Find Your Dream Job In The German Cannabis Industry

The German cannabis industry is just getting off the ground. As a response, recent industry-focussed conferences were held in Berlin this past April and June.

Now, it’s the government’s turn to react.

A new, cannabis-specific jobs board has just been launched thanks to new legislation. It lists positions with companies now entering the legal cannabis marketplace.

Although the website may be called “Cannabis Job Agency” or “Cannabis Arbeitsagentur,” it is actually not formally run by the government. The website appears to be focussed on private industry and startups, rather than government careers. So far, there is not a single government job listed on this site. At the moment, those positions can only be found on Bfarm’s URL.

This is interesting in and of itself.

What is even more interesting is the list of companies beginning to show up on the site. Keep in mind that this is all being established even before the winners of the first grow licenses are awarded later this summer. Cultivation is going to be the biggest source of new jobs hands down for some time.

No matter the stigma, cannabis is now a legal industry in Germany. The jobs board heavily promotes the concept of finding a dream job in a cool industry that has “potential.” A job, after all, is a job; and the German government now has its sights set on recruiting the most qualified candidates.

PROSPECTING FOR THE GREEN RUSH IN DEUTSCHLAND

As policymakers everywhere are finally realising, the cannabis industry is a career-maker. The plant requires humans to grow, tend, cure, package, distribute and sell it. There are now more high-octane opportunities available, from extraction to distribution. These are all decently paid positions. As a high-tech industry on the cutting edge of scientific development, there will be new opportunities coming. And soon.

Does this mean you should pack your bags and head for Deutschland now? Well, you could. However, be aware that there is already fierce competition on the lower rungs of the industry. Your best bet right now is probably in IT. This will also result in less hassle with your visa. Germany is fairly easy to enter and gain work if you have technical skills. Otherwise, you might be supporting your dream job as a waiter.

WHAT TO EXPECT NOW

There is no predominant position being advertised on the jobs board. However, many of the jobs featured right now are in weedtech or IT.

Growers, pharmacists, advocates and salespeople are all positions now in need of candidates. Interestingly, these include jobs in companies with international reputations.

For example, take several foreign importers and German vape manufacturer Storz and Bickel.

There are also lots of opportunities to write about cannabis. Additionally, promotional and marketing jobs have increased, as have lobbying jobs.

This is also just the very beginning of this industry. Remember that the market only got off to a running start in March. We are still only into the first quarter of the industry’s first year.

WHAT TO EXPECT VERY SHORTLY

This jobs list is about to expand rapidly in short order, and for a very simple reason. The government will be announcing the results of its bid for grow licenses. At this point, these entities will begin looking for actual production staff. If you are interested in entering the German industry, keep an eye on this list. Opportunities will mushroom from there.

This is good news for Germans now looking for a job in the industry. It is also rather handy for Auslanders looking for a way in. It is not always necessary to know German to apply for many of these jobs, but it is helpful. Many companies are also listing jobs in English.

Expect there to be a massive push toward cultivation as the industry gets going. For the moment, most of these endeavours are all going to be in the legal, medical industry.

That means opportunities for people with certain skills. Areas of immediate expansion will include compliance, supply chain management, and auditing. This is also true of the medical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as tech and business.

WHAT TO BE AWARE OF

The cannabusiness is a shaping market. There are many facets that still exist within the industry that are not entirely legit. Some "opportunities" that may find their way onto this and other job boards should be met with some skepticism.

While they may operate more or less legally, these jobs don’t represent the ideal method for breaking into the business. For example, home growing is an industry that will continue to exist in Germany’s shadows for some time.

If you are getting your start by selling home growing equipment, it is not technically illegal. However, recreational use and home growing are still verboten in today’s market. Simply be aware of the laws and repercussions associated with infringing upon them.

Ultimately, it is up to you to make sure that you are working for a legitimate company. There will be at most 10 licensed growers allowed to operate in Germany and they will be publicly listed. Other than that, be careful. Do your due diligence. This is actually one reason why it is better to find jobs locally than it is to search remotely. The danger here of course is that you might not get hired when applying from abroad. Being able to speak at least some German is a huge asset.

There are still a few negatives to listing weed jobs on your CV. With that said, the threat of reprisal is rapidly fading. Programmers, for example, that work for legitimate companies and who never make physical contact with weed don’t have much to worry about these days.

It is not what it used to be.

WHAT TO EXPECT

For the vast majority of job-seekers, you will be working in a startup of some kind. Some of them are more well-funded than others and some will be more legit. The best protocol to abide by is to do your homework. If they can make payroll, that is a good sign of a well-operating company. Common sense is always a good benchmark.

Check the websites of all the companies you apply to. Call the numbers they have listed. Send them an email.

You should also start to follow the cannabis industry in the press. This means either following the mainstream media or weed-specific news sites. This includes the “cannabiz news” section on the Cannabis Arbeitsagentur website.
Luckily, it is fairly easy to find additional resources online, although you do still have to look. The weed biz is still very much a niche industry that can be hard to crack.

Your best bet, at least for the moment, is to look for positions in bustling cities like Berlin. Although, more cities and towns are likely to encourage business in the coming months and years.

HOW TO SET YOURSELF APART FROM OTHER CANDIDATES

There are certain jobs which require skills that are easy to identify. Web programmers, for example, need to be able to code. Growers, trimmers and pharmacists also maintain job qualifications that are easy to quantify.

Beyond these kinds of jobs, the cannabis industry will begin to generate other opportunities that can be performed by people with crossover skillsets.

This creates more possibilities for individuals to find jobs they really value.

There is great need in the cannabusiness for workers of all education levels and specialties. Teaching people about the plant, its medical uses and how to use it are all necessary aspects of industry comprehension. This is also true of addressing latent stigma that continues to confront the industry today.

Seize the day.