A revolution in information exchange is being sparked by blockchain. Of course, cryptocurrency has brought it to the forefront, but many sectors are interested in it as a technology. The ways in which we track transactions, transfer ownership, and validate credentials are changing.
What is everyone so enthusiastic about, then? A blockchain's decentralized administration is just one of its many advantages; records are practically impossible to fabricate and there is no single point of failure, making it impervious to hostile attacks. You can see how the technology might be useful to businesses beyond merely crypto by taking into account the fact that fully secure and validated transactions and document sharing can happen in a matter of minutes, rather than hours or days.
It also explains why there is now a shortage of qualified blockchain professionals. According to a survey released by Indeed in August 2021, the number of job posts for blockchain professionals increased by 118% in just one year. The supply deficit is hurting salaries, which is good news for individuals wishing to enter this field. In the US, the average salary for a blockchain developer has risen to $145,000. (Note the connection with the range of $103,000 to $110,000 for the average base wage for a software engineer.)
So for anyone wishing to ride the wave that is sweeping the business world, a career in blockchain makes perfect sense. So, how do you begin?
Take a deep dive into the blockchain industry
As with any sector or technology, you must do your study and educate yourself before entering.
Many of the words, routines, and ideas will be unfamiliar to you even if you already work in software or IT. Additionally, knowledge, rather than talents, is what shines in an interview. When you're discussing blockchain's benefits with a potential boss, you need to be knowledgeable about both the terminology and the ramifications of the underlying technologies.
There are a few excellent methods for doing this, and they are not all laborious.
Join blockchain communities
Every day, new blockchain communities and organisations are forming. A Google search will turn up other results. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has compiled the information of a handful. Join a few. Get active. And take in the conversations and fads.
Start building your professional contacts
If you're not on social media, you should start. Connect with blockchain aficionados on LinkedIn and begin reading tweets about cryptocurrencies, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), smart contracts, and other related topics. Connect with them, engage with them, and learn once you've located the suitable people.
Attend blockchain-related events
The blockchain community is vibrant, and events happen frequently. You'd be shocked at how much is going on if you searched Google. The problem is that as soon as you start taking part in these activities, your network of contacts grows. Managers, developers, recruiters—all of them are there, and who knows? You might end up chatting with the upcoming unicorn entrepreneur.
Take the right skills development seriously
While you are learning about the sector and immersing yourself in it, you should also start technically skilling up. Among the fundamental ideas, you'll need to master are the following:
- Cryptocurrency
- Smart contracts
- Distributed decentralised ledger
- Mechanism for consensus
- Computerized sharing
These buzzwords cover essential competencies that you should start acquiring right away. Therefore, the ideal place to start is with a course if you aren't fortunate enough to learn on the job.
First master the essentials
If your free time is limited, enrolling in a self-paced
IBM Blockchain Essentials course that covers the basics of blockchain technology will let you learn at your own pace. The good news is that you don't need to know how to write or understand programming languages to get up to speed on this, so don't let that stop you from getting started.
After you have a firm understanding of the principles, search for programmes that will award you a credential that is recognised by the industry and hands-on lab experience. By doing this, you'll be developing your talents and obtaining certificates that you can emphasise on your resume and LinkedIn profile that you have learned from professionals.
Think about your blockchain employment options
It's helpful to know what career path you want to follow while you develop the abilities required to enter this industry. Consider the several work roles that are available for that. Some instances are:
Blockchain Developer
The
blockchain Developer position entails developing blockchain-based applications. It is by far the most sought-after position for qualified blockchain specialists. More than 18,300 jobs for this position were advertised on LinkedIn in the United States alone in March 2022.
Understanding blockchain architecture, cryptography, web programming, python, C++, and XML are prerequisites for being a blockchain developer.
Blockchain Architect
Connecting the many blockchain capabilities, tools, and solutions is part of your job as a blockchain architect, along with coordinating with other stakeholders.
React, Python, CSS, HTML, Data Science, DevOps, and cryptography are among the talents you'll need.
Blockchain Administrator
As a blockchain administrator, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the blockchain's complete architecture. You will need a solid grasp of server-level technology, virtualization, networking services, and protocols to accomplish this.
Blockchain EngineerHyperledger Graphic
You will be expected to design, develop, and implement blockchain-based solutions, such as smart contracts, as a blockchain engineer. Typically, to become a blockchain engineer, you will start as a blockchain developer.
Understanding Hyperledger, how to create decentralised applications using Ethereum, ICOs, and the financial aspects of blockchain will help you succeed in this position.
Blockchain analyst
Within this position, there are two main career paths: business analysis and risk analysis. A risk analyst investigates potential risk mitigation strategies while a business analyst develops acceptable business processes and does analysis of prospective areas for improvement. Both positions require a solid grasp of data science and blockchain technologies.
Manager of a blockchain project
A blockchain project manager serves as a sort of intermediary between the stakeholders and the blockchain development team. A blockchain project manager is hired by large software companies to oversee their blockchain development initiatives.
Along with having excellent project management abilities, a blockchain project manager needs to have solid blockchain fundamentals.
UX designer for blockchain
Your main responsibility as a blockchain UX designer will be to develop user-friendly user interfaces that keep users interested while using the platform. You must have a thorough understanding of how blockchain technology operates in addition to outstanding UX design abilities.
Choosing the appropriate blockchain career
Finding the ideal employment is the last step after you have gained the necessary skills and competencies. The need for blockchain experts is currently widespread across numerous industries.
Investigating websites like Monster, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor is a good method to find the ideal job. However, Crypto Boards are an additional choice. Dedicated crypto and blockchain job boards can be found on these sites, and whether you're looking for an entry-level position or a more specialized one, you'll find something to check into further.
Start building your blockchain career now
Learn more about blockchain technology if you're interested. After you have a firm understanding of the essentials, you can choose the career path you want to take. Success will then depend on your enthusiasm for the industry after you have acquired the necessary abilities. Put all of your efforts into it, increase your expertise, and you will undoubtedly have a successful job.