How to Build Tech and Career Skills for Web3 and Blockchain
Find out the tech and career skills needed to succeed in the era of Web3 and blockchain.
Blockchain-based businesses are sprouting everywhere as big-tech companies adapt their modus operandi and create new use cases throughout industries. Cory Hymel, VP of product at Gigster, explores the growing need for tech talent in this autonomous, decentralized, and transparent space to create digital products and services and why you should be part of this emerging universe.
Worldwide adoption has led to a steady but massive boom in Web 3 and blockchain. This has led to an avalanche of jobs as the demand for front-end and back-end developers grows by the day.
Emerging Career Opportunities in Blockchain and Web3
From the humble beginnings of the simple Web1 that introduced the world to emails followed Web2, an improved version of the internet that incorporated social media and the era of user-generated content. Blockchain and Web3 are relatively new and have yet to explore fully. They’re behind the explosion of NFTs, the Metaverse, virtual reality, and other 3D modeling technologies. While blockchain and Web3 are still in their infancy, the space harbors a wealth of exciting career opportunities and specialized roles.
The nascent blockchain and Web3 are a gateway to some exciting expert roles in the future. These include entrenched entry-level career opportunities and specialized tech disciplines like design, community management, data analytics, software engineering, web development, etc. The primarily untapped potential reasons are enough for anyone aspiring to gain a competitive advantage over their peers to scout the blockchain and Web3 market for various opportunities across the domain.
See More: Web3 for B2B: Hype Versus Reality
Why You Need to Watch the Emerging Web3 Space
By enabling users to share information and interact using audio and video images via an immersive 3D environment, Web3, the next generation of the internet, has received enormous interest from leading tech firms and venture capital firms. According to a report by Emergen Research, the global market size of Web3 is projected to grow by 43.7%, from $3.2 billion to $81.5 billion by 2030. Add to that the increasing popularity of blockchain and cryptocurrency, and you have a tech landscape that’s literally on fire.
It would be best if you considered acquiring tech and career skills in this space because as the next generation of the internet happens before our eyes, numerous big tech companies have taken the front seat and are looking for ways to utilize the technologies. The favorable investment opportunities mean that companies pioneering in the blockchain and Web3 fields are on a hiring spree. There’s now an increasing need for skilled labor to populate the space with new, innovative products and services to create new ways for web-based businesses and interactions.
Examples of Tech Companies Investing in Web3
While most blockchain and Web3 companies are usually startups, some established firms across multiple industries, including healthcare, entertainment, finance, and government services, have already claimed their space at the high table. Companies like IBM are developing tools and infrastructure for decentralized systems. Other prominent examples include:
- Amazon: Creating a service for developing blockchain networks that support private and public blockchains
- Sony: Plans to introduce crypto for in-game betting systems in eSports.
- ConsenSys: Offering consulting services for Web development teams, building applications on the Ethereum blockchain
- Netflix: The video streaming firm plans on using Web3 for a decentralized approach to watching the original content.
Other tech and fintech firms foraying into blockchain and web3 include titans like PayPal, Instagram, Meta, NVidia, Spotify, Alphabet, Unity Software, Steemit, Tesla, Apple, etc.
Is It Hard to Join the Web3 Bandwagon?
Newcomers would join a rapidly growing army of talented experts shaping the new technological landscape. The hype surrounding blockchain and Web3 keeps gaining momentum as users embrace the technologies changing how we use the internet. The effect is a greater possibility for Web3 careers to dominate the labor market in the next few years for anyone eyeing a career in technology before the skill gap grows smaller.
So, is it hard for a newbie to get into blockchain and Web3? Perhaps it is, but not necessarily. Like in all new spaces, you’ll encounter fewer guarantees since the workforce is still technically being developed, and the past to long-term career progression isn’t too clear. However, on the positive side, early birds will join the early professional cohorts while the job market is still less competitive than other tech disciplines. Since you’ll be up against fewer candidates seeking blockchain and Web3 roles, you stand a higher chance of landing a job and negotiating more lucrative remuneration offerings.
Tech Skills Required for Web3 Professionals
The growing demand for Web3 products by both developers and consumers offers credible evidence there’s a lucrative appeal for professionals. It would help if you learned to possess the requisite skills to help you land one among the existing jobs in the field. From application design and smart contract development to content creation, there’s a continually growing list of the broad categories comprising Web3 positions. Other types include careers in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) development, all of which require specific skill sets. The skill sets can be categorized into two:
Technical skills
You need two technical skills right now to qualify for a career in Web3. First is programming skills that include code writing if you’re interested in Web3 development roles for unique use cases like decentralized applications (DApps). The second would be knowledge of cryptography so you can get involved in jobs involving user data security and privacy.
Other technical skills you need for entry-level jobs in Web3 include blockchain basics & Ethereum, solidity, writing smart contracts, and front-end web development. You’ll also pick skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JavaScript Frameworks, etc., as well as marketing, sales, finance, operations, and analytics.
See More: Everything You Need to Know About Metaverse and Web3
Non-technical skills
While most salary estimates for blockchain and Web3 jobs involve developer tasks, several other roles don’t require expertise in coding. The non-technical skills necessary to build a career in this field include excellent writing and communication skills and the ability to work as a team. Since Web3 mainly revolves around decentralization, there’s every chance that you could end up working remotely with teams spread across vast geographical locations. As a result, you need to develop soft skills in addition to your technical knowledge. Creativity is essential to adapt to the constantly changing Web3 landscape quickly.
Fertile Ground for a New Career
Blockchain and Web3 aren’t overhyped buzzwords; they’re well-established tech spaces full of inexhaustible potential to alter how we interact with the web forever. The growing list of big tech players who have recognized the value of these emerging technologies and jumped in is enough evidence that it’s a safe field to venture into, as it’s here to stay.
There is a growing demand for Web3 professionals, and there’s every chance it will soon become a fertile ground for new career opportunities. With exciting projects, remote work opportunities, potential lucrative salaries, and a future-proofed career as compelling factors, you may want to dip your toes sooner rather than later if you feel passionate enough about this as a potential career path.
What emerging tech skills are you focusing on to tap into the potential of Web3 and the blockchain? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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