M&F Talent Guide to Quality Resume Writing

Because the cannabis space is largely marked by instability, it’s invaluable that a job searcher “goes the extra mile” in finding the right career path. For many successful job hunters, this process begins with successful resume writing.

With well-researched market knowledge at hand, a candidate can devise a logical job search plan and update their resume to reflect their goals. Moreover, most hiring parties feel that a resume is a great indicator of a candidate’s capabilities and ambitions. Finally, well-written resumes give job searchers more leverage in navigating challenging environments as seen in the cannabis industry.

At M&F Talent, resumes often open doors for fruitful, long-lasting relationships. Because resumes are so important in successfully navigating the cannabis job market, we decided to put together a few key points about successful resume writing. As seasoned recruiters and resume writers, we are in a great position to offer this timely advice.

Because the team at M&F Talent reads hundreds of resumes each week, we have an expert understanding of what hiring parties are looking for in these documents. Even more, we have insider advice on making yourself stand out from competitors in the cannabis and hemp space.

Competency-Based vs Traditional Resume Writing

Before you start writing your resume, it’s a good idea to brainstorm on what sort of resume structure is required. For most, this process requires deciding between a competency-based resume and a chronological resume. Firstly, competency-based resumes are great for those people looking to their highlight skillsets as opposed to specific job experience. These resumes are particularly useful for people looking to switch their lines of work or enter a new field – such as the cannabis industry. Conversely, chronological resumes do exactly what they say – explain the exact parameters of your job history. These are the most common resumes and the recommended format if your job search stays within your established line of work.

Resume Length

The topic of resume length is a much-contested issue among Human Resources professionals. From our experiences at M&F Talent, we feel it’s okay to have a 2-3-page resume if the space on the page is used both efficiently and attractively. In fact, in comparison to a 1-page resume with small font and tight spacing, most readers prefer a 3-page resume that is well-spaced and easy-to-read. Always remember, you want a person to think positively of you when they read your resume. So, give them a break and make it easy!

Resume Writing, Grammar, & Formatting

Grammatical errors and formatting issues in your resume are some of the most surefire ways to get overlooked by a busy HR department. As a result, your resume writing process should be careful and meticulous, ensuring you catch every grammatical issue. Similarly, you should make certain that you apply uniform, logical spacing between the text. For those applicants interested in more help with formatting, there are a plethora of resume templates online. Also, it’s always helpful to have a colleague, friend, or family member proofread your resume before you use it.

Time Gaps & Missing Info

Please remember, when a hiring party reads your resume their goal is to learn as much about you as they can. As such, it’s best not to hide gaps in time where you weren’t employed or be evasive with other missing info. Because, if an HR department thinks for even a second you are hiding something, they will immediately move on. Therefore, it’s best to explain anomalies and time gaps with a simple explanation like “Took care of a sick family member for one year.” Similarly, its best to include all relevant dates on your resume, including both college graduation and job durations.

Including Cannabis Experience

People searching for jobs in the cannabis industry are faced with a tough question: “should I include cannabis experience on my resume?” As recruiters in the cannabis industry, we generally answer this question with a “Yes!” However, we encourage applicants to be tasteful about disclosing their involvement with cannabis. For example, good things to mention include being a member of an advocacy group like NORML or ASA. In like fashion, it’s generally okay to mention medical cultivation experience in a legal State.

 

If you would like to learn more about resume writing, or the M&F Talent Cannabis Career Guidance and Resume Writing Program, please contact us at info@mandfconsultants.com.