The cannabis job sector is expanding rapidly and adapting to the new norm. There was a time when the idea of a home-based business owner including their experience on an industry resume and applying for cannabis jobs was unimaginable.
Despite this stigma, the cannabis sector is quickly becoming a genuine and respected field of work. The United States is revealing this trend by significantly increasing the cannabis industry workforce on a greater level.
Skilled cannabis cultivators are in high demand in the business world at the moment. Any cannabis entrepreneur hoping to make the leap into the legal cannabis sector will need to put together a strong resume.
That’s why we are here to help! Here are 4 important things that must be included in your cannabis industry resume:
1. Contact Information
The first and most important thing in any industry resume is the contact information you provide. Your resume must have your basic contact information in an organized manner. This is important because, in case of selection or further progress to a physical interview, the company will inform you via the information present on your CV. Additionally, you can add a Calendly link if you have one just in case they are fine with a video interview.
Make sure your resume consists of your:
- Active phone number
- Current address
In case you missed the call or text message from the cannabis job company, an email will be helpful as a substitute. Also, check your voicemail in case you missed a call.
2. Work Experience
Any experience with cannabis cultivation, even if it was done from home, or any other cannabis-related work should be included on your resume. It would be better if the experience targets a growing position. The competency-based paradigm can be used to identify marketable skills; even if an individual’s “real world” work experience is unrelated to the cannabis industry.
This idea calls for some originality on your part, but it could pay off in the end to earn that dream cannabis job!
If you’re writing up your work experience, be sure to highlight the skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Employers in the cannabis sector are curious as to your prior work experience. They are very interested in how it prepares you for a certain position. For example, if the position is open for a cannabis growing operation, make sure to add and highlight your past experience with growing different strains, their cultivation, etc.
It’s okay if you have never done cannabis jobs before. Now can be your time!
Another important point is the order of your past jobs. Most people list their employment in reverse chronological order. If you’re applying for a job in the cannabis industry but have little to no relevant experience, a functional resume may be your best bet.
This format ensures that your most relevant work experience is right in front of your resume. If you put your most relevant job first, your cannabis resume is more likely to be in the interview pile. Thus, you’ll improve your cannabis industry job prospects.
3. Cannabis Education
CBS News says that while a degree in some kind of a cannabis-related profession is not required to find work in the industry, most businesses would rather hire someone with some qualification in the cannabis field.
Candidates that make an effort to learn more about cannabis will stand out. It could help you find the best cannabis job if you get the appropriate cannabis education and training first. You can utilize the list of top-notch cannabis institutes aligned by Leafly for educational purposes.
Obtaining a certificate or even a degree in cannabis may be beneficial for specific roles. For example, earning a cannabis 101 certificate may help you land a dispensary job, such as the role of budtender. Pair that cannabis education with managerial experience in retail, and you could stand out more than your competition for a dispensary manager role.
4. Skills
If you want to get an interview for any cannabis job, you need to tailor your resume to showcase the skills that are relevant to that job. This is important and helpful because prospective employers are more interested in past skills, present in the candidates, that can be applied to future occupations and pursuits.
For instance, a thorough understanding of pest control is crucial for a greenhouse cultivator. This is especially the case if they come with an aspiration of becoming a lead grower in a commercial greenhouse.
Describe your skills and qualifications that best suit the open position. Make sure to divide your hard and soft abilities into categories. For example:
Hard Skills
A person’s “hard skills” are those that they have polished and perfected through study and experience. These abilities are typically acquired through formal education and some kind of training. Some practical abilities include:
- Communications
- Bookkeeping
- Data Analytics
- Coding
- Web design
- Social media marketing
- Farming and cultivation
Soft Skills
Recently, the “soft skills” have become more valued by cannabis employers. We all know that effective communication along with some strong interpersonal skills is essential in the workplace. Also, they can help you advance in your current position as well as in the future, if you add them to your cannabis resume.
Fast thinking and creativity are necessities in the cannabis sector, therefore soft skills are equally as crucial as technical ones. Some top examples of soft skills include:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Customer service
- Teamwork
- Negotiating
- Conflict resolution
- Working under pressure
10 Tips for Writing a Cannabis Job Resume for Work in the Industry
You can utilize these 10 experts tips if you need extra skills for the aforementioned mandatory section:
- Providing assistance to clients
- Confident and articulate speech
- Possessing familiarity with POS systems
- A warm and welcoming demeanor
- Skill at handling heavy loads
- Punctual nature
- Capacity for performing actions repeatedly
- Proven skill in sales with an eye for detail
- Leadership roles or teamwork experience
Cannabis Job Resume Summary
In conclusion, as the cannabis industry develops and new job opportunities arise, the standards for those seeking employment in the field increase as well. As a result of these modifications, anybody seeking a cannabis job will need to show not only they are “excellent with plants,” but also that they are capable of navigating the complexities of this highly regulated sector.
That being said, the demand for competent cannabis cultivators is rising. A strong resume is the first step for anyone seeking an opportunity to work in a legal, commercial setting to start their cannabis career.
You will have a far better idea of your potential place in this dynamic new field once you have completed your industry resume for your dream cannabis job!
Guest post by Barry Galvin, Community Outreach Coordinator for AlphaRoot, a cannabis insurance brokerage.
