The Changing State of Hiring in the Cannabis Industry
I started this business in 2016 and over the past 4 years I’ve seen an explosion of hiring in the cannabis industry. First and foremost, I’ve witnessed some monumental changes in cannabis and that’s mainly due to the simple fact that SO MANY MORE states have adopted legal marijuana policies in recent years. Whether it’s only medical or it’s a combination of medical and recreational legalization, a plethora of states have jumped on board and they’ve been pouring fuel on the fire ever since.
So things are growing…fast. And let’s not forget our Canadian counterparts who just went for it and legalized nation-wide. Maybe we should be taking a lesson from them?! But even up North hiring in the cannabis industry has changed dramatically. There used to only be a handful of marijuana companies up there with only a few designated medical facilities spread throughout the country, but now there are literally thousands of new jobs being created every month due to the exponential growth of the industry in every province.
With that many more jobs on the market now, I’ve also seen that hiring in the cannabis industry has become much more standard, homogenized, and dare I say even “corporate”. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Back in the day, you generally had to KNOW someone in order to get your foot in the door. I’m typecasting a bit here obviously, but if you didn’t have dreads and/or listen to String Cheese then you didn’t stand a chance at getting a job in a grow house!
There were also very limited options for certifications and professional development, things that give any candidate a leg up these days. The bottom line is that the average job seeker is more informed these days, has more education, and has access to more knowledge then we did years ago since marijuana was still predominantly looked at as taboo on the federal level. That’s all changed now though.
If you’re going to take one thing away from this article, please let it be that hiring in the cannabis industry is no longer a mystifying pursuit, and the jobs are no longer reserved for a select few dedicated and disciplined hippies. Instead, people of all ages and backgrounds are finding a common path and a shared passion. It’s a one-of-a-kind industry, and we’ll probably never seen another boom like this in our lifetimes.
However, hiring in the cannabis industry has also become quite competitive based on the sheer amount of people who are trying to get their foot in the door. So if you want to get a job in this emerging industry then now is the time, and if you want to improve your chances then my best advice is to start with a quality resume. That’s the absolute best way to help you stand out amongst the competition and land your dream job. Aside from that, it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse and to know what hiring managers are looking for these days.
I hope this all helps and if you need any clarity or advice please feel free to contact me:
jrh@marijuanaresumes.com
Best of luck with your job search!