TABLE OF CONTENTS
A cover letter offers an easy-to-understand and comprehensive rundown of what a cover letter is, why it’s important, what to include, and how to stand out to cannabis hiring managers.
What is a Cover Letter?
We’ve all heard about the traditional resume listing our work experience, education, certification, and other relevant job skills, but not everyone has heard of or knows a lot about a cover letter for a resume. A majority of job applicants don’t provide a cover letter, even if it’s requested.
Whether you’re applying for a trimmer or dispensary position in the marijuana industry, including a cover letter with your job application and resume gives hiring managers a better idea of your personality, passion, and skills.
Don’t just write out 200 cover letters without considering the job’s responsibilities. It’s important to craft a unique cover letter for every job to let recruiters know you know exactly what the cannabis job entails and what prior skills make you the best for the industry position.
What’s the Perfect Cover Letter Length?
Cover letters give the company you’re applying to a snapshot of your life, education, and employment history. So, how do you condense your entire essence and being into a document and what’s the ideal cannabis cover letter length?
Cover letters should be between half a page to an entire page in length. Any more is overkill and any less may seem like you’re not taking the job seriously. Being brief, concise, and eye-catching can help you get noticed by recruiters who have hundreds of applications to go through and only a short amount of time.
Cannabis Cover Letter Format
How you express yourself through a cannabis cover letter shows how you will communicate throughout your job. While there’s no standard cover letter format, there are a few essential tips to structure your letter for maximum visibility and impact.
Generally, a cover letter for a job includes:
- Date and contact information – Include your name, city and state, phone number, and email address at the top of your letter. Then, skip a line and include the date you are sending the letter separate from your contact information. If you're sending your cover letter as an email, you won't need to include your name, address, and the date.
- Greeting – Address the person you’re writing. If possible, find out the hiring manager’s name by reading the job description or calling the company and asking. If you know the hiring managers full name, you can start off with “Dear” followed by their full name. If you absolutely can't find the hiring manager's name, it's okay to use “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear Dispensary Manager,” or “Dear Cultivation Manager,” depending on where you’re applying. Avoid using “To Whom it May Concern” since it can seem cold and outdated. a simple “Greetings” or “Hello” can also work.
- Opening paragraph – Introduce yourself and let the employer know why you’re excited about the job and why you’re the right fit.
- Middle paragraph(s) – Include the qualifications, skills, and accomplishments you have that relate to the position in one or two paragraphs. Here's where you can highlight a couple of skills and achievements in more detail. Always refer back to the original job description for important keywords to include in the body of your cover letter. When discussing work history, only include information about the past couple of jobs, at most.
- Closing paragraph – Close by explaining any unique circumstances you have such as job gaps and summarizing your career history. The closing paragraph should highlight the main reasons why you are the best fit for the job. As always, keep it short and make it simple. Make sure to thank the hiring manager who’s reading your cover letter for their time.
- Signature – Sign off with a warm and professional “Sincerely,” “Regards,” “Best,” or “Thank you,” and your first and last name. If you're sending in a hard copy of your cover letter, include your handwritten signature and your full typed name.
Cover Letter Font, Spacing, Margins, & Other Formatting Tips
In today’s highly automated world, sending a digital copy of your cannabis cover letter is the norm. That’s why it’s important to consider how cannabis companies will be receiving your letter. Many employers use tracking software to sort applications by skills, keywords, and more.
Font
In terms of font, always use a basic font like Arial, Georgia, Cambria, Calibri, Veranda, and Helvetica. Fonts should be easy to read, so choose a font size between 10 and 12 depending on the length of your cover letter.
Spacing
Spacing in your marijuana cover letter makes it easy to distinguish between sections and read quicker. For cover letters, use single spacing and include a space between each of the sections (contact information, greeting, opening paragraph, middle paragraph, closing paragraph, signature).
File Format
When saving your document, include your first and last name and the words “cover letter” in the file name for easier access by a hiring manager. Save your document in .doc or PDF format to be readable by an applicant tracking system.
Length
Ideally, your cover letter should be a single page with three paragraphs. If needed, add a second middle paragraph to highlight your skills. As always, try to keep things to the point while showcasing your achievements. A cover letter should be between half a page to a full page.
Margins and Alignment
Use one inch margins around your document and align your text to the left. If you can't cut down on your text going into the second page, try ¾” or ½” margins. Any margin smaller than this can make your cover letter look off.
Sending a Cover Letter as an Email
Many cannabis cover letters will be sent as an email attachment or in the body of the email. Compared to traditional letters sent by mail or in person, digital letters are slightly different. Here are a few things to keep in mind when sending a cover letter as an email.
Email Address
Consider your email address when sending it. Ideally, send it from a professional email address that includes your first and last name. If your name address is not available, try out a few combinations of your name and initials. Above all, keep it simple and free of numbers.
Subject Line
Aim for a subject line under 60 characters. Include “Cover Letter,” your full name, and the job title you're applying for. Creating a clear and simple subject line will help hiring managers sort through the various email applications for different positions.
Email Attachment
Since many companies block emails that contain attachments, only send the cover letter as a separate attachment if the company specifically asks for it in the job ad.
File Name & Format
Save your cover letter as a .doc or .pdf to preserve the unique formatting of your cover letter. Save your file as “First Name-Last Name-Cover-Letter” to make it easy for hiring managers to reference back to it when needed.
Email Body
If you're attaching your cover letter to the email, include a short message in the body of the email. Never send an email with a blank message. Something short and sweet can do the trick. Here's an example:
“Dear [Mr./Ms.] [Last Name],
I’ve attached my cover letter and resume for the [Job Title] position.
Let me know if you need any more information
Thank you!
[First name Last name]Email Signature
Finish off with a practical email signature to let the hiring manager know how best to get in contact with you. Here's an example:
First Name Last Name
Email address
Phone number
Check for Mistakes
When you're all ready to send your cover letter, double check the spelling, formatting, and grammar before sending it. Take some extra time to send yourself a test email to check if the file opens up correctly and everything is in order.
Writing a Cover Letter With No Experience
For many entry-level job seekers, it can be difficult creating a cover letter without any direct job experience in the field. Even without work experience, you can still craft a beneficial cover letter showcasing your soft skills qualifications. Soft skills are traits in your personality that relate to the job you're applying for.
Hard skills refer to the technical skills acquired through work experience or education. They may include cash handling, customer service, or cultivation experience. Soft skills include:
- Critical thinking
- Dependability
- Teamwork
- Empathy
- Effective communication
- Willingness to learn
Look back on your education, extracurricular activities, and volunteering and come up with a few of the most important skills you learned that apply to leave the position you're applying for. Hiring managers love to see applicants mats fit into the job and company. Many technical skills can be learned on the job, but soft skills are harder to teach.
Cannabis Cover Letter Examples
Here are a couple of examples of cover letters for entry-level cannabis jobs:
Cover Letter Example 1: Budtender
Johnny Budtender
555-555-5555
[email protected]
April 20, 2020
Dear Hiring Manager,
I’m thrilled to apply for the budtender position at [dispensary name]. I’ve worked retail and customer service jobs since I was a teenager and would love to help customers and patients find the right relief at your dispensary. I’m passionate about the cannabis industry and am knowledgeable about different strains, products, and consumption methods.
While working for [company name], I went above and beyond to help customers find the right product for their specific needs. I was voted Employee of the Month for five months out of the year and helped develop new retail practices to improve our customer service and efficiency. I love meeting new people and assisting customers through vast product selections.
I’d be happy to join your team because I value your commitment to patients, veterans, and those who need the medicine the most. I hope to grow my cannabis career with you and provide the best service for customers.
I am attaching my online cannabis certificate I have earned from Cannabis Training University. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Johnny Budtender
Cover Letter Example 2: Trimmer
Johnny Trimmer
555-555-5555
[email protected]
April 20, 2020
Dear Hiring Manager,
“
There are over 300,000 jobs in the cannabis industry. CTU trained me for one of them!
- Johanna Rose
Makes $24.50 @ THC +
I’m excited to be applying for the trimmer position at [cultivator’s name]. I’ve had a green thumb for as long as I can remember from my first raised garden bed at the age of five to my current cannabis plant I’m growing in the closet. I’m impressed by your company’s sustainable growing practices. I, too, employ organic methods to grow my medicine.
As a grower’s assistant at [company name], I was responsible for the watering and fertilization of the marijuana plants. As a harvesting associate, I was able to pick the most fruit consistently without sacrificing quality control. I have previous experience working in a greenhouse, indoor, and outdoor environments.
I'm passionate about regenerative growing practices and bring a solid understanding of the best way to trim a cannabis plant due to my cannabis education I learned from Cannabis Training University. I'd love to be a part of your cannabis cultivation team. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Johnny Trimmer
Learn How to Write a Cover Letter for the Cannabis Industry at CTU
Get your start in the business by learning all of the fundamentals of the cannabis industry with CTU’s online marijuana college program. Not only will you learn how to write a marijuana cover letter and cannabis resume, but you'll also learn about different sectors of the cannabis industry to see which one you'd fit in best.
Don't wait. Invest in your cannabis education today! Enroll in CTU’s cannabis college.
Fred Hernandez
Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.