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Chocolate Factory Worker

What is it Like to Work at a Chocolate Factory?

There could be worse things than working in a chocolate factory. We all love the delicious treat, and it's responsible for bringing people joy, warm feelings and expanding waistlines (when consumed in excess).

In this post, we're going to remove the mystery of life on the front lines of a chocolate factory by looking at what it's really like. From the sweet stuff to bitter moments, let's dive in so you can see if your dream job lives up to its expectations. 

The Job Description 

To get a good idea of what it's like to work in a chocolate factory, it's important to see the job description. Unfortunately, while the common conception is that the factory is as fun as Willy Wonka's exciting workplace, the movie doesn't paint a realistic image of the average chocolate factory. 

A chocolate factory is similar to other manufacturing workplaces with one significant difference; you make chocolate treats for people. As a result, there are many responsibilities, depending on the job role, so let's look at them. 

Working with machinery

Machinery is vital for factories to thrive because it simplifies the manufacturing process. Without machines, people would have to do the work by hand, which would take a lot longer to complete. 

While machines do the heavy lifting, people need to operate them, so any job in a chocolate factory requires that you understand how to use machines safely and get the best results by adopting vital health and safety practices. 

Cleaning work areas 

In many chocolate factories, people are responsible for their work area. Cleanliness is essential when working with food products, so a lot of the job revolves around wiping down machines and ensuring the site is free of germs. 

Food preparation environments also have strict rules regarding personal hygiene, such as regular hand washing and wearing hairnets. 

Packing products 

Once the manufacturing process is complete, employees will have to pack the chocolate for shipping. This is a relatively simple job, but it can begin to feel a bit monotonous when you have to do it every day.

Quality Control

One of the most important aspects of working in a chocolate factory is ensuring everything you produce can pass quality control regulations. Most of the time, manufacturers have strict rules about what they can sell, so even something as small as the shape of your chocolate can mean it's unsuitable for retailers. 

If any products are unsuitable for selling, the factory will have to record the fault and ensure it doesn't happen again. 

Health & Safety 

Working in a factory environment can be dangerous, especially with all of the machinery. Accidents can happen, but health and safety procedures are in place to minimise the risk of work-based incidents occurring. 

For example, knowing how to operate machinery will protect people from potential accidents, and training is an essential part of factory work. 

Once people receive the proper training, it's their job to ensure they meet all health and safety regulations. 

What Skills Do You Need?

There are many skills you need to be a chocolate factory employee, and it's not an ideal job for everyone. So let's take a look at the personality traits and skills successful factory workers have. 

Drive 

Most people know that factory work isn't mentally stimulating. It often involves following a set of processes and working with the same machines every day. As a result, factory workers can get incredibly bored, and they lose focus on what they're doing. 

Drive is essential because you have to get up every day and do the same thing. But, while some people enjoy routine and would rather know exactly what they'll be doing, others often find that the nature of factory work leaves them disappointed. 

Restraint 

Yep, we can't rule out restraint. It is a chocolate factory, after all! While it would be nice to think that a perk of this job involves eating all the chocolate you can get your hands on, it's not true. 

The fact is, your job is to make sure chocolates are produced, packaged and shipped to retailers - not to indulge in as much of the sweet stuff as possible. If you're a chocoholic, then factory work might not be ideal for you, and you should look into becoming a chocolate taster (yes, some people get paid to eat chocolate every day). 

However, if you're confident that you can resist rows upon rows of chocolate, then you might find this job is ideal for you. 

Attention to Detail 

Surprisingly, while chocolate factories do use machines, some of the work is done by hand. That means you should have exceptional attention to detail at all times and be ready to spot any inconsistencies. 

Imagine all of the times you've bought your favourite chocolate. Did it look different each time? Probably not. That's because the factory that produced it has strict quality control procedures to ensure that each chocolate they make looks precisely the same. 

What Are The Alternatives?

So if working in a chocolate factory isn't for you, how can you enjoy your favourite pastime and turn it into a career? Well, we've discussed becoming a chocolate taster, but those jobs are few and far between. 

Let's face it, lots of people would jump at the chance to get paid to eat chocolate, so while the jobs do exist, it's unlikely you'll find one browsing through Indeed. 

Opening a Sweet Shop 

The internet has given us many excellent opportunities, but the one that stands out most is the ability to start a shop without worrying about a physical location. E-commerce is one of the most popular careers, and confectionery offers plenty of opportunities for people. 

You'll need a name, a website, and a wholesale chocolate provider, but compared to the difficulty of starting other businesses, selling chocolate is relatively easy. But, of course, let's not forget that there's always the opportunity of eating your stock too! 

For everything sweet related, tune in to Appleton's blog. We look forward to seeing you there.