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Are you a user of cannabis? Don't worry if you aren't. For most positions, you don't need any firsthand experience with consuming cannabis After all, you won't be expected to consume cannabis on the job. Your professional skills and demeanor are what really matter. In fact, most employers in the cannabis industry actively screen out obvious stoners.
Also, keep in mind that the cannabis job market is fairly competitive. Since only about 30 states have legalized cannabis in some form, many job seekers are moving away from states where cannabis is still illegal so that they can try taking advantage of the new opportunities. (The market can be especially competitive in states where recreational cannabis has been legalized, such as Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska, Maine, and Massachusetts.) That makes the following tips even more important to follow.
1. Research potential employers and job opportunities.
This step may seem obvious, but few people spend as much time on it as they should. Are you really willing to work for just anybody in the cannabis industry? Why not put in the effort to match your goals and personality with a company that shares your values? (Your work colleagues will be like your other family, especially in a small company.) What do you believe in? What do the companies you're thinking of joining believe in? (For instance, are they just all about making money, or do they genuinely want to help make the world a better place through their cannabis-related products or services?)
Start attending some of the cannabis industry's major conferences and trade shows in your state. Get to know the various company representatives. Ask lots of questions. Find out what the culture is like at their companies and what they look for in the people they hire. Take notes and follow up with some simple emails to thank them for sharing that information. If any of the companies sound like a good place to work, be sure to let their representatives know that you're looking for opportunities in the cannabis industry and would be interested in joining their team.
Check out other potential employers by exploring the online postings on more than one cannabis job board. There are now several websites and staffing firms dedicated to helping job seekers find opportunities in the legal cannabis industry. Here are some popular examples:
Vangsters
Ms. Mary Staffing
Hemp Temps
Canna Recruiter
420 Careers
CannaJobs
WeedHire
CannaClassifieds
Ganjapreneur Jobs
CannaInsiders
2. Review your current strengths and qualifications.
What kind of skills do you already have? What's your educational background? Do you want to continue using your existing expertise, or do you want to do something completely different? Decide up front what kind of job you'd like to have in the cannabis industry.
Often, the best way to transition into the legal cannabis sector is to look for jobs that will utilize your current skill set. For instance, if you have a strong customer service background, then budtender jobs would be worth considering. Or if your background is in marketing, then you can probably find the same kind of work, but in a more exciting industry. Learn more about transitioning to the cannabis industry by taking the Crossover to Cannabis program at Green Nurse.
Remember: While the cannabis industry is still young, few people will have much, if any, experience in a cannabis-related role when applying for jobs. So the most important thing is to be able to show how your current abilities match up with the position you'd like to have. Cannabis companies are hiring skilled professionals from all kinds of non-cannabis industries.
3. Expand your cannabis-related knowledge.
This is how you can gain a competitive edge in the cannabis job market. The more you know about the current laws, regulations, and challenges of the cannabis industry in your state, the more appealing you will be to potential employers. After all, cannabis companies need to stay hyper-vigilant about complying with the law if they want their businesses to succeed and grow. And, of course, the more you know about cannabis itself, the better you'll be able to communicate with colleagues and customers.
So start learning all you can about cannabis. Check out Green Nurse for cannabis career training. You will be able to find a program that will teach you about the industry and applicable laws in your state. You can also do reading on your own. Check out websites and blogs such as NORML and Canna Law Blog. And read books like:
The Little Black Book of Cannabis: The Essential Guide to the World of Cannabis by Steve Elliott
The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness by Steve DeAngelo
Smoke Signals: A Social History of Cannabis—Medical, Recreational and Scientific by Martin A. Lee
The Cannabis Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to Cultivation & Consumption of Medical Cannabis by Jorge Cervantes
Big Weed: An Entrepreneur's High-Stakes Adventures in the Budding Legal Cannabis Business by Christian Hageseth and Joseph D'Agnese
Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Cannabis by Michael Backes
4. Get a cannabis worker license (if necessary).
Each state with legalized cannabis has its own laws and regulations. As someone who wants to work in this industry, you need to find out what may be required of you. Potential employers will also appreciate it if you have the proper license, permit, or badge to work around cannabis—before you apply for jobs with them. Check out the current cannabis employment requirements for the state or region you want to work in:
5. Present yourself as a professional, not a stoner.
Most cannabis companies are, understandably, very conscious of maintaining a good public image. They don't want to invite negative stereotypes about their businesses (such as being called "lazy hippies" or "dirty drug dealers"). That means you need to look and act like a professional at all times. If you're too casually dressed or talk a lot about getting high, then recruiters and potential employers are likely to write you off as unqualified for their opportunities.
When you write your résumé and cover letters, always try to use the same type of verbiage that the companies you're applying to use. Avoid using slang terms. Always use proper grammar. And always proofread everything at least twice before submitting it. Focus on describing how your skills will help the company, not on how much experience you have with getting stoned from pot.
Also, make sure you know how to ace a job interview. In addition to looking professional, you need to demonstrate some genuine enthusiasm for the position and knowledge about the company you're seeking to join. Showing up with a curious mindset is also important. Always be prepared to ask a few good questions at the end of the interview. And don't forget to follow up soon after with a sincere thank-you email to everyone who interviewed you.
6. Seize This Amazing New Opportunity
Cannabis jobs will keep growing in number. Do you have the skills and education you need for the career you want in the cannabis industry? Remember: You don't necessarily need to work directly with cannabis in order to prosper from good employment in this sector. Why not get training in an area you really enjoy and then apply your new skills to a cannabis job? Find convenient career-driven training at Green Nurse. In the increasingly competitive cannabis job market, providing a prospective employer with a certification and a description of what was learned will increase your chances of getting hired; not only will it demonstrate to your prospective employer that you will require far less training than other applicants, but also shows that you have taken the initiative to learn more on your own.