Starting a new job is exciting – especially if you’re interested in beginning a career in one of the fastest-growing skills in the United States job market.
The demand for individuals who have skills in blockchain technology is remarkably high. There are thousands of blockchain jobs out there, and plenty of employers looking to hire people with the right personalities and capabilities to get those jobs done.
Despite the wide availability of jobs in blockchain (along with other software development positions), it’s not simply a matter of polishing up your resume and handing it over to a recruiting agent. You’ll need to have the right skills in blockchain development to help you really shine during the application and interview process – and you’ll need to know how to market yourself, too.
If you’re interested in starting a career as a blockchain developer, you may want to consider these helpful tips.
What is Blockchain Technology?
Although it may sound complicated – and truthfully, the process and technologies behind blockchain are relatively complex, requiring a certain set of skills and competencies – blockchain technology at its core is not that difficult to understand.
In short, blockchain is a type of technology that makes it possible for digital assets (or coins) to be transferred from one party to another. Because it is an instant and inexpensive process, it has grown to replace many of the transaction rates commonly charged by banks.
With blockchain, the chain of transactions is open and it is public to everyone, so everyone that is a part of the network is privy to where the money is, how much money is available, and whether the transaction is valid. Everyone has a copy of a distributed ledger, too.
Blockchain is a versatile career path in that it is diverse and applicable in most industries. Although many blockchain professionals will work directly in an information technology-focused field, many will also go on to work in fields like manufacturing, automation, management, supply chain, healthcare, real estate, banking, and more.
Blockchain is a field that has caught everyone’s attention, with major companies like JP Morgan, Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and more hiring blockchain professionals in droves.
Why such massive growth? There are lots of factors behind the explosion in blockchain careers, but part of it has to do with the rise in cryptocurrencies. All kinds of programs are now available to facilitate this, with exchanges and wallets in large numbers in Unocoin, Zebpay, Coinsecure, Coinmama, and more.
Why Should You Consider a Career in Blockchain?
If you have a passion for technology and aren’t sure what to do with it, pursuing a career in blockchain is a smart choice. There are many benefits to pursuing this kind of career path.
For starters, a career in blockchain technology means a lot of money – something we’ll tell you more about later. There is an excellent salary potential, particularly for individuals who aren’t even engineers or developers.
Blockchain also has an excellent hire rate. In every other industry, or so it seems, the hire rate is variable based on the current situation and the state of the market. Blockchain, however, is a relatively new technology, so career opportunities just continue to grow – no up and down fluctuation in the slightest.
There is also minimal competition for this field. Lots of jobs and very few people who want them? Seems like a dream – but it’s a reality. Blockchain in sophisticated technology and breaking into this field does require some hard work – but it’s far from impossible.
However, since this field is so new, many of the job positions are exclusive – chances are, you’ll be able to start your career from a top spot in a company, rather than having to slowly work your way up. You’ll be able to work with high-end professionals at major corporations like J.P. Morgan, IBM, and more.
What Kind of Career Path Could I Follow in Blockchain Development?
What Kinds of Companies Are Hiring for Blockchain Jobs
You likely won’t have any difficulty at all finding a rewarding career in blockchain – provided that you have the passion and prerequisite skills necessary to be successful in your job search.
There are four main employers when it comes to hiring blockchain and crypto professionals.
The first is at large companies, like accountancy firms, banks, retailers, law offices, oil and gas companies, and insurance firms. Since these companies deal with all manner of sensitive financial information, it’s crucial for them to have the technology to keep up with Joneses.
Startups also use blockchain. These companies are independent businesses that have been created since the invention of blockchain.
Similarly, tech firms often hire blockchain professionals, but for a different reason than you might expect – as blockchain takes over, these tech companies have the most to lose. Therefore, it’s essential for them to hire blockchain professionals so that they can glean as much expertise and knowledge as possible.
Governmental organizations frequently hire blockchain professionals, too. Many government organizations are warming up to the many opportunities that blockchain presents – they need crypto experts to advise them toward the best steps for their procedures and processes.
Whatever your skills might be and whatever your background might be, a career in blockchain could be a smart choice.
Blockchain Developer
If you’re interested in starting a career in blockchain, there’s a good chance that you’ll wind up working as a blockchain developer – this is one of the most common careers. A blockchain developer is somebody who has the expertise necessary to assist companies as they explore the many blockchain platforms.
You’ll need to have superior attention to detail along with training in various programming languages. You’ll be responsible for creating the applications for blockchain, after all, and you’ll usually need to have some background experience with programming languages like Javascript, Python, and C++ as a result.
Blockchain Project Manager
A blockchain project manager is someone who will work to connect blockchain projects to experts who can appropriately develop blockchain solutions. You’ll have all the skills of a traditional project manager but you’ll also need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with technical know-how.
Blockchain Solution Architect
A blockchain solution architect is someone who will be responsible for designing blockchain components with experts like developers, UX designers, and network administrators. You’ll essentially serve as the bridge between all of these professionals, working to connect each one with the solutions they need.
Blockchain Advisor
As a blockchain advisor, you’ll assess your goals and create a plan for the future. You’ll need to be able to identify and analyze how a company works and what they should do to be successful in the future.
Blockchain UX Designer
A blockchain UX designer is someone who will be able to create a user interface that is attractive and also reliable. You will be tasked with making sure the platform inspires trust and is easy to use for the ultimate end user. You’ll have to have many of the technical skills necessary for other positions in blockchain, but you’ll also need to be hardworking, artistic, and have great attention to detail.
Blockchain Marketing Specialist
Another career option is as a blockchain marketing specialist. You’ll have to understand basic blockchain technology and teach these skills to other users in the market. For one of these careers, you’ll also need to have an understanding of consumer behaviors and market factors.
Blockchain Legal Consultant
As a blockchain legal consultant, you’ll need to have excellent communication skills. You will also need to have a good understanding of both domestic and international law, as blockchain is a technology that truly spans all borders. A blockchain legal consultant will help companies understand what considerations need to be made while they are investing and launching new blockchain technology.
Blockchain Data Scientist
If you choose to become a blockchain data scientist, you’ll be required to analyze, collect, and interpret a large amount of transnational data that exists within the blockchain’s massive ledger system.
Blockchain Quality Engineer
Quality assurance engineers are necessary in any development environment, as they will need to make sure all project components are of the utmost quality and ready to be launched. In blockchain, this is true, too, except a blockchain quality engineer will make sure all operations are ready to go within the blockchain development environment.
If you pursue a career as a blockchain quality engineer, you will likely conduct all automation and testing of blockchain frameworks.
Blockchain Technical Recruiter
HR meets big data in this job role. As a blockchain technical recruiter, your job will be to recruit potential employers for the whole range of blockchain solutions. You’ll have to have all the interpersonal skills of an HR manager along with a thorough understanding of blockchain technology.
Other Jobs in Blockchain
The list of options doesn’t end there, of course. With training and skills in blockchain, you can also pursue a handful of other roles. Some of the most common include those in accounting, public relations, machine learning, marketing, and management. You could also work as an analyst, crypto broker, ICO advisor, crypto journalist, and more.
Education Needed to Earn a Blockchain Career
It might seem as though all you need to earn a career in blockchain is to spend a few hours in front of the computer, teaching yourself the prerequisite skills. While that’s partially true – the job sector is relatively new and uncharted. Therefore, you’ll need to play around and try new things as you embark on this exciting career path.
For many years, a college degree has been considered the natural precedent for getting a good job. Get good grades, network, study in an in-demand field, and once you graduate, you’ll land a job with a high salary.
This has changed, of course, as many college graduates now finish their degrees saddles with massive debts. Other students finish their degrees unable to find a lucrative job that is actually related to what they studied in school.
Your career path when you embark on your blockchain journey, therefore, will be a bit different than the career path followed by professionals in other niches – or even other technology entrepreneurs who came before.
What’s more important than a degree in blockchain is the proper attitude. To be successful, you will need to be committed to constantly improving your skills, as blockchain is constantly evolving. The traditional education process will be a thing of the past. You can certainly pursue a professional training program in blockchain, but more likely, you’ll be piecemealing together various skills as you build your training and expertise,
For starters, you’ll want to have a good understanding of the core features of blockchain, from Daaps to decentralization and Smart Contracts. You’ll also need technical skills in distributed ledger technology. You’ll want to train yourself in Solidity and JavaScript, along with as many programming languages as possible.
Again, you can piecemeal these skills together, or you can pursue a degree in computer science or a similar major (like software development). You can also join a quick professional course instead of pursuing formal education, too – or you can enroll in an online education and study at your own pace and from the comfort of home.
Many blockchain professionals will also receive training in cryptography. This will only make you more marketable as you are starting a career in blockchain. Large organizations depend heavily on cryptography to keep assets secured. Therefore, you may want to consider taking a few higher-level cryptography courses, either from online sources like Coursera or Udemy or by taking a course or two as part of your university program.
Distributed computing theory is another field you’ll want to become well-acquainted in. You need to understand how major blockchain issues affect all users, organizations, and the rest of the world. Understanding how blockchain and its related issues affect others across sectors and industries is vital if you want to be a successful, well-informed blockchain professional.
Most importantly, though, you’ll need to know the code. Blockchain is a software technology, so coding is the most important component. After that, building a basic blockchain is easy.
Tips for Finding Blockchain Jobs
There is no single, clearcut pathway that every blockchain professional should follow when charting their own way. In fact, a traditional path might not be appropriate when you’re pursuing a career in blockchain – you’ll need to get a bit more creative as you begin your job search and build your portfolio.
There are, however, some simple and universal steps you can take to make finding a job and building a career a bit easier.
Learn the Basics and Fundamentals
Step one in earning a job in blockchain? Acquaint yourself with the fundamental skills and basic components of blockchain technology. This is a step you really can’t skip. If you don’t know the fundamentals, you won’t be able to dive into the technical aspects. Teach yourself everything you can or enroll in a formal program of study to do so.
Develop Some Cross-Discipline Skills
You’ll also want to learn some other skills that don’t necessarily fall under the blockchain heading. These include soft skills (such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, analysis, and critical thinking) along with skills in other technologies like DevOps. You need to have skills in blockchain and be a well-rounded professional in order to truly be successful in this field.
Having skills in business is also vital, particularly if you want to pursue a high-profile job at one of the major companies listed above. When you’re working with blockchain, it’s important that you take all of the needs and aspects of a company into consideration.
Knowing how to communicate value is also important. Sure, you can code blockchain solutions faster than anybody you know – but can you relay this information to people who might not be as technically savvy? It doesn’t matter how talented you are – if you can’t communicate that value to stakeholders, you’re not going to be successful in your career.
Consider an Enterprise Blockchain Certification Course
If you’re new to blockchain – or simply want to explore potential blockchain career opportunities – you might want to take an enterprise blockchain certification course. This will teach you the major features of blockchain as well as its impact on the larger business world.
You’ll learn about the many blockchain platforms along with various tools and use causes. You’ll be exposed to platforms like Corda and Ethereum, too, giving you valuable lessons and tips so you can clearly understand all of its potential implementations.
A blockchain certification course will not only help you learn about relevant topics in cryptocurrency and blockchain but it will also give you a clearer understanding of how blockchain can be implemented in the real world.
Network
Leverage your position in the blockchain community. Take part in as many projects in blockchain as you can – they will not only provide you with relevant and crucial on-the-job training, but they will also acquaint you with other professionals in the industry. Networking is key for finding a job in any field, but especially in the fast-growing tech world.
Build a Resume
A detailed, quality resume is essential when searching for a job in any field. Blockchain is no exception. You’ll want to develop a resume that highlights your skills along with the experiences that you will draw from once you gain a job as a blockchain professional. Make sure that your resume highlights your technical skills along with your soft skills (such as problem solving and communication), too.
Search for Jobs
If you’re pursuing a technical position in blockchain, your career path will be similar to one that you would follow if you were interested in a career in software development. You can check out traditional jobbers, like Upwork, Ripple, AngelList, and LinkedIn. There are even some job boards out there that cater specifically to blockchain professionals, so don’t overlook those, either.
Make sure your portfolio and resume are up to snuff, both those that you have on paper as well as what you might have posted online via websites like LinkedIn. In this tech-oriented field, this is how many blockchain professionals end up getting hired.
Start Your Own Business
If you are a blockchain professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, you might want to consider starting your own career from the very top – you can build your own blockchain application. You can go about this via traditional venture capital or by crowdfunding, but you’ll need to have a clear statement and solution – along with a strong community around you, too.
Salary Potential for Blockchain
As with most jobs in technology, the salary potential for blockchain professionals is nothing short of impressive. On average, you can expect to earn anywhere from $55,000 to $146,000, depending on your skills, experience, and specific role.
These anticipated salaries are only expected to grow, too. Since 2017, blockchain has seen massive growth, with a 115% increase in blockchain careers, according to Burning Glass Technologies.
Even on LinkedIn, a common platform for job seekers, job postings in blockchain have increased from 1037 in 2016 to 4541 in 2017 – and that trend is amplified in years moving forward.
How to Start a Career in Blockchain: The Takeaway
Ultimately, starting a career in blockchain – just like starting a career in any other industry – comes down to putting in some legwork. You will not be successful if you don’t devote yourself to figuring out the proper steps in this rewarding career path. If you truly want to be successful, you’ll need to educate yourself and get certified, stay up to date with industry trends, and have a true passion for blockchain technology and crypto.
Of course, you’ll also want to stay flexible, as these carers come in many forms. Although the career you end up in may not be the exact one you envisioned yourself pursuing, it will likely be rewarding and lucrative nonetheless. Stay up to date with the latest developments, as blockchain technology continues to evolve on a minute-by-minute basis.
However, rest assured that blockchain is here to stay – and it’s likely to be in high demand for years to come. What better option is there for enjoying a lifelong career in technology?
