Working With Weed: NJ Cannabis Dispensary Shares Tips For Job Seekers

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — There are no shortage of people trying to get their foot in the door of New Jersey’s burgeoning legal marijuana industry, it seems.

Nightjar – a women and minority-owned cannabis dispensary that is opening in Bloomfield – recently began gearing up for hiring at 549 Bloomfield Avenue. The target date for opening is “before the end of the year,” its partners said. Read More: Female-Led Bloomfield Dispensary Will 'Bring Cannabis Out Of Shadows'

The owners of Nightjar are now trying to staff up the dispensary, with the goal of filling about 20 full and part-time positions. Available jobs include “budtenders,” as well as inventory specialists, safety/security, supervisors and store managers.

So far, the dispensary has received more than 500 applications from a “very diverse” pool of job seekers, its owners told Patch.

According to Nightjar, there’s still hope of landing a job if you’ve never worked in the weed industry before. Only about two-thirds of the employees hired by Nightjar have cannabis experience, while the remainder are newbies to the business of selling legal weed.

That being said, many of those without cannabis resumes have gained relevant work experience in other fields. Some have done retail work at clothing stores. Others have worked as a server or bartender, or have seen “logistics experience” with companies like Amazon or UPS.

“More than any one type of professional background or skill set, we look to hire people who are empathetic, reliable and concerned with the world outside of themselves,” Nightjar COO Francesca DeRogatis said.

“We believe it takes all kinds, and that the best places to work encourage diversity of thought and experience in their workforce,” DeRogatis said, adding that the company is a big believer in promoting from within.

“The passion that exists in cannabis is like no other industry,” DeRogatis enthused. “When that passion is coupled with the right skills, a willingness to learn, plus the ability to be flexible in an ever-changing industry – that is where we see leaders emerge.”

• See Related: NJ Marijuana Jobs: Tips For Getting Hired In The Cannabis Industry
• See Related: So You Want To Get A Cannabis Job In New Jersey (What To Know)
• See Related: The 'Grass Ceiling': NJ Legal Weed Industry Needs More Women (Op-Ed)

Patch recently got a chance to pick DeRogatis’ brain, seeking advice for people who are trying to get their start in New Jersey’s legal cannabis industry. Here are the tips that she shared.

PATCH: As an employer, what are your biggest tips for people who want to get their foot in the door of the cannabis industry?

DEROGATIS: Step outside your comfort zone! Introduce yourself to people and shoot your shot. If you’re going to cold email a resume or even if you’re applying to a specific job posting, take the time to put together a few sentences on why your non-cannabis skills or background are transferable to the company or position. You don’t need a full-fledged cover letter, but I always appreciate some context from the jobseeker on why they think they’re a good fit. If you’ve taken it upon yourself to educate yourself on the industry or the products, be it formally or informally, mention it! That shows you’ve invested some time and effort into learning, and at the end of the day your success in the industry will be directly proportional to your willingness and ability to keep learning and changing. Things change extremely fast in cannabis, so the best thing you can demonstrate to a company or hiring manager is that you’re flexible and open to learning as you go.

PATCH: What are the biggest misconceptions that people have about working in the legal cannabis industry?

DEROGATIS: That everyone is stoned all the time and the atmosphere is very laid back. In reality, we’re only stoned some of the time, and it’s a highly regulated business that requires a ton of detail, documentation, and accuracy. Working with weed is very cool and a dream come true for a lot of people, myself included. But at the end of the day, it’s still a job, and a fast-paced one to boot. You’ll navigate the same challenges that any job comes with: periods of high demand, stress, disagreements with coworkers, on and on.

PATCH: What are the most rewarding parts about working at dispensaries like Nightjar (aside from the pay)?

DEROGATIS: There are so many rewarding parts of working at a dispensary. You’ll get to experience the unique pride of increasing access to cannabis, connect with like-minded folks, and help break the stigma of cannabis use. The top two most rewarding parts for me are the camaraderie of the staff and helping people find enjoyment and ease through cannabis. I’ve marketed and sold a lot of different goods in my career, and cannabis is definitely the most joyful and transformative.

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