Applying for a Job in Cannabis: Resumes, ATS, Transferable Skills, and Interpersonal Skills

Photo Credit: Cannabis Training University

Cannabis is a booming new industry and well- it being essential means- GROWTH. There are many aspiring Cannabis employees waiting for legalization in their state. There are many already in a legal state and just waiting for the right time. Whatever the case- I want to focus this piece on cannabis resumes and cover letters.

But before that- let me tell you all about ATS.

ATS- Applicant Tracking System

ATS are applicant tracking systems that are used by corporations to assist with recruitment and hiring processes. Each system offers a different combination and scope of features, but ATS are primarily used to help hiring companies collect, organize, and filter applicants.

Corporate recruiters can have their ATS automatically extract information from an applicant’s resume to build a digital applicant profile that can be searched, filtered, and/or ranked. The goal is to quickly cull out anyone who is under-qualified, make the applicant pool smaller, and quickly identify the top candidates.

This means that the scan is primary and human eyes are secondary. It takes strategy and insight to get your resume in front of human eyes therefore, the way it reads and how it’s formatted is crucial.

When developing your resume and cover letter, it’s extremely important to use words in the job description or as close as possible if the experience relates. No lying- just editing to align your experience with how the job posting describes it.

Transferable Skills and Interpersonal Skills

Transferable skills are a set of skills that can be used in multiple roles/positions. These skills are general and can be used in blue-collar, white-collar, and life in general. Transferable skills are valued by many organizations because they can be used and applied cross-functionally/ all over the company.

Problem solver– critical thinker, able to excel at strategy.
Leadership– take charge and motivate other employees.
Time Management– organized with good prioritization and that means you are productive.
Self- Motivated- self-starter and can work with minimal supervision.

It’s important to keep in mind that interpersonal skills are important as well. Interpersonal skills are like the core of transferable skills. A few examples:

Cross-functional Collaboration– the ability to collaborate with multiple departments on matters that include the full organization.
Personal Development– the ability to take ownership of your growth and development.
Adaptability– Ability to learn quickly and adapt to change.
Relationship Building/ Management– the ability to network and nurture relationships.

For those with zero to little work experience, you may be wondering “how can I develop these without working”? Well, let’s take a look:

High School: joining clubs/organizations helps build teamwork skills.
College: being a college student helps build time management skills due to juggling multiple schedules and priorities.
Volunteering: this type of work helps build empathy and personal motivation.

Highlighting Transferable and Interpersonal Skills

Here’s a sample, qualifications summary sentence:

History of success building client relationships through networking, and nurtured relationships by consistently evaluating client’s needs and recommending solutions.

This piece was edited from an original series, written by the writer, for Herbage Magazine.