In the fast-paced world of consumer-packaged goods (CPG), finding the right talent is crucial for maintaining a competitive advantage and driving growth. No matter what role your are hiring for from C-Suite to Account coordinators or any other specialized role the interview process can significantly impact your hiring success. Here are some valuable CPG interviewing tips to help you identify the best candidates for your organization.
Start with a Conversational Approach
A successful interview should feel more like a conversation than an interrogation. This approach helps put the candidate at ease, allowing them to showcase their true abilities and personality. Begin by sharing some insights about your company, why the role is open, and what you are looking for in a candidate. This sets the stage for a two-way dialogue and helps candidates understand the context of the position.
Get to Know the Candidate Personally
Understanding a candidate’s professional qualifications is essential, but it’s equally important to get to know them as a person. Assess whether their values, work ethic, and personality align with your company culture. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to share their experiences, motivations, and aspirations.
Example Questions based on their roles:
When interviewing for a sales position, focus on their ability to build relationships, drive sales, and manage complex projects. Here are some example questions:
- Tell me about a time when you were chasing new business and how you overcame some obstacles.
- How do you establish relationships with your retailer and/or vendor teams?
- Do you have any examples where market research supported new product development?
- Have you been involved in new product development projects or processes?
- What are some of your biggest successes when selling onto retail?
How familiar are you with retailer reporting systems, processes, and programs? - Have you executed owned brand programs within your retail partners?
Tell me about your analytical skills around vendor management and demand planning/forecasting. - How do you stay motivated to achieve sales, especially during challenging times?
- Describe a situation where you successfully met or exceeded sales targets. What strategies did you employ to accomplish this?
- How do you approach customer engagement and building relationships to drive sales?
- In a busy retail environment, how do you prioritize tasks to ensure both sales targets and vendor satisfaction are met?
- How would you describe your sales personality?
- What excites you about this role?
For a more tactical role like an account coordinator or product development, look for candidates who can quickly adapt, communicate effectively, and think critically. Here are some tailored questions:
- What are three words that would describe you that would be important traits in this role?
- How familiar are you with specific retailer systems? If you are not familiar with them, why do you feel you would be a quick learner?
- Tell me about how you organize your day.
- What interests you in this role?
Assess Critical Skills and Traits
In addition to role-specific questions, evaluate candidates on critical skills and traits necessary for success in the CPG industry. These include:
- Adaptability: Can they pivot quickly when priorities change?
- Communication: Are they clear and effective in their interactions?
- Critical Thinking: Can they solve problems and make sound decisions?
- Motivation: Do they stay driven and focused, even in challenging times?
Final Thoughts
Effective interviewing in the CPG industry requires a balanced approach that combines conversational techniques with targeted questions. By getting to know candidates personally and professionally, you can better assess their fit for your organization and the specific role. Implement these CPG interviewing tips to enhance your hiring process and build a strong, capable team that drives your company forward.
