Cannabis Industry Employment Tips 

The cannabis market is exploding across the nation. However, those interested in finding cannabis industry employment are faced with a number of challenges. These trials exist largely because of the volatile nature of the cannabis business. To this end, candidates and businesses alike struggle to establish themselves amidst a wash of fluctuating legislation. However, there are a few important qualities that candidates can utilize in finding cannabis industry employment:

The Ability to Navigate Between “Two Worlds” 

Sometimes, those interested in working in the legitimate cannabis industry have their roots in underground or medical markets. As a result, it is essential that candidates “speak the languages” of both cannabis and the “real business world.” This perspective represents a balanced mix of cannabis grow culture and a sound business intellect. With this approach, candidates will be a perfect fit for the new corporate culture of cannabis industry employment.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

While a new cannabis market emerges with novel legislation, it takes an enterprising mind to approach employment in the industry. Let’s look at a candidate interested in acquiring a management position at a cannabis dispensary. In this case, they will surely impress owners if they go to an interview with forward-looking ideas about retail business. These entrepreneurial ideas could include cannabis menu specials designed for seasonality and demographics. This entrepreneurial spirit will help ensure an enduring advantage for dispensary owners in a new marketplace.

Professional Versatility for Cannabis Jobs

Professional versatility is an essential quality for cannabis industry employment for several reasons:

• Startup businesses need employees who are able to “wear a number of different hats” within the workplace. If a candidate wants to make himself or herself an asset, they should be prepared to learn as much as they can.
• The unpredictable nature of the cannabis business requires that business owners and employees adapt to changes in the industry.
• When moving from a home-based grow operation to a regulated market, it may be difficult to shed the perspective of doing things only your way. As such, you must be versatile and adapt to the new demands of the market.

Cannabis businesses today demand not only versatile employees, but also employees who have a grasp on team work, fair play, and sacrifice within the workplace. Candidates looking for cannabis industry employment must display solid business ethics. They must also sometimes take on roles which might not always appear glamorous.

Ability to Translate Underground Experience on a Resume

This idea has to do with moving from a home-based medical grow to legitimate cannabis industry employment. As marijuana industry candidates attempt to make this challenging move, they often have trouble translating their experience into a resume. Within this scenario, candidates should structure their marijuana resumes in a fashion which highlights applicable skills for the cannabis business. For example, if a candidate has experience growing organically in industrial greenhouse scenarios, he or she should make a list of these skills before constructing a resume. After that, they should highlight these previously unmarketable skills on the top of their resume. The crux of this situation is, these resumes will often highlight “skills and knowledge” more predominantly than traditional “real world” work experience and education.

If they are in need of additional help, candidates can also contact a cannabis resume writing service.

Creativity

When attempting to find work within the cannabis industry, it takes a creative mind to adapt one’s skill sets for the business. It’s essential that cannabis professionals “think outside the box” when translating one’s previous skills into a brand new business model. To elaborate, sales representatives from the wine industry make great sales representatives for cannabis companies. Lastly, managerial experience is always in demand and leadership skills are always an asset.

 

This article originally appeared in a September 2016 post on Ganjapreneur.com.