How to get hired as a budget tender in Canada
In June, the Business of Cannabis estimated that the number of licensed adult cannabis stores across Canada rose about 126% over the past year to a whopping 2,046 coast-to-coast stores.
These are many options for job seekers looking to repurpose their existing retail experience, switch industries to pursue something new, or curious about entry-level positions in the burgeoning cannabis industry.
But before you quit your current job, you should know that most aspiring jobs require a basic knowledge of cannabis and all of them require certification that shows you understand the basics of cannabis and the laws that regulate them.
A number of complementary courses are designed to educate you about cannabis, and here’s what to expect from them.
Certification required in provinces and territories
CannSell Standard Certification covers the basics of cannabis, federal and provincial guidelines, common compliance issues, and the potential risks and harms associated with cannabis use. They also offer an expert course in cannabis history, genetics, cultivation, packaging and how cannabinoids work in the human body.
According to co-CEOs Jonathan Carley and Andy Deonarine, the number of students taking Ontario’s mandatory CannSell course tripled to over 26,000 in the past year.
Since purchasing the course from Lift & Co. about a year ago, they have smoothed out errors and payment processes on the online delivery platform and updated evolving regulations.
“Our goal is to provide the best user experience for the training we offer and to keep it updated and to bridge the gap between brands and budget tenders,” Deonarine said in a telephone interview.
“Ultimately, a lot of other companies come in or have been around for a while, but there is only one that is a single mandatory training program from AGCO.”
PEI and Nova Scotia also use CanSell, but otherwise each province has its own requirements. In Alberta the training program for Budtender is called SellSafe and in Saskatchewan it is called the CannaSell SK Responsible Cannabis Sales Training program. In BC, Selling It Right is offered through Responsible Service BC.
A Smart Choices Cannabis Retail Certification is required by The Liquor, Gaming, & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba prior to commencing work. Quebec has the Société Québécoise du Cannabis training program. The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation provide training through SkillsPass.
For those looking for budtender gigs in the north, the North West Territories offer in-house staff training. The Yukon has a Be A Responsible Server Cannabis (BARS-C) program, and Nunavut uses its own training program for cannabis retail workers.
Bonus points for educational supplements
In addition to the provincial requirements, budget tenders can complete additional training. Tabitha Fritz started her LevelUp online course after developing in-store budtender training programs and seeing a way to help employees better understand cannabis.
“You can present facts to someone and say, here are all the facts about cannabis, cannabinoids, terpenes, your endocannabinoid system, and concentrates,” she explained.
“But that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone digests and internalizes it. [This course] takes the learner on a journey through cannabis, how it works with our body and why it is so unique for each consumer. ”
There are many non-compulsory online courses such as educational modules from CannaReps, Cannabis Training Canada, the Cannabis Institute of Canada, and others that are available online.
Rather than investing too much in their own training prior to hiring, courses might be better suited for existing employees looking to take their skills to the next level.
Ask your employer to coordinate and invest in training or find out about group rates.
Don’t forget the importance of soft skills
Krista Raymer, co-founder of the retail consultancy Vetrina Group, said the education and training of budget tenders will continue to develop in the years to come. While cannabis concepts and products are a set of skills, she said soft skills should emphasize budtender training.
“One of the biggest trends I’d like to develop further is that we’re less concerned with transactions and more with the ability to sell and share product information that is relevant to customers,” she said.
Rather than simply recommending a product to a customer who stops by a store and makes a sale, Raymer says conversations can be broader and deeper, focusing more on the general needs a buyer wants to address rather than specific products.
“Our budget tenders can improve that experience,” she said. “There’s a big void in the industry right now in this area, and that’s because it’s really hard to do and it takes a lot of time and training. And since we’ve seen a very high turnover rate in budget tenders, it’s difficult to make this type of investment. “
Talk to your local budget tenders
After all, some of the most valuable budtender training can come from hands-on product workshops with brand reps or the chance to try products for yourself, according to Alex Pollard, one of the founders of United Weed Workers’ union organizers.
Some stores offer product discounts to employees, but it can get expensive for budget tenders, who make an average of $ 16.35 an hour, according to Indeed.
“Every store and brand tends to do things its own way, but stores that encourage brand reps and area managers to interact with and cultivate those relationships with budget tenders are really special,” says Pollard.
Before signing up for a course, talk to existing budget tenders to find out what they would have known before entering the industry and whether a course was worth it.
And remember, employers should invest in their workforce – always ask your employer to coordinate training on your behalf.
With files from Ashley Keenan.
By submitting this form, you subscribe to Leafly news and promotional emails and agree to Leafly’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages at any time.
Post a comment: