Blockchain is the new trend now, and it looks like it might be here to stay. Everywhere you turn people are talking about blockchain – online, in news reports, and magazines. It’s seen as a new possibility of an exciting career path. By choosing a career in blockchain technology you can often work remotely and the pay is tempting. 

There are different careers involved in blockchain technology; some examples of technical roles include lead full stack developers, quality assurance software engineers, system administrators, project managers and software developers to name a few. Of course, with regards to non technical roles, like any business BitDegree states “blockchain projects need accountants, lawyers, public relations (PR), marketers and much more”.

So, you’ve decided that you want a career in blockchain and you want to be involved, but you’re not sure where to start? These are the top tips if you’re interested in this career choice. 

• 1. Learn programming languages

The most basic place to start is to learn at least one programming language, because you won’t get very far in the blockchain industry if you don’t have that foundation. Research some classes online and sign up for at least one class that can offer you the essential. If you have a degree in Computer Science, it’s a great asset and bonus if you apply with blockchain companies, but it’s not always necessary. 

If your goal is to become a smart contract developer for a blockchain company, you’ll need to know Javascript. According to Danny Young, a tech blogger at Boom Essays and Student Writing Services, “this is a programming language that’s extremely similar to the one used in blockchain technology, so you’ll want to start learning Javascript and taking classes in that field. If you’re already familiar with it, then be sure to include and highlight it prominently on your CV.”

• 2. Train in cryptography 

For this type of online work, it’s essential to have a background or training in cryptography. To be able to run a successful blockchain business or work for a blockchain company, you need to be able to protect it first and foremost. If you learn cryptography, you’ll automatically get a leg up on everyone else that the company is looking to hire because not everyone will be familiar with it and will have forethought this gesture. Planning ahead is key in keeping up to date with the latest trends.

A blockchain company will be handling billions of dollars so it’s absolutely important that they protect their system from extremely likely hacking attempts that will intrude into and destroy any system software adopted by a blockchain company. Once you learn cryptography and programming languages, you’re close to being a blockchain expert already, because not only can you can write code and but you can also protect and secure the company you work for. 

If you prefer learning through books, ‘Mastering Bitcoin 2e’ by Andreas Antonopoulos has proven popular in the blockchain community and even has examples of code in Python and C++. This could aid and help you practice your programming languages.

• 3. A Finance or accounting career

If you have a background in finance, it will be really helpful to break into the blockchain technology industry. That’s because this industry is heavily involved in different financial aspects and you need to have a solid understanding of how things operate in the field. That means you should either get an accounting degree or certification to boost your chances of getting hired by a blockchain company. You can also become a blockchain generalist or advisor to be able to explain to companies in layman’s terms what blockchain can bring to their companies, how they’ll benefit, and how to incorporate it in their working practice the first place.

• 4. Semantics of blockchain

You can take a course in the semantics of blockchain so you can fully understand all the terms and jargon used in the industry. Francesca Wiserman, a business writer at State of writing and Top Canadian Writers, explains that doing this will “help you be on top of things during discussions with other industry people and will look great on your CV. Make sure that before you apply, your CV is up to date and professional so it addresses everything a business would want to know about your expertise in blockchain.”

A helpful website is B9Lab which includes different courses. There is one course free of charge which is useful as an introduction to the blockchain industry. It provides 7 courses, 60+ hours of content, videos, text, animation and quizzes, self paced online learning. Subscription by fees provide more in depth tools and even mentoring to ensure better learning and application of knowledge.

• 5. General Blockchain Information

The last point that you should focus on is general blockchain information, but more specific than what’s found in most online blogs or articles. Take some classes about the technology and what currencies are being used within blockchain businesses. These courses are available online or in some local colleges. This will help build your knowledge about the technology and boost your chances in getting a job in that field.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to getting a successful blockchain technology career. Focus on the necessary background education and get the right skills and certifications to make you stand out from the crowd. Keep your resume updated and you’ll get blockchain position offers in no time. 

Finally, the financial benefits a blockchain developer earns depends on their experience and the professional environment they choose to provide their services for. BitDegree notes three main areas of interest: startups, legacies/tech firms, government. 

Startups often appeal to some of the most gifted blockchain professionals as these environments tend to provide a lot of responsibility and freedom. However, with these companies still at the initial stages, as expected, the salary is not as high, especially for someone who is not as experienced ($50,000 USD). With five or more years of experience, this can go up to around 70,000 USD per year. Some startups offer their staff equity in the company, which is a bonus not usually found elsewhere.

Legacies/tech firms propose the best salaries in the business. Entry-level salaries can be as high as $70,000-80,000. After five years, salaries can increase up to $100,000-120,000 USD. This is often the case as blockchain developers do not tend to choose large centralised organisations so the drive to attract them to this field of work requires a more tempting financial motive.

Government based roles offer varied salaries depending on the country but are less than the first two categories. Working for the government does have its benefits though. Government projects tend to involve top-secret data and systems so blockchain techies can be involved in information sensitive projects thus feeling more professionally accomplished.