Winkler, “Our findings directly challenge the conventional view that ‘drive for results at all costs’ is the right approach.  The executives most likely to deliver good bottom-line results are actually self-aware leaders who are especially good at working with individuals and in teams.”

Kinsa Group – Delivering Successful Food & Beverage Executives

Using our unique food & beverage recruiting and assessment processes, The Kinsa Group specializes in placing qualified professionals and senior-to-executive level management candidates who will drive bottom-line results in your organization.  Contact Kinsa today.

The Kinsa Group–a leading recruiting firm for the food and beverage industry–currently has a variety of outstanding professional and C-level executive job opportunities, including the following position:

Quality Manager (Bilingual – French or Spanish)

A multinational food company experiencing tremendous growth with well-known, branded products has created a new Chicago-based position for a bilingual Quality Manager.  This is a high-visibility, key leadership role within the Americas region.  The company’s core values include customer service, superb execution and a commitment to product quality.

Job responsibilities:

• Coordinate all activities within Americas region, including areas of production, purchasing, subcontracting and distribution.
• Audit corporate and external sites.
• Ensure products manufactured or marketed in region meet appropriate domestic and foreign quality regulations.
• Implement group best practices in region.
• Efficiently analyze and report quality issues.

Ideal candidates will possess the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or related field (advanced degree a plus).
• 5+ years of quality experience within the food industry, including both plant and corporate level experience.
• Internal and external audit experience.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations within the U.S. or Canada.
• ISO experience.
• Ability to speak French or Spanish is required.
• Ability to travel 20%, both domestically and internationally.

This position has a great compensation and benefits package, and is based in the exciting Chicago, IL area.  Discover more about the Bilingual Quality Manager #4782 and apply online.

To search our comprehensive list of Food and Beverage Industry Jobs please visit www.Kinsa.com.

At Kinsa Group, we realize how critical it is for you to stay on top of the latest trends, newest products, and most recent scientific innovations affecting the food and beverage industry. 

To make it easier for you to learn about relevant industry events, here are a few links to comprehensive 2010 calendars:

1. Meatingplace.com’s 2010 Event Calendar and 2011 Event Calendar provide links to dozens of food industry-specific conferences, expos, training workshops and forums.  Accessing these calendars requires signing up for free membership to meatingplace.com.
2. The American Beverage Association provides a directory of 2010 meetings and conferences specifically for beverage industry professionals.
3. BNP Media has several comprehensive calendars of events that include links to global trade shows, summits and expos for the food, beverage, and packaging industries:

            Master Calendar of Events

            Snackfood & Wholesale Bakery Calendar of Events

            Beverage Industry Calendar of Events

            Food & Beverage Packaging Calendar of Events

 Kinsa Group - National Recruiters for the Food & Beverage Industry

Kinsa specializes in recruiting professionals, executives and senior-level managers for the food and beverage industry.  Our promise is to deliver the talent who most optimally fit your company’s philosophy and culture.  By focusing on the best interests of both parties – and by drawing on food industry experience and assessment expertise – we are able to offer the best hiring solutions.  Contact us today.