What a packager does
Packagers prepare finished products for storage, shipping or retail. They fill, seal, wrap, box and label goods by hand or by running packaging machines, check date and lot codes, weigh or count units and build pallets to the right pattern. In food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical settings, they also follow strict hygiene, gowning and documentation rules. A wrong label, a missing lot code or a poorly built pallet can lead to returns, chargebacks or a recall.
Finch screens packagers for accuracy, reliability and comfort with your environment, whether that is a cold room, a clean area or a fast case-packing line. We ask about the products and equipment candidates have handled and how they checked their own work. You receive a shortlist of suitable people and hire them directly, building a packaging team that stays and gets better with time.
Typical responsibilities
- Fill, seal, wrap and box products by hand or using packaging equipment
- Check labels, date codes and lot numbers against the work order
- Weigh, count and inspect units for damage or defects
- Build and wrap pallets to customer or shipping specifications
- Follow hygiene, sanitation and allergen control practices where required
Qualifications and credentials
- No licence is required; employers usually look for packaging, production or warehouse experience
- Food plants often prefer candidates with food handling or GMP training
- WHMIS training for handling cleaning agents, inks or adhesives on the packaging line
- Good eyesight and attention to detail for checking codes and labels
- Ability to stand, lift and work in cold or warm environments as required
Who hires a packager
- Food and beverage manufacturers
- Cosmetics and personal care companies
- Contract packaging and co-packing facilities
- Pharmaceutical and natural health product packagers
Where we recruit packager candidates
We fill packager roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Products and packaging equipment the candidate has worked with
- Accuracy in checking codes, counts and labels
- Comfort with your temperature, hygiene and gowning requirements
- Attendance record and references from past supervisors
Interview questions to ask
- How do you make sure every label and lot code is correct when the line is moving quickly?
- Have you worked with allergen controls or hygiene rules? What did they involve?
- What would you do if you noticed the wrong packaging material was loaded on the line?