Industry
FMCG CV writing
FMCG CVs are read for share, distribution and volume. Brands and categories are named, and so are the numbers behind them.
Quick answer
An FMCG CV should name the brands, categories and channels you worked on, then prove results in share, volume, value and distribution with a clear timeframe. Brand, trade marketing, category and sales roles are hired separately, so the CV must show which one you do. Include trade spend responsibility and the data you used, such as retail audit or shopper insight.
Overview
FMCG covers brand management, trade marketing, category management, sales and key accounts, and route to market. The sector moves quickly and hires on proven commercial results within a category. Employers look for candidates who understand both the consumer and the shelf, and who can show how a plan moved share, volume or distribution in a specific channel.
What employers screen for
What a FMCG CV has to show.
- Brands and categories handled, named plainly
- Market share, volume and value growth with a timeframe
- Numeric and weighted distribution gains
- Channel and account experience: modern trade, general trade, key accounts, ecommerce
- Trade spend and promotional ROI responsibility
- Use of retail audit, shopper and consumer data to make decisions
Positioning
How to position the CV.
Name the brand, the category and the channel, then give the growth. FMCG hiring managers read CVs almost like a brand review: what was the situation, what did you do, and what happened to share, volume and distribution. Show that you work across functions, because brand, sales, supply and finance all shape an FMCG result, and employers want people who can pull them together.
Competencies worth evidencing
- Brand planning and positioning
- Trade marketing and in-store activation
- Category management and shelf planning
- Route to market and distributor management
- Key account planning and negotiation
- Trade spend and promotional ROI analysis
- Consumer and shopper insight
- New product launch management
Career paths
Where the roles lead.
- 01
Brand management: assistant brand manager to brand manager to marketing director
- 02
Trade marketing: trade marketing executive to trade marketing manager
- 03
Category management: category analyst to category manager
- 04
Sales: territory or sales representative to key account manager to national sales manager
- 05
Route to market: distributor management to channel or RTM manager
Mistakes
What weakens a FMCG CV.
- Brand names withheld, when they are the fastest signal of the scale you worked at
- Growth figures with no timeframe or no comparison to the category
- Campaigns described creatively with no share, volume or distribution result
- Confusing trade marketing with brand marketing, which are hired separately
- No channel detail, so a modern trade employer cannot tell if you fit their accounts
FAQ
FMCG CV questions
What do FMCG recruiters look for in a CV?
FMCG recruiters look for named brands and categories, measurable growth in share, volume or distribution, and channel experience that matches their business. They also check whether you have managed trade spend or a P&L. A CV that describes campaigns without numbers usually loses to one that says what happened to the brand in the market over a defined period.
What is the difference between trade marketing and brand marketing on a CV?
Brand marketing works on the consumer: positioning, communication, innovation and brand health. Trade marketing works on the shopper and the customer: in-store visibility, promotions, channel plans and activation. FMCG companies hire them as separate jobs, so your CV should make clear which you have done, using the right vocabulary, and show results that match that role.
Should I name the brands I worked on in my FMCG CV?
Yes, in most cases. Brand names are how FMCG hiring managers judge the size and quality of your experience quickly. If a figure is confidential, you can still name the brand and express results as percentages or ranks rather than absolute values. Only leave brands out if an agreement you signed specifically prevents you from naming them.
How do I show route to market experience on a CV?
Describe the channel structure you worked within, such as distributors, wholesalers, direct store delivery or general trade outlets, and the territory it covered. Then show what you improved: outlet coverage, distributor performance, numeric distribution or cost to serve. Route to market is a practical, results-driven discipline, so specific coverage and distribution gains are stronger than broad strategy statements.
Have your FMCG CV written.
Choose your package, your experience level and how fast you need it. The price is shown before you commit.