When starting a new position, it’s essential to understand your career goals and how this role will get you where you want to be. This is the same across all fields of work, but especially in cannabis. With such potential for growth and evolution, you must start your career with confidence. Understanding your endgame and your motivations will greatly help you find a role that will not only be in cannabis but will foster your professional growth and bring you closer to your goals.
Reflect On Your Current Career And Path
Starting a new career can be incredibly intimidating, no matter if it’s right after graduating from school/training or after already fulfilling professional needs in a previous path. If you are coming out of school, a training program, or after obtaining licensure, then you have likely been prepared on what to expect from your cannabis career’s beginning stages. If you are changing to a whole new career path in cannabusiness, you have the experience of previous roles and industries under your belt, and you probably have a great idea of what you’re not looking for in your next position.
For those just starting in the working world, you should be prepared by previously mentioned training/schooling. Likely you will have an idea of your own specific goals within the industry due to this education. If you did not receive cannabis-specific training but are still looking to enter the legal cannabis industry, don’t worry about having cannabis-specific goals. Think about your career trajectory and where you want to be in three months, one year, and even five years from now. This will help you understand the professional goals you should be striving for and set realistic mile markers for your success. This career trajectory is likely to change once you are more comfortable in your new role and familiar with the industry; it’s a good idea to update these goals based on experience.
If you are coming into cannabis from another industry, having already started on one career path, you have some goal setting experience. What were your goals in your last position? How did you meet/exceed them, and what were they leading to? These are all great questions to ask yourself when making a move to cannabis; it’s important to understand where you’ve been to help map out where you’re going. Understand how these goals will change or possibly stay the same when moving into a cannabis role, and leave room to adjust these goals once you are more settled in a position that puts you on the right path.
Analyze Your Motivations
Cannabis is an incredibly fast-growing industry in both the medical and recreational sectors of the business. Because of this tremendous growth and investment, many are flocking to the cannabis industry, looking to get a piece of the Green Rush. While it may seem like a smart move to transition to cannabis, make sure you are making the right decision for yourself and your career. Understand what is driving you to transition to this industry, and make sure you choose this path for the right reasons (e.g., not just because it’s a fast-growing industry that could make you money).
Not only will understanding your motivation help further refine your goals, but it will also be a great selling point to employers. Many people working within cannabis have the drive to help others. This industry is full of incredible opportunities to help improve the lives of cannabis users and advance the medicinal aspects of the plant. Others are excited about how they can contribute to this growing field and help shape and improve processes as this industry grows. Coming in with an idea of how you want to impact the cannabis industry will set you up for success in the long run.
Plan for Your New Future
Now that you’ve established your goals and motivations, it’s time to start making that plan a reality. If you are coming out of school or training, you may have access to career counselors. Take advantage of the resources provided by your institution or training facility, and let them help you find, apply, and interview for jobs, especially if this is your first foray into the working world. If you have experience job hunting from positions in the past, you may not need help with the basics, but it’s always a good idea to brush up on modern hiring trends and practices.
No matter if you’re applying to your first job ever, or just your first job in cannabis, having help navigating this new industry can be incredibly helpful in your search. Make sure you are enlisting the right help to fulfill your goals and set yourself up for success. Consider using a cannabis-specific hiring agency, or even taking a beginners course to familiarize yourself with the industry, putting yourself ahead of other candidates. Being specific with your goals while working with a cannabis recruiter can help them place you in an ideal role for your experience and ambitions.
If you’re interested in making a move to a career in cannabis, Growing Talent is here to help. With more than 25 years in the recruitment space for new verticals, Growing Talent is well equipped to help you navigate this budding industry. We’ll connect you to a network of top minds in cannabis today and help you find your perfect fit within the world of cannabis.
