Anyone in Marketing - CPG industry

I'm currently interning in Brand Management at a CPG.

Tip 1: Go to a school where the companies you want to work for recruit on campus (this is pretty key... if not you have to battle the diversity conferences, or hope there's an extra spot for non-core schools).

Tip 2: If you have a region you'd rather be in, go to school in that region. CPG marketing recruiting is pretty regional, regardless of the rank of the school.

Tip 3: Figure out why you want to be in Brand Management(career wise). Is it because you want to be a marketing specialist? Do you see it as a path to general Management?

Tip 4: Figure out why you want to be in Brand Management(personal wise). Are you looking for work life balance, rotational experiences in different locations, global exposure?

Tip 5: Once you know who comes to campus, why you want to be in marketing, and what type of culture you're looking for start reaching out to companies to asses fit and network. Many companies are pretty relationship based when it comes to recruiting. As annoying as it can be, networking and connecting with people at CPGs and forming advocates for you at companies can be HUGE

Tip 6: Keep an open mind, sure many people in brand are career switchers, but CPGs still tend to look for people with either previous Marketing or CPG experience... You will be going up against some of the most qualified people in the country for these elite CPG companies, so figure out if it's Brand management (even if you have to start at a solid, but not top 3 company) or bust, or Brand Management at an elite company, or something else. This will connect back to why you want to be in CPG brand management.


Every company is looking for something different, but overall you must show that you fully understand the role of a brand manager, have a passion for it, and have a passion for working at whatever company your recruiting with. If these companies are located is the middle of nowhere(which is the case with many CPGs) it may also be important to express and interest in their location, to reassure that you'd A accept an internship offer, and B accept a full time offer if you receive one.


Good luck!