Identifying a Career Path
Welcome to the second CannaCareers Campaign and Q&A session: Identifying a Career Path. This time, we'll be sharing information and tips to help you decide how your career in cannabis is going to look.
CannaCareers partners and cannabis industry professionals Ashley Boucher of Quality Control Analytics and Danielle Schumacher of THC Staffing, will share tips, tricks, and answers to your questions on how to build your career path in cannabis.
If you've ever considered a job in Cannabis and need to know how to get started, this is for you! It's never too late to start planning a career in cannabis; now's a perfect time, so let's get started.
A career path is comprised of the all jobs that you have taken or will take on to meet your short- and long-term career goals. A well-thought-out career path can support you in making sure you are working in jobs that will keep you happy, satisfied, and feeling successful.
Not sure how to start identifying your career path? Start with what you've already done and already love doing! Check out this clip from our Q&A session for more:
Since we're talking specifically about designing a career path in the cannabis industry, the next question to answer is: what types of jobs are available in cannabis? There are the jobs everyone knows about (like a budtender or a cultivator), but what other jobs are out there to help us narrow our search as we map out our individual journeys?
See this clip from our Resume 101 session for more:
In your career path planning, you are probably aiming to increase how much you earn in the long term.
Knowing which jobs are lower paying and which ones are higher paying will help you know which jobs to aim for at which points in your career.
Need a place to start? Check out this clip for more details:
Now that we've got a bit of direction and we know the kind of jobs we're looking for on our career path, let's talk about some of the things you'll need to keep in mind before you get started on designing your career in Cannabis.
Expect the Unexpected: This industry is unlike many others. It's new and is partially evolving from a fraught legacy market courtesy of the failed and racist War on Drugs policies of the last few decades. It is still largely trying to figure out where it fits in the legislative landscape of the country and globally, and as such is in constant flux.
So even if you are a professional in another industry with plenty of job application and interview experience, you will probably need to adjust the way that you approach finding a job in cannabis if you want a better chance of a fruitful career.
Be prepared for the long haul: Designing a Career Path in cannabis will take years of dedication and effort. Most cannabis jobs are (a) fickle and (b) limited. There are fewer high-paying stable jobs than there are people interested in breaking into the industry, so competition is high.
It may take you a while to pay your bills working in cannabis within the first year. You've got to decide for yourself if you really want to take on this fight! If you're really passionate, it may be worth the struggle!
So some friendly advice: You may need another way to pay your bills while you try to re-structure your career in a new industry. So, while you may get lucky (keep looking for that perfect job, don’t stop trying!), you’ll want to make your transition into cannabis a long-term 5-year plan. Don’t quit your job to jump into cannabis tomorrow! And in the meantime, try not to get discouraged.
We now know that we need to plan for the long haul, the next question to tackle is which jobs and which companies are the ones we want to aim for along our career path. There's a lot of talk in the industry about Big cannabis vs. the small entrepreneurs trying to get a foot in the door. There are a lot of pros and cons to each in general, but how do you decide which type of company you'd prefer to work at?
Let's talk about some of the challenges and benefits of each, starting with Big Companies (often MSOs! we'll explain what those are later).
Some benefits:
Lots of jobs available!
Lots of resources mean better equipment, the latest technology, and industry knowledge which is a perk for your industry experience level.
Some Challenges:
Rapid turnover and decreasing pay trends can speak to unhappy employees.
Heavily corporate and less entrepreneurial environments mean less autonomy in your role, even in upper management positions.
Now, what is an MSO exactly?
You've probably heard a lot about MSOs if you've been dabbling in the cannabis space online in the last few years. But what is an MSO and why is it so important?
An MSO is a Multi-State Operator or a cannabis business that operates in multiple states.
Because cannabis is illegal at the federal level, big corporate cannabis businesses that wanted to operate nationally needed to find a creative solution to do so. So, they designed the MSO structure which allowed them to operate national brands under one brand name, while still maintaining distinct legal entities from state to state to remain compliant with federal laws.
MSOs are large firms with very deep pockets and lots of access to capital, so it's much easier for them to operate and grow their businesses.
Minority-owned businesses struggle in comparison because the costs of operating in the Cannabis industry are high and because of a lack of federal banking legislation that makes commerce simple.
MSOs currently comprise a large swath of the cannabis market on the East Coast of the US in particular, with the saturation of MSO-owned dispensaries peaking at 91% and 89% in New Jersey and New York, respectively, and totaling 70% for all six Eastern states combined by 2022. And it seems like that number may be growing. Mergers and acquisitions of MSOs nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021.
What does this mean for you?
Most of the jobs you'll find in the cannabis industry, especially in the retail space, are gonna be with this type of company.
Now let's talk about working for a smaller cannabis company.
Some Benefits:
Less turnover, and probably happier employees overall
Opportunity to gain more diverse experience in the cannabis industry because you'll wear more hats in your job
The likelihood of being promoted is higher than in larger cannabis companies.
Some Challenges:
Fewer resources mean fewer jobs available, so they can be harder to find
Volatile because they have the same overhead costs as a larger company but with fewer resources.
Even though we've gone over some of the differences between big and small cannabis companies, another important thing to remember when considering which companies you'll want to aim for is that Everyone in Cannabis is a Start-Up.
No matter what company you work for, big or small, you will likely get all of the challenges and benefits of working in a start-up environment.
Get yourself familiar with what working in a start-up can be like with a little research. As always, make Google your best friend.
As with anything, do your own research and as you are on your cannabis career journey, keep in mind that whichever or whatever you decide, there will be trade-offs. There is no right answer for everyone, so above all else, do what feels right for you.
One last thing we want you to keep in mind before we move on to the topic of vetting companies you want to include on your career path is: Don't worry too much about picking the perfect job off the rip!
As we said before, this industry is different than many of the others you're probably used to; switching jobs often is ok in this space! Moving jobs every 3-6 months to make sure you’re being paid what you deserve is relatively common.
Moving up vertically in a company is difficult in the cannabis industry. Typically to get into cannabis you will take a pay cut starting at entry-level. While that gets you a foot in the door, getting promoted within an individual company will take a very long time (and a lot of luck).
A better career bet in such a new, green market is to keep an eye out for other jobs! With 6 months of experience in cannabis and more experience elsewhere, you become a very attractive candidate.
Now that you know how and which companies to work with broadly, it's time to get to work sorting through the actual jobs you want to apply to. This is a process we call vetting.
Let's start with some red flags we may want to avoid.
Hyperbolic words like Rockstar and Ninja - When companies ask for a Rockstar, Ninja, etc, in their job posting, the first place you'll go is "oh, they’re looking for someone who is good at what they do", But consider the other side of such a fantasy job title: this is someone who is going to spend their days, nights, and possibly weekends living up to an unobtainable title. That sounds like a big old RED FLAG. Look for words like "dedicated" along with a specific and detailed job description instead.
Vague Job Descriptions and No Salary Listed - Job descriptions filled with hype words, unclear promises, and asks for extensive effort can be a giant red flag. A job description should give an accurate and complete idea of what the day-to-day will look like. A vague job description is a warning sign that something is either undecided or hidden in the role. Be wary of job descriptions that make attempts to lower your expectations, too. If employers want YOUR time and work, they need to be realistic about what they are offering you in return.
Lots of Requirements for an Entry-Level Job - Any entry-level job looking for high-ranking skills, multiple certifications, and multiple years of experience, but only paying an entry-level salary is an immediate red flag. A company looking for an entry-level employee should be looking for an investment, someone to teach and train so they can move up within the company ranks, without such unrealistic expectations.
What do you do when you see some of these red flags?
Remember: Red flags don’t always mean don’t apply! Red flags can also mean: Ask for more information! Ask questions! You can ask the hiring professional you're talking to, or even do your own research online (Google is always your best friend).
If you ultimately decide the role isn't for you, you can always use the job as practice. Like with most things, when applying and interviewing for jobs, practice makes perfect. Applying for a few jobs you care less about or which you won't take can give you that chance to polish up your resume and cover letter skills, giving you a better shot at the jobs you really want.
Now, let's talk about the green flags!
If a job posting/company you're looking into has one or more of the following, there's a better chance this is a good place to work:
Unions! - Although not a perfect solution, an MSO with a union is more likely to be a good place to work than one without. According to a recent report released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), unionization is key to ensuring new jobs created in the fast-growing cannabis industry were safer, better paying, and more likely to provide benefits like healthcare, paid leave, and fair scheduling. Cannabis workers of color in particular earn Up to 32% more when working at unionized companies.
Benefits are Clearly Stated - Clearly stated benefits that align with what you’re looking for in a job can be another green flag. If the company that you’re interviewing with checks all your boxes–401k, sick days, learning stipend–then you might have found the right fit. Beyond a decent salary, these additional benefits communicate that the company you’re working for values you as more than a worker.
Mentorship and Career Development Programs - When you look up a company that's posted a job you may be interested in, see if they offer any mentorship or career development programs to help their employees improve professionally. Even if you’re not sure where you want your career to go, a company with a focus on career development is a good sign that this company will help you get there.
Diverse Leadership - At this point, we all know that it’s important for most of us that the companies we work for have leadership that is representative of their workers. Most companies list their leadership somewhere on their website. Look those folks up! Ask questions! This is information you should know as it will help tell you how the company really feels about diversity.
Now that we've planned our career path and vetted the companies to which we're applying, we're ready to get started on our cannabis career. A couple more tips to remember as you pursue your cannabis career goals:
Strike while the iron is hot: Find a job you really love? Does it have a decent salary level/benefits? Apply for it RIGHT AWAY!
In such a fickle industry, jobs are fickle as well. The company may decide to postpone hiring or remove the job posting next week, pay could be lower in 3 months, etc. so strike while the iron is hot!
Keeping in mind that navigating a career path in cannabis is a long-haul kind of endeavor, another important piece of advice for cannabis industry job seekers is to review and (as needed) update your resume at least once a month!
As you are looking for a job in cannabis and doing all of the things you need to be doing to increase your chances of success (attending events, networking, researching, learning about the industry, etc.) you are bound to come across something new that you hadn't discovered a month ago. This fresh lens with which to look at your resume can help make your resume stand out from the crowd! Review your resume regularly so you can constantly be improving it, adding relevant experiences/education as you gain them to it, and tailoring your current/past experience to relate to the industry's needs in it.
We may say this a lot in the context of the advice we give, but if you're serious about pursuing a career in cannabis, you NEED to be aware of current industry trends specific to where you live/want to live! Do your research!
State/market trends we're seeing can and WILL affect your job search. In some states, the vast majority of plant-touching jobs are with MSOs. For example, in Illinois, it is nearly impossible to find a job with a company that is not an MSO. This will change when social equity licenses are operational, but for at least the next year the number of jobs available with a social equity business will be very small. . In states where there is a new market, such as New Jersey and New York, there is a hiring rush happening. This means the vast majority of new hires will have to wait a year or more before being promoted, and the work environment will be extremely volatile for the foreseeable future. Knowing these kinds of things about the market in which you are looking for a job can help you not only manage your expectations but plan both your job search and any plans to transition accordingly.
And last but not least, there are more jobs than just the ones that are posted! The jobs you see posted on job boards and lists are only a fraction of the ones available. So how do you find those jobs?
NETWORKING! Why networking? Because you can actually MEET people who can hire you, or who know people who can hire you, and who you can talk with about the industry to help you explore types of roles. Networking and forming relationships with others already in the industry puts a much shorter distance between you and the job you want.
In the next CannaCareers campaign: The Networking Part, we share tips and advice on HOW to network, so check it out!
