Blockchain jobs are in high demand. Interest in blockchain professions and occupations has skyrocketed since Bitcoin began rebounding towards the end of 2021. We wanted to give a fantastic resource on finding a job in crypto since Talent Protocol helps talent onboard into Web3. Many people have requested it, so here is the guide that will cover all you need to know about landing a career in crypto.

Before we begin, keep in mind that this post refers to working with crypto, blockchain, and Web3 interchangeably. The distinction is purely conceptual.

Trends in the Crypto Employment Market in 2022

Unsurprisingly, the blockchain sector expanded in 2022 according to all available indicators:

Growing Project Funding

Blockchain venture capitalists are putting a lot of money into it. Funding has surged by over 500% since the beginning of 2019 and around 1000% since the previous Bitcoin bull run! So naturally, where there is a lot of money, there will be a lot of jobs.

Soaring Job Listings 

The portal Cryptocurrencyjobs.co has seen its paid listings expand by 15X in the past year, indicating that job ads for blockchain jobs are surging. Indeed.com job ads have doubled in the last year, while LinkedIn’s paid US posts have increased by 600% yearly. Companies are recruiting like crazy wherever you look, and if crypto prices climb again, so will hiring. Of course, startups aren’t the only ones hiring. In the past, the Bank of England, the Mossad, and JP Morgan have all advertised blockchain-related employment openings. But it’s not only the posts that have gone up.

Skyrocketed Crypto Jobs Searches 

While posts peaked in early 2022 and have been steady or slightly lower since then, interest has increased this year. Since September 2020, crypto-related searches on Indeed have increased by 300%. Ten thousand new positions have been created in India, and experienced personnel attracts premium pay. The difference between the current recruiting frenzy and past increases in interest is that developers aren’t the only ones required this time.

Not Just Developers Can Work With Blockchain

Job opportunities in cryptocurrency and blockchain are rapidly spreading beyond software development. While IT-related employment continues to make up most job posts, Indeed has shown that non-IT-related jobs have grown faster in the previous year. In the crypto and blockchain industry, around one out of every two individuals works in IT, with the remainder working in marketing, sales, finance, accounting, HR, and operations. So, it’s very much the same as in any other business.

One element, though, is distinct: the culture of remote work.

The Trend Is Toward Remote Work

Many people, in addition to developers, work from home. For Web3 startups like Talent Protocol, this proportion is probably significantly more remarkable. With a few significant exceptions, such as Aave, which has offices in London, most of the DeFi (Decentralized Finance) space works remotely. 

We all know that interest in crypto employment is rising, but why? Let’s have a look.

Why Do People Leave Their Jobs To Pursue a Career in Crypto?

In this section, let’s see why many individuals leave their jobs to pursue their crypto careers.

What do the Statistics Show?

A Web2 escapist (believe it or not) wrote a nice story for Business Insider about how he left his early adopter tech company position to seek a career in Web3. He gave two explanations for this:

• Because transaction costs are cheaper currently, Web3 enables you to sell your skills directly, allowing you to start your micro-economy if you have a helpful ability. Once these middlemen are removed, you gain greater authority and ownership of your work.
• Many cryptocurrency startups have no final product. Instead, the objective is to establish, record, and trade asset ownership without the need of any third parties. As a result, you have more creative flexibility and are doing great stuff.

Then there’s the reality that Web3 offers more income. According to AngelList statistics from 2018, the median salary for technical and non-technical occupations in the United States was 10% higher 2018. Given that the data is old and the space industry is expanding, that amount will most likely be at least as high in 2022.

Web3 is likewise remote-friendly, as we’ve seen. In the same 2018 data set, 37% of occupations were labeled as remote-friendly, compared to 14% of jobs. That number is likely to be greater for both post-Covid.

First-hand Understanding

On a personal level, there are various reasons why someone would begin working with Web3. For starters, the atmosphere is ideological, and individuals are convinced that they are part of a more significant movement that will transform the world. Most conflict or rivalry is lighthearted since everyone feels like we’re all in this together. Third, someone else’s success can genuinely benefit your firm, implying that you support one another. Finally, you have the unmistakable sensation of being engaged in a big project.

The community is filled with individuals mainly driven by a desire to create something extraordinary rather than make money. It is probably comparable to established companies, except in the Web3 arena, the bonding around a shared idea is deeper. Unfortunately, politicians and the general public’s lack of knowledge of the space reinforce the fortress mindset while impeding its widespread acceptance.

Finally, Web3 is, without a doubt, very fast-paced. Trends emerge in no other industry and then go away in days. Veterans in the sector shrug when prices rise or fall. Something happens every day that brings you immediate satisfaction while keeping you engaged at work since the same thing can happen to your work project.

Cryptocurrency Careers: Examples of Entry-Level Crypto Jobs

You usually think of a developer when you think of an entry-level crypto job. True, but there are a lot more choices. Crypto careers for beginners include:

1. Blockchain Developer

Many Web3 businesses begin by creating a minimum viable product (MVP) that answers an issue and then soliciting community input and testing. But, of course, the most well-known and desired position is blockchain developer. Developers are the ones who code the programs that everyone uses to make the whole thing work in the first place. That’s why many early-stage Web3 companies are made up entirely of developers.

Required Skills

The coding skills you will utilize will be determined by the job. Then, the solution is created, but imagine Smart Contract Development (Solidity, Rust) as well as some more recognizable ones like frontend (React, Vue, etc.) and backend frameworks (nodejs, python, ruby, etc.), REST, RPC, GraphQL, and others.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Depending on your skills and expertise with blockchain coding, you can expect to earn between $170K and $200K.

2. Blockchain Analyst

Analysts for blockchain come in a variety of forms. Analysts collect, organize, and manage data and link the product team to client information. These positions will be comparable to business intelligence positions in other IT or financial companies. You’ll need to move to a more prominent company like BlockFi or a well-established FinTech company that uses blockchain technology to work as one.

Required Skills

Experience in data analytics and business intelligence, and data visualization technologies. Python, SQL, and PowerPoint are all required.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Depending on your seniority and the organization’s size, you might earn anywhere from $50K to $150K.

3. Blockchain Marketer

Writers, community and social media managers, and business development managers are examples of roles that fall under blockchain marketers. They combine the skills and responsibilities of these three professions to drive the creation and implementation of marketing initiatives, build strategic alliances with other projects, plan and host events, and manage entry-level employees that perform the grunt work.

Required Skills

You’ll require marketing experience, especially with cryptocurrency. Good crypto marketers know tiny distinctions between projects and learn how to plan and execute campaigns. While conventional web and crypto marketing overlap, the blockchain ecosystem mainly depends on social media and community development through channels like Telegram and Discord.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Depending on their expertise, marketers might earn anywhere from $50K to $150K per year.

4. Blockchain Content Writer

A content writer creates written material for the project’s website and social media platforms to boost exposure and engagement. You write and proofread articles, social media postings, press releases, website text, and internal communications. A technical writer differs from a copywriter in that they explain product features and create tutorials. A content writer position is more promotional and writes for a broad audience, while a technical writer is more informative and technical and writes for developers and investors.

Required Skills

You need to have writing experience. Being able to tell a fantastic story is incredibly useful and will set you apart from the crowd. Nothing enhances your writing skills like writing; therefore, if you want to be considered for this position, try explaining blockchain topics in articles, penning tweets, and practicing writing in various tones (more journalistic or more promotional). The ability to simplify complex topics would also help. Although SEO writing isn’t as vital as it once was, knowing the finest SEO strategies is still beneficial.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

You can earn anything between $5K and $45K per year, depending on whether you work part-time or full-time.

5. Blockchain Community Manager

Building and cultivating a community is critical to a company’s success since grassroots movements found many blockchain firms. Although community managers are entry-level crypto professions, becoming a competent community manager can be challenging. Community managers are the initial point of contact for fans, token holders, and prospective purchasers. By choosing the correct moderators for Discord and Telegram, arranging events, listening to and participating with the community, and connecting with the rest of the team, a good manager establishes a connection with several groups. Depending on the function, a community manager may also manage social media profiles and create information there.

Required Skills

Patience, excellent communication skills, creativity if the content has to be generated, and being a “people person” while only engaging with others through message are necessary qualities. If not required, experience with forum moderating or anything similar is beneficial. As the community will, it would also help if you keep up with the most recent crypto trends and advancements.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Community managers can earn anywhere from $40K to $100K depending on their experience and if they are in charge of a larger project’s social media and community strategy.

6. Blockchain Product Manager

This position is comparable to product managers in non-blockchain companies. Product managers examine and enhance current consumer behavior and product functioning, design product development strategies, and oversee the development and deployment of new features. In general, you’ll assist the developers in putting what the marketing team tells you the customers want into action. Senior jobs are more concerned with establishing a team and a culture that understands what the organization is attempting to accomplish than doing hands-on work.

Required Skills

Interpreting and converting consumer desires and behaviors into actual items that they can utilize is what product design experience entails. It is a position for designers (at the entry level). Senior product managers should have a track record of creating successful products and an explicit knowledge of turning an issue into a positive user experience.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Product designers can expect to earn between $170K and $200K.

7. Blockchain Business Development Manager

Blockchain BDs aren’t all that different from “regular” business development. You have a product that needs to be sold. The main distinction is that business development is primarily about project collaboration in the crypto world. Marketers and community managers acquire customers, but business development managers increase a project’s reach and exposure through executing partnership partnerships.

Required Skills

Negotiation, tenacity, narrative, and people management skills are essential sales skills. Strategic skills and the ability to lead other BD managers are also required in more senior jobs. Remember that the bulk of sales is done online.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Depending on seniority and the number of sales completed, salaries range from $40K to $200K.

You’ll Need Certain Skills to Acquire a Career in Crypto

Let’s speak about how to obtain these jobs now that you know what they are. We can split skills into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. First, a few words of general advice:

Most of what you learned in university will be meaningless if you search for an entry-level job. Only IT and Computer Science plus some economics (to understand market dynamics and token incentive systems) would be helpful. You can gain more valuable skills by trying things out, educating yourself, and engaging in the space.

Experience is precious in senior-level roles (and everyone else too). If you’ve never worked in the crypto field before, you’ll have to relearn many things, especially in areas like marketing and communications. On the other hand, technical skills are more adaptable.

Companies do not openly instruct you, but they do it indirectly. So unless you’re a crypto OG, and few have been around since 2017, much alone earlier, you have a lot to learn, and regardless of your area or background, you’ll learn on the job.

Hard Skills

The job you’re applying for will decide your hard skills. Do you want to be a programmer or coding, preferably in Solidity? Are you a product manager or designing a product (transferable from non-blockchain work)? Are you a marketer or creating and carrying out marketing programs? Most challenging skills have their own “crypto twist,” but just a handful are unique to this field. You’ll also need an essential awareness of how blockchains function and, ideally, knowledge of the sub-niche you’re working in (NFTs, DeFi, exchanges, etc.). Only crypto veterans have adequate experience in the field. Everyone else will have to learn on the job eventually. Even still, some crypto user experience is strongly recommended.

Soft Skills

Has “rapid learning and adaptability” previously been mentioned? If not, this is the most important soft skill you’ll need daily. Cryptocurrency evolves at a breakneck pace, making it tough to keep up with every new development. You’ll learn many new things, so be modest about what you don’t know.

You should, of course, be enthusiastic about the field. Be prepared to meet some passionate folks since crypto is virtually a way of life and, in some ways, almost a cult at this point. On the plus side, it outperforms all other industries in camaraderie and bonding. There will be a lot of “only in crypto” moments.

Finally, since so much of the industry is fragmented and distant, being self-motivated and autonomous is essential. On the one hand, you have the freedom to work whenever you choose. On the other side, you may work whenever you choose. Remote and asynchronous work is the norm for startups, which is also prevalent in larger companies. Remember that before touting remote work to be the best thing since sliced bread.

Qualifying Criteria 

Web3 startups provide first-hand knowledge from both the company’s and the candidate’s viewpoints. According to them, three things are most important: specialized skills, soft skills, and cultural fit.

If you wish to work for a DeFi protocol, the founders would most likely prefer someone who has prior DeFi expertise or is a frequent user. Knowing your sub-niche and having a hands-on understanding of your hard talent, such as coding or marketing, are examples of specific skills. Demonstrable niche knowledge goes a long way, and if you can combine information with your talent, maybe via a programmed application or prior project promotion experience, you’ll be great. You should also anticipate a trial exercise to test your understanding during the recruiting process.

Soft skills include being an excellent communicator, critical thinker, and collaborator. There are no particular recommendations in this section. During the interview, most companies will do a screening for this. It should go without saying that being comfortable with remote work is essential.

Being in sync with the company’s goal and work culture means being culturally fit. Because each business is unique, you’ll have to see how you get along with the entrepreneurs throughout your interviews.

The Recruitment Procedure

Getting employed in crypto is comparable to getting hired in ordinary companies from the candidate’s viewpoint. In your cover letter, you may be more creative and easygoing. Because the whole sector is pretty casual, establishing that you “speak crypto” is not an issue. However, this does not apply to larger companies. In that way, they’re relatively similar to traditional financial companies. Besides that, anticipate a few rounds of interviews, maybe with some exercises thrown in for good measure. You won’t be asked, “how does Bitcoin function,” but you can expect to be quizzed on your expertise in the industry. It’s better to be upfront about your lack of knowledge. In most cases, recruitment takes place within a few weeks.

Where Can You Look For Crypto Jobs?

Networking

Because crypto is mainly based on Twitter, this is your most excellent option for being employed. Write tweets or blogs that illustrate your expertise or, at the very least, the learning process to establish a track record. You can reach out to initiatives on Twitter and offer to volunteer while you’re studying. Smaller businesses, in particular, would appreciate any assistance. Discord servers are an excellent learning tool and a great way to interact with individuals in the area while also learning a lot. It’s a good idea to join a few Discord servers for projects you like. In general, anything that attracts attention to you or establishes a track record, no matter how little, will be important later on.

Cryptocurrency Job Boards

There are a handful of good crypto job boards that can help you locate work and figure out what skills are needed:

1. Cryptojobslist.com (Because of the frequent updates and abundance of information, this is the best job board)

2. Cryptocurrencyjobs.co (It’s just as excellent as the first one)

3. Crypto.jobs (Regularly updated, but with a bad user experience)

4. Crypto-careers.com (Updates are semi-regular but not as excellent as the others)

5. Pompcryptojobs.com (Updates on a semi-regular basis)

6. Angel.co/company/crypto/jobs (Excellent, but only available in the United States, and an account is required)

7. Cryptojobsdaily.com (Updates on a semi-regular basis)

8. Laborx.com (Crypto freelancing board)

9. Jobs.defialliance.co/jobs (Jobs in decentralized finance are available)

Other Options

You can also hunt for freelance work on Upwork, but be aware that the pay will be minimal at first. Braintrust, a decentralized Upwork for freelancers, is a far superior option. Another helpful method is to go to CoinmarketCap and verify which projects hire coin by coin (quite a few will be).

Which Crypto Companies Are the Greatest?

Since “the greatest” does not exist, it depends on your desires. At both startups and larger companies, expect to put in long hours. Small projects will have a casual atmosphere, almost as if you were working with friends. They’re also more receptive to, and even dependent on, guerrilla marketing and non-traditional marketing techniques. On the other hand, working for a cryptocurrency or blockchain-related “tradFi company” will be a completely different experience. It all comes down to whether you want the complete crypto/Web3 experience (small business) or to be in the industry (more prominent company).

The Greatest Crypto Learning Materials

The irony of the crypto/Web3 sector is that it’s all about decentralization, yet beginners would benefit from a centralized, easily understandable resource. Here are a few good resources for beginners:

1. 3Blue1Brown explains Bitcoin: One of the most well-known Bitcoin explanatory videos is this one (10M views).

2. YouTube Channel of 99Bitcoins: A thorough resource for learning about Bitcoin’s fundamentals.

3. YouTube Channel of Finematics: The channel includes fantastic visual explanation videos on decentralized finance and other relevant topics.4. Ultimate Guide to the Bankless DAO: Detailed how-to tips on using and learning about Bitcoin.