As we kick off the spring semester, we at the CDO wanted to highlight resources and upcoming events related to Retail/CPG. As we transition from a cohort hiring model in the fall to primarily just-in-time networked hiring in the spring, leverage these resources as you pursue opportunities in the Retail/CPG space.
UPCOMING RETAIL/CPG EVENTS
Retail/CPG Recruiting Q&A with MBA Career Advisors, ER&R and Career Peers
Monday February 24 | 11:45am – 12:45pm, in-person | Learn More
Join the Career Development Office – an MBA Career Advisor, a representative from the Employer Relations and Recruiting team and/or a Career Peer – for an informal conversation around navigating just-in-time networked hiring and the current job market in the Retail/CPG space. Bring your questions and connect with others who share your industry interests. Between job search strategy, company insights, and peer guidance, we’ll help you gain forward momentum in your search. Register under Workshops in Career Central.
RETAIL/CPG HIRING TRENDS & MARKET INSIGHTS – UPDATED 3/17/25
Market Updates
- As in previous years, Retail/CPG operates in a just-in-time hiring market. Many CPG employers are still recruiting on the internship side, but this will slow down over the next month as hiring shifts to full-time. In the spring of 2024, full-time offers peaked in late spring as most roles were reported in April. As a result, those seeking full-time opportunities should anticipate an increase in job opportunities over the next month and a half.
- MIT Sloan has a strong network of alumni working in Retail/CPG. Some alumni that ER&R has met with include Elie Gerges (MFin, ‘21), Strategy and Business Operations at Blank Street Café, Alex Christofferson (MBA ’22), Manager – Global Retail Real Estate at New Balance, Samantha Farbach (MBA ’17), Sustainability Lead – Product Strategy at Ralph Lauren, Sustainability Lead at New Balance, Claire Matthews (MBA ’21), Sr. Data Scientist at Yeti, Ricardo Briceno (MBA ’08),
- A featured internship in Career Central is an Equipment Services Product Management MBA Internship at Danaher. This role is based in Marlborough, MA and the application deadline is rolling, but candidates should apply as early as possible.
- A featured full-time position is a Manager of Sustainability with Coca-Cola. The role is based in Draper, Utah, and the application deadline is April 9th. However, interested students should submit applications ASAP if the role closes early due to the volume of submissions.
Updated Hiring Trends – Check out the latest Retail/CPG Hiring Trends, updated in January. These contain data from the past 3 years regarding MBA/LGO outcomes, including offer timing, salary data, offer location, and more.
ER&R Market Insights – See the latest weekly updates from our Employer Relations team on which companies are hiring, open roles in Career Central, and market updates. ERR teammate Rachel Seavey is our Retail/CPG representative and will be sharing key updates throughout the spring semester. Regularly reading this content is a great way to stay on top of employer activity.
MBA CAREER ADVISING SUPPORT FOR RETAIL/CPG
There are a number of MBA Career Advisors who specialize in Retail/CPG:
Meet 1:1 with an MBA Career Advisor to discuss any career-related topics, including developing your value proposition, fit and feasibility analysis, using AI for your job search, resume/LinkedIn/cover letter reviews, networking guidance, mock interviews, navigating your Plan A/B, career strategy or other career questions you may have.
We strongly recommend working with one advisor on a regular basis to maintain momentum in your search. The sooner you engage with the MBA Career Advising team and the more we know about you, the more we can support you!
To see a full list of MBA support by industry, click here.
MIT SLOAN INDUSTRY ADVISORS AND ALUMNI ADVISORS HUB
Building relationships at target companies within an industry takes intentional follow-up and focus, and is key to just-in-time networked hiring so you can uncover opportunities through connections. As you ramp up your networking this spring, we encourage you to utilize the robust network of Sloan alumni! The Contacts & Directories page on Your CDO contains additional resources to find peers, alumni, and faculty.
- MIT Sloan Industry Advisors are alumni experts across 17+ industries who are available to speak with you to help you to navigate the next step of your career journey. Explore their bios below and schedule an appointment to connect with an alumni in your industry of interest. There are various advisors with experience in Retail/CPG, with a wide range of expertise! See examples below and the full list of Sloan Industry Advisors by industry here.
| Industry | Advisor | Speciality |
| CPG/Retail | Scott Lescher, MBA ’07 | Operations & Supply Chain Management, ECommerce, Retail |
| CPG/Retail | Surya Kant Tiwari, MBA ’19 | Retail Tech / E-Commerce |
| CPG/Retail | Kara Valikai, MBA ’13 | Retail/Sustainability |
- Alumni Advisors are MIT alums across the Institute who have volunteered to speak with and help students in their job search. In the Alumni Advisors Hub, you can search using keywords and narrow them down by function, industry, geography, and more. You can also filter down to those offering career advice such as mock and case interviews, resumes reviews, or general career conversations. As of Feb 2025, there are 30 alumni with experience in the consumer goods space!
CAREER RESOURCES: RETAIL/CPG
- American Marketing Association Job Search
- EMarketer
- MBA Exchange Job Board
- Explore MBA Careers – Retail
Also check the CPG/Retail community page regularly for events, news, and additional information and resources from the CDO pertaining to the CPG/retail sector!
