Nail the Cannabis Interview: Top 10 Questions to Know
Working in the cannabis industry has many career advantages. Because these positions are unique, candidates need to be prepared for the right interview questions.
When interviewing for a high-level position in cannabis, preparation may look a little different from other roles. The cannabis industry is unique and still quite young, so there is an opportunity to use your experience to express creative ideas, showcasing your potential as a leader.
Here are 10 questions interviewees should be prepared to answer when interviewing for a cannabis position:
What do you know about cannabis?
Have you worked in the cannabis industry before?
What customer service experience do you have?
How does this position fit into your career goals?
What interests you about the position?
What skills would help you succeed in this role?
Describe a time you had to deal with a challenging situation at work.
What do you know about our company?
How do you deal with change?
What questions do you have about the role or company?
1. What do you know about cannabis?
The interviewer will almost certainly ask what you already know about cannabis products and the industry as a whole. The response should be related to what the position entails. For example, if the role involves explaining types of cannabis to customers, you will want to show a basic knowledge about the different strains and their uses.
2. Have you worked in the cannabis industry before?
A related question will be about work experience. Previous cannabis experiences will be a bonus. However, because the industry is still young, it may not be a requirement. Discuss similar positions and related those experiences to the position you want. Because you are seeking a high-level position, show the interviewer that you have relevant practice under your belt.
3. What customer service experience do you have?
Many cannabis positions deal directly with customers. If this is the case, be prepared to talk about customer service experience. Again, even if you do not have much in this area, spin experiences you do have to showcase why you would excel in the role.
4. How does this position fit into your career goals?
Be prepared to discuss your desired career path, including past experiences and future goals. Think about why working in cannabis will help you reach your professional goals. Do you plan to stay in the cannabis industry in the long-term? Or is it just a stepping stone to move elsewhere? Relate potential job duties to your career growth. Make it clear why you want this particular role and how it relates to your future.
5. What interests you about the position?
You may be asked what in particular interests you about the role. Be prepared to explain why you want to do the required daily tasks. What will you learn from them? Why is the position meaningful to you? And, talk about the company. Why do you want to work for them? How can you represent them accurately as a leader?
6. What skills would help you succeed in this role?
Make a list of all of your skills and strengths. Nail down a few that relate to the cannabis position. These could be tech skills, managing people, working with customers, being detail-oriented, and many more. This question is all about aligning your strengths with the role’s responsibilities.
7. Describe a time you had to deal with a challenging situation at work.
This is a common situational subject that is likely to come up during an interview. The interviewer will want to know how you deal with conflict, especially as a manager. Have one or two scenarios prepared and ready to discuss. What was the problem? What did you do to solve it?
8. What do you know about our company?
Always do your research about the company you are interviewing with. You want to show that you care about what they do and that you are familiar with their process and values. Otherwise, it will not be clear to the interviewer that you really want the job. Research what makes them unique and where they fit into the larger cannabis industry.
9. How do you deal with change?
One thing that is certain with cannabis is that the industry is always shifting. Whether because of new laws and regulations or in response to extreme upticks in demand, workers in this field have to be adaptable and flexible. Be prepared to talk about how you can respond effectively to change.
10. What questions do you have about the role or company?
Finally, make sure you prepare a few questions of your own. These could be related to duties, salary, benefits, work culture, employee structure, and more. This is your opportunity to assess the company to ensure it is the right fit for you. Remember that you are interviewing each other, and the process should not be one-sided.
When you are looking for high-level employment in the cannabis industry, consider working with a recruiting firm like Drive Talent. We specialize in aligning candidates to senior-level roles and understand the demands of this new and unique market.
Contact the Drive Talent team to learn more.