There is a shortage of qualified food scientists in the workforce that has adverse consequences for the quality and safety of our food supply. The Institute of Food Technologists and other institutions have initiated and continue to initiate outreach programs; however, an analysis of the effectiveness of these efforts has not yet come to fruition. The potential for determining best practices in recruitment is infinite. This manuscript provides a brief review of the possibilities for leveraging Social Cognitive Career Theory and various research instruments toward determining best practices in recruiting future generations of food science and technology professionals.