How To Write a Marijuana Resume
How to Write a Great Resume for a Cannabis Industry Job from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
How to Write a Resume for the Cannabis Industry
I have been a professional resume writer for nearly a decade now, and I also have experience in the cannabis industry, so a lot of people come to me for advice when they’re trying to compile a resume to target jobs in medical or recreational marijuana. And they’re smart to do so too! After all, it’s a good idea to seek out professional help with your resume. I trust my mechanics to work on my car because that’s their business. That’s what they do all day, every day, and I know they’ll do a much better job than I would. So why should it be any different with your resume? Especially when that one little document can literally make or break your career!
If you are looking for a job in the cannabis industry then there are multiple hurdles you will need to overcome. First and foremost, you will need to find a way to highlight your most relevant and transferable skills, and you will need to present that information in a format that is easy for the reader to absorb. The foundation of any good resume is a good format, and another sage piece of advice is to keep it to 1 or 2 pages in length because you don’t want to intimidate a hiring manager by giving them a novel to read. Instead, as with any good marketing tool, you want to give the reader just enough info to leave them thirsty for more. THAT’S when they call you for an interview, and THAT’s when you really sell yourself!
Aside from researching what kinds of resume formats are acceptable and widely utilized in the cannabis industry, you will also need to decide which aspects of your background are relevant and which are not. For instance, if you are applying for a job as a budtender it’s a good idea to talk about your past experience in customer relations and retail operations. However, that same experience wouldn’t really be relevant if you were applying for a job as an extraction technician. On the contrary, a resume for an extraction technician would probably want to focus more on scientific acumen and laboratory experience. Do you see my point? Overall it behooves you to consider these things. The more relevant and targeted your resume is, the better your chances of success.
Moving on, let’s face it, not too many people have a vast history in the cannabis industry because until recently there was barely any industry to speak of. So many people are faced with the same problem. How do you show that your background and skill sets are indeed in line with the needs of the employer? In other words, how do you show them that you know a lot about marijuana and you would be a good fit within their company, even though you may not have the tangible experience to prove it?
By far the best way to address this in your marijuana resume is to “talk the talk”, and to use enough strategic keywords and industry jargon that it’s obvious you know what you’re talking about. If you’re a master grower, for example, you should mention your experience with “cannabis cultivation” or “hydroponic systems” or, more specifically, “phenotypes” or “landrace strains”. If you are aspiring to work on the dispensary side, you may want to make reference to “edibles and extracts”, “medicinal effects”, “indica versus sativa”, or other such descriptive phrases that let a potential employer know that you are familiar with the lingo and comfortable talking about marijuana in some detail.
On top of all that, something of “growing” importance these days, and something that may be vital to the success of your marijuana resume, is the inclusion of some sort of cannabis schooling or training certification. Right now the cannabis industry is growing at an astronomical rate, new jobs are being created every day, and there are countless individuals trying to break into the field. As a response to the influx of new employment opportunities, the need for qualified training and professional development has grown as well, and there are an ever-increasing number of both online and brick-and-mortar institutions that are providing job seekers with all the necessary skills.
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So the bottom line is that if you’re serious about your career in the cannabis industry, and you want your marijuana resume to stand out, it’s a good idea to take some courses and pursue some relevant credentials. Earning a certification from an accredited program will show potential employers that you are passionate and willing to invest your time and money to enhance your knowledge of cannabis. And that’s what they want to see!
To sum up, a key factor when compiling your new cannabis resume will be selecting an appropriate format and making sure it’s succinct and presentable. If your resume looks scattered and unprofessional, then YOU look scattered and unprofessional. So be specific, targeted, and don’t be afraid to get super selective when filtering through your past experience for relevancy (ie, don’t go into detail about your background as a skydiving instructor if you’re applying for jobs in a grow room).
It’s also a good idea to stack your resume as much as you can with relevant keywords, phrases, and industry-specific terminology. Not only will those help you to stand out in the eyes of a hiring manager, but they may help you to stand out within applicant tracking software systems. And most importantly, prepare yourself for your job search, don’t just go about it all willy-nilly. Take some classes and get some certifications in the areas you’re passionate about. Network with people in the industry too, learn from them. Because they will be your absolute best resource moving forward, and the best way to find out new job opening and such.
But before you get there, if you’re not too confident in your abilities as a marketer or resume writer then I sincerely recommend you find a qualified professional to work with. A seasoned veteran in these matters can be an invaluable asset, and can help take a giant weight off your shoulders. Then, once you have a resume you a proud of, you can go out there with confidence and land the perfect job for you!
I hope this all was helpful and I sincerely wish you the best of luck!
JR Hindman is a freelance resume writer and the owner of MarijuanaResumes.com. He has years of cross-functional experience in the hiring industry and the cannabis industry and has helped countless individuals to land their dream jobs.
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