Ploymint

Toilet paper, lipstick, a bottle of Diet Coke, even the boots you’re wearing — these items are developed, manufactured, and marketed by companies that fall under the wide umbrella of consumer goods and services. If you’re looking to make an entrée into this vast and varied industry, check out these top consumer products career options:

Marketing Analyst: Researching competitors, running budget numbers, and analyzing website data — a marketing analyst does it all. This is typically an entry-level position for college grads who dream of becoming a brand manager or even a marketing director at a consumer products company one day.

Consumer Product Goods Consultant: Interested in consumer goods and services, but don’t necessarily want to work for a company in the consumer goods sector? Opt for the consulting route with firms like Accenture and Bain & Company, whose CPG strategy consultants help consumer goods companies increase engagement and efficiency.

Package Designer: If you’re the kind of person who chooses shampoo based on which kind comes in the prettiest bottle, then you already innately understand the importance of package design. Flex your creative muscle as a package designer and help your company’s products fly off the shelves.

Market Research Analyst: How does a company know if anyone is even going to buy their product? That’s where a market research analyst comes in, who digs deep into certain market segments to determine whether demand for a product exists before the product is launched.

Customer Service Representative: Taking care of customers’ problems with a particular product in a respectful and efficient manner can honestly make or break a company. If you’re good at helping people (and good at handling lots of criticism!), consider becoming a customer service or satisfaction representative, and possibly work your way up to “manager” ranks.

Director of Strategic Partnerships: Big consumer goods companies like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and the host of food and beverage brands often engage in strategic partnerships with other brands for cross-promotional purposes — for example, PepsiCo and Starbucks teamed up last year to launch ready-to-drink iced coffee beverages in Latin America. Help seek out, develop, and launch these new ventures as the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Brand Manager: As a brand manager, you’ll have ownership over one of your company’s major brands (or a portfolio of several smaller ones), so your brand’s success comes down to you. Typically, brand managers are MBA graduates, since business savvy is a definite must.

QA Supervisor: Make sure the products your company is putting out are up to snuff as a Quality Assurance supervisor. You’ll draft policies and procedure guidelines, review quality standards, conduct testing and inspections of products.

Sales Representative: Looking for an entry into the wide world of consumer products and services? A position as a sales rep can be your in. As a sales representative, you’ll learn the ins and outs of your company’s products, which lays a solid foundation for advancement at the company in the future.

Marketing Director: The marketing director at a consumer goods and services company is the big kahuna — he or she oversees the marketing of all the company’s related brands. The brand manager position is often a stepping-stone to this high-up post, so plan your career trajectory accordingly!

Do you work in the consumer goods and services industry? Share your career advice in the comments below!