A job interview is like a verbal pop quiz, making it intimidating for many people. However, with the proper preparation, you can conquer your interview fears and prevail. Not knowing what questions will be asked is the biggest challenge. Unfortunately, we’re not mind-readers. However, we can provide you with the most common cannabis job interview questions. Study the interview questions carefully, fill in ideal answers, and practice them out loud to boost your confidence. From customer service (dispensary budtender) to management roles and beyond, there are plenty of cannabis jobs available out there. Therefore, practicing these common questions will help you land one.
Cannabis Job Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself
Typically, this is the first question asked in any interview, including one for a cannabis industry job. Anyone in the industry from marijuana budtenders to cannabis executives ran into this question. You do not have to explain your complete employment history. What you want to do instead is give a compelling pitch explaining why you’re the perfect fit for the open cannabis position. Remember, always keep the answer to this question precise and focused. Discuss your current role, give some background information leading up to it, and segue into why you would be an exceptional candidate for the cannabis job on the table.
Have you worked in cannabis before?
If you have previous experience working in the cannabis industry, this is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise. Be honest and forthcoming with your answers, detailing your job title, your experience, the skills you developed, and any noteworthy accomplishments you achieved. If you have any quantifiable success in the cannabis industry, mention it. Share your passion for the industry and the exciting developments you’ve witnessed in the field.
On the other hand, if you’re new to the cannabis industry, you can still ace this question. Highlight your transferable skills that are relevant to the industry, like experience working in highly regulated environments, knowledge of compliance and safety protocols, and your ability to work in a dynamic and rapidly evolving field. Share your willingness to learn and your passion for the cannabis industry, and be prepared to discuss your interest in the field.
No matter your level of experience, be sure to use industry-specific keywords in your response to demonstrate your familiarity with the industry. Words and phrases like “cannabis cultivation,” “compliance,” and “safety protocols” will help show the interviewer that you’re knowledgeable about the industry and understand what it takes to succeed in cannabis jobs.
How do you deal with sudden changes and pivots?
Anyone in the cannabis industry will tell you that sudden changes and shifts always take place in the space. Whether you work at a dispensary, cultivation facility, manufacturing center, or lab, flexibility is imperative. Therefore, it would be best to highlight your cognitive flexibility and capacity to make the proper pivots to thrive in the interview. Bring up an example of a particularly challenging change you had to deal with and break down how you handled the situation and prevailed. If you have a particular method of dealing with sudden changes, especially policy changes, discuss it. You can also describe about how you address change mentally. For example, you can talk about how you evaluate your level of control, assess your thought patterns, and take things one step at a time.
What do you know about our company?
Now that the Internet is so immersive, you can do plenty of research on the cannabis company offering you a job interview. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dispensary you’ve been to hundreds of times–do the research. First, start on their website to read their ‘About Us’ page, services, and mission statement to get some brief background information on how the business was started and what they specialize in. Additionally, you should go to their social media accounts to observe what they’re posting, how they interact with their clients, and their overall voice. Profile the cannabis company as well as you can with the information that’s out there. Simply reading the job ad isn’t enough anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’re going for a budtender role or a store manager position, company research is pivotal to a successful interview.
What do you think about our competitors and their products?
With this question, the cannabis employer is probing to see if you have done research on their competitors. If you have done the research, answer this cannabis interview question with details that show it. In your answer, include what they do right with their marketing, customer service, digital and physical storefront environment, and so on. However, do not spend too much time on what they do right. Next, break down what they can improve. Then, explain how you can help the cannabis employer push them ahead of their competitors with your business suggestions.
On the other hand, you may not know too much about their competitors. That’s fine. Showcase your competitor research skills and explain your process of profiling them and strategizing how to counter their plans. Give examples. If you run into a competitor that uses paid advertising well, maybe you’ll suggest the benefits of content marketing, which is more effective in the long run and cost less. Do your homework on your target company’s companies and go to the interview with something to bring to the table.
How can your skills and prior experience help our cannabis company?
Study the listing for the cannabis job, and take note of the job duties and responsibilities. If you don’t have any professional cannabis experience, list any hard or soft skills that align with the abilities they’re looking for. Once you have a solid list of skills, practice discussing them. Remember to use examples that highlight those particular skills and quantifiable instances of success when possible. Furthermore, you can provide rough ideas of how you can help improve the efficiency of the cannabis company.
How has cannabis affected your life?
Every member of our cannabis staffing team is passionate about marijuana, which is the case for everyone else in the industry. So, prepare to discuss how cannabis has positively influenced your life. Cannabis relieves stress and anxiety, decreases chronic pain, helps with workout recovery, sparks creativity, and much more. Employers want to see that you’re passionate about cannabis and not just funds, since money can only motivate someone so much. Show the interviewee that you believe in the power of cannabis further by sharing appropriate anecdotes that indicate your fondness.
What motivates you?
Some may feel this is a probing question, but all the hiring manager wants to do is find out if this position will hold your interest. Additionally, this is also about finding a culture fit. If what motivates you matches how the company takes action to motivate their employees, they’ll take it as a good sign. Describe what energized you in previous positions and what caught your attention on the cannabis job ad. Be honest about what motivates you, so that your enthusiasm is perceptible, and you can project your personal brand.
How do you motivate others?
In the cannabis industry, motivation can take many forms, including a shared passion for the field, a focus on teamwork, and the opportunity to create positive change. If you’re passionate about the industry, share your excitement and enthusiasm with the interviewer. Talk about how your passion for the industry has motivated you to learn more, work harder, and inspire others to do the same.
Another way to motivate others is by creating a positive team culture. Share examples of how you’ve built trust and camaraderie among your colleagues in the past. Talk about how you encourage open communication and collaboration, and how you’ve empowered your team to take ownership of their work and achieve their goals.
When it comes to creating positive change, there are plenty of opportunities in the cannabis industry. Share examples of how you’ve worked to promote social responsibility, environmental sustainability, or other causes that align with your values. In short, when answering the question “How do you motivate others?” in a cannabis job interview, it’s important to be genuine, specific, and passionate about your approach. By sharing your leadership style, team-building tactics, and commitment to creating positive change, you’ll demonstrate your potential to be a valuable asset to any cannabis job.
What attracted you to the cannabis industry?
There are a variety of cannabis jobs to fill out there, but no matter which one you’re targeting, you’ll run into this interview question. Out of the common cannabis job interview questions, it may seem the easiest to answer. Mentioning that you’re an avid cannabis consumer and a regular at a local dispensary is a start, but going beyond that is ideal. According to Statista, two of the most common reasons people join the cannabis industry is for the opportunity to create change and exercise the ability to empower others. Take some time to think about this question, and dig deeper than your love of the euphoria marijuana brings.
Tell me about a time you handled a difficult situation at work.
Choose a challenging situation you’ve dealt with that showcases your cognitive flexibility and innovative nature. Our cannabis staffing team knows that most cannabis employers are looking to see if you’re willing to deal with difficult situations head-on and always ready to learn. Stay calm and confident answering this question and avoid getting into the details you’d cover if you were talking to a friend. Furthermore, spend more time discussing the resolution than the conflict or challenge and prepare for follow-up cannabis interview questions.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
In presenting your strengths, avoid reciting a list of adjectives. Choose a few strengths that are relevant to the cannabis position and be prepared to share examples. Make sure to note your customer service skills, especially if you’re going for a cannabis dispensary job, such as a budtender position. Customer service and communication skills are always useful. On the other hand, when you’re asked to discuss weaknesses, the cannabis employer wants to take note of any potential red flags and measure your honesty. Think of something you honestly struggle with but are making a solid effort to improve. In speaking to a variety of cannabis employers, our cannabis staffing team knows that hiring managers appreciate honesty. However, find a weakness to discuss that isn’t a major deterrent.
If we talked to your previous boss what would they say you excelled in? And what about improvements?
When you’re asked in a cannabis job interview what your previous boss would say you excelled in and what areas you need improvement, it’s a great opportunity to showcase your strengths and your eagerness to learn and improve.
First, talk about your areas of expertise and what you achieved in your previous role. For instance, if you were good at handling challenging customer situations or meeting deadlines, give examples that showcase your skills.Then, talk about the areas you think you can improve in. It’s important to be honest and mention areas where you feel you can do better, like learning new cultivation techniques or improving your communication skills with colleagues. Let the interviewer know that you’re open to learning and that you’re eager to take on new challenges to better yourself. According to a study conducted by LinkedIn, one of the most important factors that employers look for when hiring is a candidate’s ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations. In fact, 90% of the respondents in the study believed that these qualities were more important than a candidate’s specific skills and experience.
Remember to convey your passion for the cannabis industry and your dedication to delivering quality products and services. By highlighting your strengths and your areas for improvement, you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you’re a well-rounded candidate who is committed to professional and personal growth.
Do you have any questions for me?
When it comes to cannabis job interview questions, this is one of the most important to answer. With this question, you have an opportunity to probe deeper and see if this cannabis company is the right fit. Ask about the company, the expectations for the role, the team structure, the managing style, and anything else you’re honestly curious about. Remember, there are plenty of cannabis jobs, so don’t settle for one in a company that isn’t the right fit. You can even target the hiring manager and ask them what they love about the company and what motivates them in their role. Also, you can ask about their cannabis products and company culture. Have both standard and less common questions prepared to get a better understanding of the organization.
Sample Answers for 2 of the Most Common Cannabis Interview Questions
Why do you want to work at a cannabis dispensary?
This is a big cannabis dispensary interview question, but with the right preparation, you can nail this one. When answering this question, you have to know your personal why for the specific dispensary you’re interviewing for. What makes you want to be a part of their team? Study their missions statement, company culture, and brand narrative to help you produce an answer that is sincere and shows your excitement to be a part of their cannabis staff. And most importantly, be honest with yourself and know deep down that you want the cannabis job because it aligns with your beliefs, skills, and experience. Here is a sample answer:
“I want to work at your dispensary because it’s not just about selling marijuana, it’s about creating an experience. As a longtime cannabis user, I’ve always dreamed about this time in history where cannabis is shedding its stigma, so there could be a cannabis shop that brings adults the feeling they used to have as kids when they would head to a candy or toy store.
As a budtender, I can share my love and knowledge of cannabis with others, making genuine connections and helping them find peace or happiness through the plant. I’ve held many retail roles successfully in the past, but as a budtender, I would excel even more because of my passion for marijuana. I also constantly have my finger on the pulse of the industry, including the latest trends in innovative products from cannabis-infused drinks to fast-acting nano gummies. And I constantly keep up with the newest strains and research that sheds further light on the benefits of cannabis.”
Why do you want to work in the cannabis industry?
Out of all the cannabis job interview questions, this is one you’ll answer no matter what position you’re going for. Consider why you think working in the cannabis industry aligns with your purpose. Furthermore, relate your answer to your personal brand narrative. Tell the cannabis employer what excites you about the industry, prove why you’re passionate about cannabis, and explain how your skills and experience will help nurture the growing industry. Here is a sample answer:
“Watching the growth of the cannabis industry has been an incredible experience, and I want to be a part of it. I’ve been supporting cannabis and promoting its medical and wellness benefits for years. Working in any other industry would make me feel like I’m not living up to my full potential. I want to use my skills and experience to support the growth of something I believe in, as it gives me purpose. I’ve worked as a cannabis product branding specialist for over a decade, helping some of the food and beverage brands grow and break into the top 10 list in their respective categories. Now, I want the chance to take on the challenge of getting your cannabis brand to the next level of becoming a household name, leading the way for the rest of the industry.”
Cannabis Staffing and Job Search
We help people start their cannabis careers. Our cannabis staffing firm believes in the magical plant and we want to help those passionate about it find a place in the marijuana industry. Whether you’re looking to work at a dispensary, cultivation facility, manufacturing center, or any other sector, we can help. Tell us what position you’re targeting–from entry-level budtender to VP of cultivation–we’ll support your job search. Furthermore, if you’re looking for cannabis executives, direct-hires, or temporary employees, we can help. You can reach out to our cannabis executive search and staffing firm at contact@cannabizteam.com.
If you’re looking for cannabis jobs, head to our job board to find the latest opportunities.
