The Ultimate Guide to Building a Career in Web3
Unarguably, Crypto has become the fastest-growing industry with a lot of dynamism and diversity. From centralized platforms with doxxed Founders to decentralized ones - running under anonymous teams.
Irrespective of the industry's recent layoffs, the opportunities are immense, and the number of hires continues to increase - thanks to decentralization which has led to a daily churn out of projects.
One notable thing, though, is a talent shortage. According to Web3Career, the average salary of a web3 developer ranges from $100k - $120k per year.
However, the numerous opportunities go beyond programming. There are many non-technical roles as well.
For example, a marketer or recruiter in Traditional Finance won't have any problem switching to Web3. Traditional skills are well transferrable, and talented individuals have the sky as the starting point.
The industry has the lowest entry barrier and does not necessarily require school certificates or long years of experience for many roles. However, as the clock ticks, companies will begin to ask for years of experience in the industry.
If you already work in Crypto or have applied for specific roles, you will notice that a number of projects require a minimum of 1-3 years of experience. There are still projects that demand just "proof of work" or simply want to learn about whatever Blockchain experience you have - personal or professional.
If you're looking to make a career in the industry, Here are a few things you need to know:
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Get Basic Knowledge
The first logical step would be to have a basic understanding of the concepts of Crypto and blockchain. Of course, not all jobs require an in-depth knowledge of the most technical concepts, but you should be willing to learn about the industry's basic concepts. Feels awkward working in an industry you know absolutely nothing about, right?
The internet has a lot of free resources to get you started. You could head over to Binance Academy, earn some free Coingecko candies and use them in the store for the "How to Bitcoin," "How to DeFi," and "How to NFT" books, or take Bitville's Crypto Basics crash course.
Join Communities and Follow Leaders
There are a lot of local and global crypto communities out there. Virtually all crypto projects have communities, and immersing yourself will be an excellent way to gain knowledge faster, find a preferred niche, and contribute to growth which could, in turn, earn you some rewards or recognition.
As you begin your journey, you will need to learn and model after reputable leaders and mentors. Crypto Twitter is the place to be. I can only recommend a few, starting with Binance founder CZ, Pomp, The Defi Edge, etc. You could also streamline your following to leaders in the specific career path you want to follow.
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Have a genuine passion for the industry
While the industry is highly rewarding, its fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving nature requires a bit more than money as a major motivation. Younger people with little or no experience/solid portfolio in the traditional world may find it harder to break in, except if they are passionate about the industry. The reason is that the most critical activities that boost their "proof-of-work" might require them to volunteer or join unpaid internships at certain crypto projects.
Crypto never sleeps! The exhausting nature of the industry means you need genuine interest and passion to be able to find your place and thrive.
Volunteer
One of the easiest ways to get noticed is by contributing to a project's growth. Find a project of your liking, get in their Discord and Telegram, and contribute actively. Read their docs, write about them (via Twitter threads, medium, substack), make Youtube videos, simplify technical concepts and respond to people trying to get help within the community. If your name pops up frequently with helpful feedback, chances are you'll be among the first to be considered when they want to assign official roles or make a hire from within.
From free tokens to worthy mentions and paid tasks, I've personally benefitted from freely contributing to projects.
Volunteering also helps you quickly connect and gain access to industry leaders and talents that you usually wouldn't - thus, building your social capital. In addition, you learn more technical concepts and understand the industry's underlying infrastructure by getting directly involved.
Recently, BNB Chain launched a Student Ambassador Programme with great perks such as exclusive invites to events, meet-ups, access to BNB Chain team, internship program, and potential full-time employment.
Boba Network is also on the list of top platforms currently offering Ambassador programs with exciting benefits. Learn about Boba Network’s program here.
Binance also launched a digital skills scholarship program in partnership with leading universities, colleges, and vocational training providers.
Your contributions don't have to be limited to one project. Spread at first, then slowly concentrate.
Be a Self-Starter
While this isn't compulsory, it's an essential step for anyone who wants to get ahead. You should be able to take the initiative without needing instructions or external validation. Self-starters are the ones who dive into communities, pick up docs and break it down, analyze a particular product feature, provide data-backed feedback, and help community members with solutions.
In the end, they are the ones who get rewarded the most. So what do they say when "Luck Meets Opportunity" again?
Career paths in Crypto
Unarguably, Programming is the most in-demand job in Crypto. If you check out job-listing sites, they make up over 70% of available roles. When layoffs happen, programmers are the priority on retain list. If you can create the time, learn to code and put yourself on top of the list.
Other interesting and in-demand roles include:
Design - Graphics, UI/UX
Marketing/Sales
Product/Project Management
Content Writing
Financial/Data Analysis
Video Editing
Legal Services
Podcast Hosting
Community/Social Media Management
NFT Whitelist Hunter
Trader
If you are already a professional in any of these areas, you can start applying for jobs right away. Some roles may require you to take either "crash" or "in-depth" courses for a period of 6-12 months - you can certainly spare time to gain a high-income skill, right?
Crypto has a number of unconventional roles that are not exhausted in the list above. Eg. NFT Whitelist Hunter - thanks to decentralization and the industry's dynamic nature.
Where to find Jobs
Once you're done learning about the industry and picking a career path, there's a plethora of websites/communities to hunt for jobs. Here are some below:
The list is certainly not exhaustive of all the job boards in Crypto; however, it is more than enough to get your resume and talent in the eyes of HR and top Crypto companies.
One more - LinkedIn. LinkedIn remains one of the most potent sources to find jobs, but many people seemingly overlook it. It’s as easy as turning on job alerts for Blockchain roles that interest you.
While building your experience, remember to add it up and organize your resume/portfolio. Have it handy and updated for when opportunities come your way.
This guide is not limited to those looking to find a job. If your talent is well-suited, you could provide value enough to grow a community and eventually charge to host projects on your podcast, sponsor your content, etc. You could create an entire career for yourself.
I hope you find this comprehensive guide truly helpful as you find your place in this evolving industry.