How to Write an FMCG CV That Gets You Noticed | Talent Guardian

Your CV has one job: to make somebody want to speak to you.

It doesn't need fancy graphics, complicated formatting or pages of buzzwords. It needs to quickly show a recruiter or hiring manager who you are, what you've achieved and why you're relevant to their vacancy.

And in FMCG, where businesses move quickly, making that information easy to find really matters.

Start with a strong profile

Your opening profile should tell us what you actually do. Avoid generic statements such as: “Hardworking team player looking for my next challenge.”

Instead, give us something useful: “FMCG National Account Manager with seven years' experience across Grocery and Convenience, managing major UK retail accounts and delivering profitable account growth.”

Within seconds, we understand your level and background.

Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities

One of the biggest CV mistakes we see is listing everything you're responsible for without telling us what you've achieved.

Instead of: “Responsible for Tesco account.”

Tell us: “Managed £12m Tesco account, delivering 14% year-on-year growth and securing three new product listings.”
Numbers are powerful. Think about revenue, savings, growth, team size, production output, efficiency improvements, customer wins or projects delivered.

Make your FMCG experience obvious

Depending on your role, include relevant information such as:

• Retailers or customers managed
• Product categories
• Channels
• Brands
• Team size
• Turnover or account value
• Manufacturing environment
• Systems and technical knowledge
• Sites or territories managed

Don't make the reader hunt for the information that makes you relevant.
Keep it readable.

Recruiters read a lot of CVs. Clear headings, sensible spacing and concise bullet points make our lives easier - and give your experience a better chance of being noticed.

Two to three pages is normally plenty for most experienced candidates.

Tailor your CV

You don't need to rewrite your CV for every application, but you should make sure the most relevant experience is easy to see.

If a role requires grocery experience and you've spent five years working with major grocers, don't bury that information on page two.

Finally, check it

Spelling mistakes won't automatically make somebody a bad candidate, but your CV represents you before you've had an opportunity to speak.

Read it. Then read it again. And ideally ask somebody else to check it too.

Your CV doesn't need to tell your entire life story. It simply needs to make us think: “I'd like to speak to this person.”

Looking for your next role in FMCG or Consumer Goods? Talk to the Talent Guardian team. We recruit from production floor to boardroom across the sector.

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