Formed in late 2017, CanMar Recruitment has been serving as a one-stop staffing and business solution agency for all aspects of the cannabis industry, not only in Canada, but around the world.
CanMar Recruitment is the vision of KD Khairah, the company’s Founder & CEO, building upon his past successes developing employment services in other sectors. Based in Vancouver, BC, the young entrepreneur says he saw the emergence of the global cannabis industry as a chance to provide those same staffing and businesses services to those who wanted to find a way to translate their skills and work history into the new cannabis space.
We saw an opportunity and a niche for staffing in the cannabis industry and we wanted to help people transition into the workforce.
“We saw an opportunity and a niche for staffing in the cannabis industry and we wanted to help people transition into the workforce,” says Khariah. “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the growth and foundation of a new and booming industry, and to help change lives by providing thousands of job opportunities. We wanted to be able to open up doors to these amazing companies and help eager job seekers connect with employers and find their forever home as well as dream job.”
Most cannabis companies will be looking to fill positions related to standard business functions, such as human resources, finance, marketing, sales, administration, transportation, quality assurance, IT, c-suite, scientific and others.
Although many often only think of jobs like growing or selling cannabis when they think of working in the industry, Khariah is quick to point out there are numerous other possibilities, just like any other sector. Right now, he says, some of the biggest roles to be filled are in aspects of the industry that often have no direct connection to working with the plant at all. So for those who are thinking of finding a place for themselves within this growing industry, he says now is a great time to dive right in.
“Most cannabis companies will be looking to fill positions related to standard business functions, such as human resources, finance, marketing, sales, administration, transportation, quality assurance, IT, c-suite, scientific and others,” continues Khariah. “If you have skills in any of these fields, you can consider a smooth transition. There are also a number of other roles more directly related to the weed sector that you could consider with the right transferable skills.”
The need for skilled workers and temporary staff is at an all-time high in order to support the production needs of the medical and recreational sectors.
Even with the current economic downturn due to COVID-19, Khariah says there are numerous opportunities in the cannabis space, especially as the industry sees record sales and enjoys a place as an essential service in most provinces, meaning growers, processors and retailers remain open even as other businesses have been closed.
“Despite lockdown restrictions, there are still over 800 jobs in Canada’s cannabis market, relating to cultivation, production, growing, marketing and sales,” he says. “The need for skilled workers and temporary staff is at an all-time high in order to support the production needs of the medical and recreational sectors.
“The Canadian cannabis industry has felt the pressure and strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” continues Khariah, “but has mostly managed to remain resilient and use their resources to the fullest by opting for delivery and online orders.”
For employers, CanMar offers what they call their Contingency Recruitment service, providing a hands-on approach to all steps of on-boarding new hires, from planning and consultation, sourcing, reference and background checking, to orientation and on-boarding and post-placement follow-up.
It’s our mission to help connect qualified, eager job seekers with companies looking to build their brands and continue growing this fruitful industry.
For employees, CanMar can help get your resume in front of numerous prospective employers in the sector. They walk applicants through a background security check, interview preparation, as well as post-interview debriefs to better help job seekers learn from and refine their own approach to job interviews.
With partners in Canada, the United States, and Europe, the opportunities continue to grow, says Khariah.
“For anyone interested in making the leap to the cannabis industry, now is a great time, especially considering stigma is decreasing and appreciation is growing for the plant’s diverse uses. We also recommend networking and gaining as much knowledge as you can through mainstream media about the industry.
“CanMar isn’t in the industry to find people jobs, we are here to change lives. Our passion is our people, and it’s our mission to help connect qualified, eager job seekers with companies looking to build their brands and continue growing this fruitful industry. We are here to create opportunities and connections resulting in a win-win situation for all parties.”
As the industry adjusts to the ongoing challenges with COVID-19, the Founder and CEO says he sees an enormous resilience and opportunity in the sector for those looking for a career change or a new challenge.
“If there’s a will, there’s a way, and this industry knows how to find it and execute to help ensure consumer needs are met and the industry continues to flourish. We are not at a standstill, we need to look at this pandemic as an opportunity to revamp and restructure our businesses to enable us to come up with innovate and customized ways to provide our services to the community, and continue to build the industry. This is the birth of a new era.”
CanMar Career Day
With this in mind, CanMar will be hosting a free virtual information and career day on Friday, July 10, 2020. Companies taking part in this first of its kind event for the cannabis industry will have the opportunity to present their companies and any current positions they have open to those who have registered for the event watching via Zoom.
This is a unique opportunity for those currently job searching to learn more about the cannabis industry as a whole, what the future looks like post-pandemic as well as being able to ask questions to industry experts via the online event.
Although the event aim is to connect employers and candidates, the free of charge event also welcomes those not involved in the cannabis industry as well as those who are not necessarily looking for employment at the moment. The event is open to anyone who may simply want to know more about the industry that is cannabis in North America.
CanMar Career Day will be taking place on July 10th, with registration required via Eventbrite – https://bit.ly/2CHdeih
A link and the schedule for the day will be sent to participants a week prior.
SPONSORED CONTENT: from CanMar Recruitment
