The Cannabis Career Journey 

When you’re in the early stages of building your career in the cannabis industry, you might find yourself in a cycle of trial and error. Or, like my mother would say, throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

While it would be nice if all careers followed a linear path with a clear direction from point A to point B, the truth is that most career paths are rolling hills with detours and dead ends aplenty.

Naming Your Career Journey 

Regardless of industry or profession, most career journeys follow a similar path. Naming your career journey and identifying the stage you’re in at a given moment will help you set attainable goals to reach your ultimate career destination. 

Some stages will be demanding while promoting growth and others will encourage rest and rejuvenation to maintain your career success. Knowing the stages and understanding the tenets of each will provide a framework to identify your current status and develop a plan for the future. 

Discovery Phase

Everyone starts in the discovery phase. 

Typically this phase is occupied by recent graduates and young professionals ready to start building a career but lacking the direction to do so. Sometimes, this can also be a helpful phase for those who are looking to transition to a new industry or rebrand their professional identity. 

This phase is vital for establishing your career in the cannabis industry. It will be when you learn more about the industry and the career opportunities available to you. Use this phase wisely by spending time in self-reflection. 

If ever there was a time to throw spaghetti at the wall, this is it! Try out different roles and identify what ignites your passion. If you’re looking to work in plant-touching roles this is a great time to learn more about the cannabis plant and the speciality focuses throughout the seed-to-sale process. If working directly with flower isn’t for you, then use the discovery phase to identify your skills and passions that can serve the industry through ancillary cannabis roles. 

In the discovery phase, the goal is to identify the right path for you! Don’t be afraid to come back to this phase at any time during your journey until you find where you fit into the cannabis industry. 

Establishment Phase 

Once you’ve identified your skills and passions and have decided on a path for your career, it’s time to establish yourself within the cannabis industry. During the establishment phase, you’ll conduct your job search, apply, and accept your first long-term position in the cannabis industry. 

For most newcomers to the cannabis industry, it’s recommended to work in a dispensary or similar plant-touching business to develop your knowledge about cannabis and how the industry functions. However, for those transitioning to the cannabis industry, you may find that your path includes working an ancillary position supporting the cannabis industry with the skills and experiences you’ve picked up along your career journey. 

The goal of the establishment phase is to learn about the industry, develop skills unique to the industry, and build strong connections within the industry. If you’re in this stage already and looking to strengthen your cannabis network but are unsure how to do so, attending a local networking event can help establish yourself in the industry more quickly. 

Growth Phase 

Once you establish yourself in the cannabis industry, you may think you’re done. And for some, they are. However, most people will want to expand their careers beyond their first or second entry or mid-level position. 

In the growth phase, the goal is to continue furthering your skills and maintain healthy career stability and progression. Growth isn’t linear and doesn’t necessarily mean chasing a promotion. When in the growth phase, instead you define what growth means for you.

For some, this may be as simple as taking online courses or joining a MasterClass to further develop your skills. For others, it could involve starting a new entrepreneurial venture or accepting leadership roles at their company.

While in this phase, it’s likely that you accept a couple of promotions and corresponding pay increases. If you feel like you’re not progressing in the ways you want, this stage can also be a great time to determine if you’ve outgrown your current position or company. If so, the next and final stage may be where you find yourself next. 

Transition 

With every chapter comes an ending. Turnover is a major challenge for most industries, and the cannabis industry is not exempt.

Throughout your cannabis career journey, you may find that the role you’re in is no longer suited for your passions and skills. That’s okay!

The transition phase is one that you can revisit at any point in your career journey, regardless of if you’ve been working in the industry for two or ten years. Transition has less to do with the cannabis industry and is more of an internal shift within you. You may come to a point in your career where you’ve reached the point of letting go and starting anew. We’re here to empower you in doing so!

Starting over to follow a new path is not only expected, but it’s encouraged. The cannabis career journey is not a linear path, and transition is just part of the process.

Cannabis Career Resources 

If you find yourself in a transition phase and are unsure what comes next, don’t panic! Regardless of what phase of your cannabis career journey you’re in, our training center wants to help you along your path. 

Our resource library is full of articles, online courses, and free downloads for you to start your cannabis industry career anew, or for the very first time.