How to Get a Job in Web3 (And Build a Successful Career)
How to Get a Job in Web3 (And Build a Successful Career)
With or Without Experience
GM frens!
Web3 is eating the world. And all the brightest forward-thinking minds are making sure they’re on the right side of history.
Literally every week we see headlines of top execs from Google, Facebook, Amazon, and other web2 giants leaving the profit squeezing, public corporations for the greener pastures of web3.
But why?
When you google “How to web3” there is no answer. And that’s very exciting! When can you ever search for something the whole world is talking about yet find no playbooks? Never? Once in your lifetime maybe? Now’s the chance to join a nascent industry and become the smartest person in the room within the next decade.
It’s time for a change. As technology improves and spreads into more areas of our lives, we’re seeing the mistakes we made when building web2. While we can’t always get things right, now’s our chance to right the ship. Web3 aims to put control and power back in our hands instead of five giant corporations.
Massive financial opportunities. Let's be honest. Money is a big motivator. So when bright minds consider where to invest their time and effort they look for where the money is. I discussed this with a VC friend the other day who said that everyone is talking about crypto and web3. So it’s no surprise that’s where all the best talent is going.
But I’m sure many of you already know the why’s of web3 otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. That’s not what you’re here for. You’re here for the how. How to get a coveted job in web3.
The good news is we’re still so early, making now the perfect time to start building by getting a job in web3.
Let’s dive in. 🚀
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Who Can Find a Job in Web3?
In short, everyone! Web3 needs more talent in a huge number of areas from developers to customer-facing roles, like sales and customer support.
These are some of the most in-demand positions:
Finance Pros
Economists, analysts, former bankers, and investment pros are in high demand in web3.
We need more talented people to create the framework for web3’s economy and drive its underlying financial structure: DeFi. That’s why Wall Street employees are migrating to our promising new foundation of money.
In fact, I think one of the most important roles of the next decade will be blockchain analysts. These people will drive organization success by analysing on-chain data and reporting their findings. It’s also an important role for web2 companies who want to leverage web3 tech.
Engineers & Product Managers
People are leaving engineering roles and tech giants like Facebook (Meta), Microsoft, and Google to join web3 startups. Their goal? To truly drive product and design systems that we’ve never seen before.
On one hand we have various developers and engineers that design and build technology systems. And on the other hand, product managers who help tie technology to real business use cases and ensure excellent UX.
Designers & Marketers
Web3, perhaps more than anything else, needs people who can tell its story in a way that more people will understand and accept.
Marketers and designers in web3 have the vital task of improving UI and UX across the board while sending the right message to users. While web2 marketing and design principles will come in handy, web3 is a different arena, valuing community over traditional marketing.
If you want to become a web3 marketer or designer, get involved in communities on Twitter and Discord. Understand how your target audience enjoys communicating and interacting with projects, and then showcase your skills on social media.
Salespeople & Business Developers
Right now, web3 is all about organic growth. But to scale, we need structured sales teams who drive demand and on-board users and companies.
We need people who understand the processes and systems of web3 while also understanding web2 business development. In Web3, partnerships are essential. You can’t take a spray-and-pray marketing approach and hope to succeed.
That’s why we need sales teams and business developers to connect projects, helping to build out ecosystems and fulfil organizational goals.
Community Managers and Builders
Communities are the biggest unlock of web3 so, naturally, community management will be in demand.
But this isn’t only about social media and audience management. It’s about building symbiotic communities of like-minded people where everyone helps each other and is rewarded fairly.
Think of web3 community managers as the balancers who ensure we don’t revert back to the web2 consumer mentality. But instead keep the circle of reciprocity flowing between projects, contributors, users, members, and investors.
What if You Don’t Have Experience in These Roles?
These skills aren’t the only ones that web3 will need to thrive. We’ll need artists, journalists, recruiters, human resources, data center managers, and tons more to build a well-rounded ecosystem.
But even if you’re fresh out of college, never graduated, or have experience that doesn’t relate to web3, there are still plenty of opportunities.
You’ll find the best foot-in-the-door opportunities in web3 by joining DAOs. You can find them by searching through Twitter and Discord, or asking others in the space. Another option is to join a platform like Wonderverse that hosts bounties and tasks for top DAOs in web3.
Here, you’ll find public tasks that anyone can complete for a reward. But even if your submission isn’t chosen or it doesn’t come with a reward, you’ll still have some experience to add to your on-chain resume.
👉 Before jumping into the benefits of working in Web3, tell us... Would you consider working in Web3?
🚀 Reply below with Yes or No and let us know.
What Are the Benefits of Working in Web3?
Web3 is a huge wealth-building opportunity for people in nearly every industry.
But just like the early days of the internet, web3 tech confuses people, causing them to dismiss the entirety of blockchain, crypto, NFTs, permissionless apps, and decentralized systems in one swoop.
The key is to look beyond all the noise and see the bigger picture. If you can do this, you’ll find yourself in the top echelon of tech, helping call the shots of the future.
Here are some of the other pros of working in web3:
Remote work and flexible schedules are the norm. You won’t have to commute to an office or be tied to a particular location.
Opportunities for higher levels of compensation closer to the source of wealth—for example, ownership and equity.
People in web3 are passionate and believe in what they’re doing which makes work fun, exciting, and purposeful.
Decision-making is democratic, meaning projects have better community alignment.
You’ll have access to random airdrops, bounties, and opportunities to earn crypto, boosting your compensation outside of work.
There are thousands of global (and local) events and conferences where you can meet like-minded web3 people.
Web3 is breaking all the right rules around how people earn money and spend their time. It’s empowering millions of people to choose how they make a living, giving them options when they previously had few.
As Web3 attracts the smartest minds, it will undoubtedly have a juggernaut effect as they create a decentralized internet experience that we never thought possible.
Now it’s time for you to take action.
How to Land Your First Web3 Job
Look. I won’t sugar coat this, landing a job in web3 takes effort and transitioning into an industry without an existing playbook is tricky. But it also means you don’t have to get a formal degree or go back to school.
Here’s how:
1. Learn the Web3 Basics
You don’t need to be an expert, but getting familiar with how blockchain tech and crypto really work will place you lightyears ahead of the crowd.
First, you’ll want to map out the skill sets for your chosen career and figure out how you’ll build them. Start with the basics you’ll need to land an entry-level position and then make a rough plan for how you’ll continue upskilling yourself.
If you’re not sure where you want to go, you can check out our free Web3 Rabbit Hole Course. We designed it to cover the foundational components of web3, making it the perfect introduction. Plus, you get a free NFT for completing the course.
But it’s not all about knowledge, you also need experience so start interacting with web3!
Get your first web3 wallet and start playing around:
Find a crypto friend and send them a couple bucks so you can learn how transactions work.
Buy your first NFT from Opensea or Magic Eden. It doesn’t have to be expensive either, you can also get free participation NFTs called POAPs—like the one from our course.
Research some projects and invest a small amount in them (NFTs or crypto). Don’t worry about making money, though. Instead, think about why you like the project and use this information during interviews to show you’re an active web3 participant.
2. Join Communities
Communities aren’t totally unique to web3—for example, Adidas and Nike have amazing communities.
The problem is 99.9% of us are just consumers. Web3 flips this ratio, putting community members in charge of guiding a project rather than a senior executive.
That’s why joining communities on Telegram, Discord, Reddit, and Twitter can be a surefire way to get your foot in the door and start making a name for yourself. If you can offer value as an advocate on a protocol’s social channels, don’t be surprised if you get a job offer.
But how can you put your best foot forward?
Develop a personality and a presence in web3. Create a Twitter account and share your journey. Showcase any NFTs you bought or even use a CC0 NFT as your PFP. The latter is an excellent way to show your understanding of the “no copyright reserved” trend.
Analyze how communities function. Understanding community building is a massive asset, so when you join them, pay attention to the onboarding experience and daily interactions. Note down what you like and don’t like about them, so you can discuss it during interviews.
3. Start a Job Support Crew
Networking is key to web3 success, so find some accountability buddies and create a supportive mini community.
You can even start your own Discord where you share knowledge and motivate each other to succeed.
It’s not only about finding a job either. Once everyone is working in web3, you can leverage your support crew to find better roles or recruit your friends to your own project. In time, your crew will become your expert network where you’ll continuously learn about different aspects of web3.
4. Get Involved IRL
Yes, even though web3 enables remote work and you never have to work in an office again, it’s still important to touch grass and foster real-life relationships.
The good news is there are tons of opportunities for IRL meetups worldwide—for example conferences, meetups, hackathons, and events. Do a little research, and you’ll probably find your first meet up to attend in less than an hour!
And when you meet some new web3 frens, be honest with them about your goals. You don’t have to ask them for a job or beg them to mentor you. Instead, show them your passion for web3, share what you’re working on, and focus on building a long-term connection.
5. Put in Your Application
One of the main things holding people back from getting a job in web3 is the fear of not being good enough and, consequently, not applying for jobs.
I know jumping into a new industry can be scary. But trust me, web3 is much more open and inviting than web2 so you’ve got nothing to worry about.
To get a web3 job you can search traditional job boards and platforms like Workable and LinkedIn or web3-centric job boards like Cryptocurrencyjobs.co, or Web3.career. Another option is Pallet, a platform where people and organizations curate roles for their community and give applicants their stamp of approval.
Don’t just apply, though. You’ll obviously be up against tons of competition, so you need to find a way to stand out. One way is to find someone that works at that company and introduce yourself. Ask them if they’re available for a quick chat so you can learn about them and how they got into the industry.
Don’t ask for a job, interview, or recommendation. Instead, casually mention that you saw a job at their company and that you applied for it. If the person you’re talking to thinks you’re a good fit, they’ll find a way to help you out.
Join a GM Crew and Start Building, Frens
Web3 is a brand new industry. You have an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the brightest minds in the world—former AWS and Google engineers, Microsoft managers, entrepreneurs, Wall Street analysts, big tech CEOs, and many, many more.
But you don’t have to have experience in that world to succeed in web3. In fact, it’s almost better if you don’t.
Nat Eliason said it perfectly in his article, “The Generational Wealth Opportunity”:
“This is a radically different world than the headshots, LinkedIn, and resume world of Web2. If you’re not comfortable being interviewed by someone presenting as an Anime character and never having a voice call, you might be a little uncomfortable.”
This is exactly the change of pace many people are looking for. The opportunities of web3 offer millions of workers the solution to making a better, more passionate living. Except now they have the mild inconvenience of pondering how they should describe what they do to outsiders.
But from my perspective, the pros outweigh the cons 100 to 1.
Now’s the time to make the move, you can do it. Follow this guide and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Good luck. We believe in you, frens! ✌️
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jay Hamilton
Founder of Web3 Academy & Impact Digital Marketing
Find him: Twitter
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