Laid Off? Here’s Your Roadmap to Relaunch Your CPG Career

"I just got laid off."

The marketing director's voice cracked over the phone. Twenty years at Kraft. Gone in a 15-minute Zoom call.

"Perfect," I said.

She thought I'd lost my mind.

Six months later, she landed a VP role at her dream company—with a 40% salary increase.

Here's exactly how she turned a pink slip into a promotion.

The Truth Nobody Tells You About CPG Layoffs

After coaching hundreds of CPGers through layoffs, I've noticed something: The ones who thrive don't just find new jobs. They find better ones.

But only if they stop doing what everyone else does.

Most laid-off professionals panic-apply to 200 jobs, update their LinkedIn to "Open to Work," and wait for something to stick.

That's exactly backward.

The Strategic Reset: Your First 48 Hours Matter

When my client called, she was already on Indeed, spraying applications like a fire hose.

"Stop," I told her. "You're not unemployed. You're a free agent."

The mindset shift changed everything.

Instead of desperately seeking any port in the storm, she became selective. Strategic. Valuable.

Here's the framework that transformed her search:

1. Stop Applying. Start Solving.

Forget job boards for the first two weeks. Seriously.

Instead, identify three companies facing problems you've already solved. My client noticed General Mills struggling with private label competition—something she'd successfully countered at Kraft.

She didn't apply. She sent this LinkedIn message to their CMO:

"Saw your Q3 earnings call about private label pressure. At Kraft, I developed a premium positioning strategy that recovered 3pts market share in 18 months. Open to sharing insights over coffee?"

No desperation. Just value.

2. Your Network Isn't Who You Know—It's Who Knows What You Can Do

Most people "network" by announcing they need a job. Wrong approach.

My client reached out to 20 former colleagues with this message:

"Working on solving [specific CPG challenge]. Remember when we tackled this at Kraft? What's your take on the current market?"

She positioned herself as a thought leader, not a job seeker. Within three weeks, five companies were asking about her availability.

3. The 10-Company Target List That Changes Everything

Instead of applying everywhere, she created a strategic hit list:
• 5 dream companies
• 3 stretch companies
• 2 safety companies

For each, she identified:
• Their biggest visible challenge
• The executive facing that challenge
• Someone in her network who could make an introduction

This focused approach meant every interaction had purpose.

4. Turn Your LinkedIn Into a Client Acquisition Tool

She transformed her profile from resume to resource:

Before: "Experienced CPG Marketing Professional"
After: "Helping CPG Brands Win the Premium Positioning Battle | $50M+ Revenue Impact"

She published three articles about specific problems she'd solved. No job seeking content. Just expertise.

Result? Recruiters started reaching out to her.

5. The Interview Flip That Lands Offers

When interviews came, she didn't defend her layoff. She leveraged it:

"The restructuring gave me clarity on where I add the most value. I'm specifically looking for companies facing X challenge because I've solved it three times. Tell me about your private label pressure..."

She turned every interview into a strategy session. They stopped evaluating her and started envisioning her solving their problems.

The Results Speak Louder Than the Process

My Kraft client's outcome:
• Week 2: Three executive coffee meetings
• Week 6: Five active opportunities
• Week 12: Two offers
• Week 16: Accepted VP role, 40% raise

But here's what really matters: She never felt desperate. Not once.

Your Layoff Recovery Starts Now

If you're reading this with a fresh pink slip, here's your immediate action plan:

Day 1-2: Process the emotion. Then shift to strategy.
Day 3-7: Build your 10-company target list. Research their challenges.
Week 2: Start reaching out with value, not need.
Week 3+: Build momentum through strategic conversations.

The Bottom Line

A layoff isn't a career death sentence. It's a forcing function for the change you probably needed anyway.

My most successful clients don't just recover from layoffs. They use them as launching pads.

The question isn't whether you'll find another job. You will.

The question is: Will you settle for similar, or will you strategize for better?

Ready to turn your layoff into a level-up?

I've helped hundreds of CPGers transform pink slips into promotions. If you're ready to stop job searching and start strategizing, let's talk.

Because your next role shouldn't just replace your last one. It should eclipse it.

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Remember: A layoff is not the end of your career—it’s a chance to reshape it in a way that works for you. Let’s work together to turn this challenge into your next big opportunity.