Are you a motivated recent university grad looking to get your foot in the door with a top marketer? This presentation is full of insider tips you won't want to miss.

2. Get on the Right Career Path
 Know yourself, your strengths & interests
 What motivates you – money, power/control, creativity,
social causes, continuous learning etc.?
 What environment do you work best in?
 Think about where you want to be in 5, 10, 20 years and
reverse back your career to make the right decisions now
 The first step is very important – it sends you down a
path; can be harder to change paths later

3. Marketing Decisions
Client Side or Agency Side?
 Are you an idea person or a hard core business person? (Do you get excited by analysis
and business strategy OR marketing communication and brand activation?)
 Do you like being in control or are you happier in a service, support role?
CPG vs non-CPG?
 Note: CPG is widely accepted as the best training ground for marketers
 Other options include: Retail, QSR, Financial, Teleco, Alcohol Beverage etc. but if you go
down this path, it might be harder to move later on in your career
Type of entry level roles:
 Brand Marketing: Assistant Brand Manager, Marketing Coordinator
 Sales: Sales Rep, Sales Analyst
 Research: Research Analyst, Category Analyst
 Agency: Account Executive, Account Coordinator
What type of role/company would best fit your style?
 Large vs small, formal vs less process driven, financial vs creatively driven

4. Top Qualities that Hiring Managers in CPG
Marketing Look For
 Strong general business management acumen
 Track record of achievement & results
 Leadership & Initiative
 Strategic & Creative Thinking skills
 Strong communication skills
 Strong work ethic
 Willingness to learn
 Personality – outgoing, confident, dynamic
 Positive attitude

5. Salary Expectations
Tier 1 CPG Companies (most Tier 2 are 10% less)
Brand/Sales/Research Management roles
 Entry level positions $45k - $65k
 Associate Mgr (2-3 yrs) $65k - $75k + 10% bonus
 Manager (4-6 yrs) $75k - $95k +10% bonus
 Senior Mgr (7-10 yrs) $95k - $110k +20% bonus
 Jr. Director (10+ yrs) $110k - $125k +20% bonus
 Director (15+ yrs) $125k - $150k +30% bonus
 VP (15+ yrs) $150k - $250k + bonus

6. Examples of CPG Companies to Target
Tier 1 CPG companies
 Have leading brands, bigger consumer budgets and usually 40+ people in brand
marketing; Often provide best training ground for new hires
 Usually hire 4+ new hires per year and encourage promotion from within
P&G Kraft Unilever Nestle Mars
J&J Pepsi QTG Kellogg’s General Mills Colgate
Tier 2 CPG companies
 May have some leading brands, but are smaller organizations (usually under 30 in
brand marketing); Training is still strong but often less formal or structured
 Usually only hire 1-3 new grads per year
Heinz Campbell’s Smuckers Reckitt Wrigley’s Hershey
McCain Conagra Canada Sun Rype Ferrero Sun
Bread Products
Maple Leaf Parmalat SC Johnson Clorox Energizer

7. Other top companies to target for
Marketing or related positions
 Teleco: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Virgin etc.
 CSD & Alcohol Beverage: Coke, Pepsi, Labatt, Molson,
Diageo, Maxxium, Corby’s
 Retail: Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Loblaws, Shoppers
Drug Mart, Indigo, HBC, Sears
 Research: Ipsos Reid, AC Nielsen
 Financial Services: Scotiabank, RBC, CIBC, BMO etc.

8. General Career Tips (things I know now that I wish I knew in University!)
 Get on the right path – use your head, not your heart for your first job or
two. Get the best training/experience you can, then follow your ‘passion’
 Summer jobs matter – get related experience, even if you have to
‘volunteer’ to get it
 Network, network, network –it really is who you know, not what you know.
Don’t just network when you need it either.
 Get to know top recruiters in your industry – stay on top of trends, new
opportunities plus they’ll bring the best jobs to you
 Seek out and work for the best managers you can find – rising stars will
bring their best people with them
 The grass is NOT always greener… don’t jump for money or to leave a bad
manager … you’ll often advance faster by staying in one place for several
years & learn more by riding out the tough times

9. General Career Tips (things I know now that I wish I knew in University!)
 Interviewing is like dating – you often have to play the field a bit to figure
out what the best fit is. When the ‘fit’ and chemistry is right, you’ll know it.
 Control your own destiny - Manage your career since nobody else will.
Companies are generally bottom line not people driven; everyone can be
replaced so be loyal to yourself, not the company you work for
 Attitude is everything- be confident but not arrogant; be willing to get your
hands dirty and don’t ever stop being curious and interested in learning.
 Don’t burn any bridges – the Toronto job market is way too small!
 Don’t lose sight of your personal goals – hobbies, interests, marriage/kids,
friendships, travel. Manage your career - not the other way around.
 Use the Queen’s Alumni network to your advantage – fellow Commerce
grads are usually happy to help!