How to start your career in Web3
May 9, 2023
How we work, interact, consume entertainment, conduct transactions and live is evolving to a more transparent, decentralised modus operandi. To stay ahead of the curve, now’s the ideal time to seek opportunities to evolve your existing career – or start anew – in a Web3 world. Here are some tips to get you started and the roles set to be in demand.
Why consider a career in web3?
Short answer: because it’s inevitable. In 2021, the international Web3 market was valued at $3.2 billion. It is expected that by 2030, Web3 will have reached a worth of $81.5 billion. It’s serious business. Web3 tech – encompassing blockchain, metaverses, and the most advanced AI tools we’ve seen to date – is affecting every industry we know. That said, that doesn’t mean that lucrative careers in the space are reserved only for developers. Whether you’re a marketer or keen to get into it, a writer, a designer, a financial or insurance broker, part of an NGO or not-for-profit, in manufacturing – you name, opportunities abound.
4 tips to get started in Web3
- Learn about blockchain technology
Blockchain is at the core of web3, allowing decentralisation and superior transparency and security, so it’s a good idea to firstly understand how it all works. You can find plenty of explainer videos on YouTube and by following dedicated Web3 channels and projects on socials, tuning in to Web3 podcasts, and reading the news. Knowledge is everywhere, and it’s available to everyone!
It also pays to learn a bit of the lingo, because there’s a lot of it out there and knowing what certain acronyms mean will help you pick things up quickly. To get started, check out our guide to the top 11 Web3 terms to know here.
- Network with the Web3 community
The Web3 space in Australia is filled with builders and enthusiasts alike all keen to share knowledge and ideas, so take advantage by attending an event in your area. If there isn’t one, see if you can set up a small meet-up and see what builds from that.
Make connections, find out what others are doing, hear about new trends, get some clarity about what areas of Web3 particularly interest you and a greater idea of what you need to do to get into those spaces professionally. Also be mindful that every connection is also a great business opportunity, so have an authentic elevator pitch about what you do and, most importantly – the value you can offer.
- Upskill where you need to
Once you’ve spent some time in the Web3 space and understood some of the opportunities it presents to you professionally, you can better identify any knowledge gaps in your skills set that you might want to build on to go in the direction you’d like to go. This includes those ‘soft skills’ often overlooked, including things like organisational skills, project or team management, and problem solving. Getting some work experience in native Web3 projects will also help you build hands-on experience quickly. You could even think of a Web3 idea to present to your current employer to potentially build on. At the end of the day, the best way to learn is by doing, so seeking out those hands-on opportunities where you can will best set you up for success.
Buying & trading a few meme coins or owning a cartoon art NFT is not enough. You need to apply your knowledge in a way that adds value to a team, clients and business in general.
- Be prepared to test, learn, try again
Web3 is a constantly evolving field, and it’s still in very early days, which means you may find yourself meeting and working with a lot of entrepreneurs and start-ups. We’re dealing with brand-new tech, which brings with it brand-new ways of building audiences, storing records, conducting transactions and more. Things change daily, so always keeping that in the top of your mind will help you embrace this dynamic space, appreciate the lessons learnt from making mistakes, to help you learn.
The in-demand jobs in Web3
Keen to know what’s hot in terms of in-demand skills? Here are a few roles you may want to consider.
Developers
Web3 developers include everyone from blockchain developers to smart contract developers and those who are responsible for building decentralised applications (dApps) using blockchain tech.
Security analysts
An important role in the Web3 world, which is peddled as being superior for security and data transparency. Web3 security analysts are responsible for identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in decentralised applications and need to have a deep understanding of blockchain technology, cryptography, and decentralised networks.
Web3 UX Designers
Decentralised apps still require user-friendly interfaces that are intuitive and easy to follow, keeping UX designers in demand. Building for decentralised apps is not actually as daunting as it may seem, as the end goal is much the same as web2 applications – designing to optimise the user experience.
Community managers
This role would probably sit under a wider marketing umbrella, but community is really what makes or breaks Web3 projects, so warrants a shout-out all its own. Community managers are responsible for fostering positive and engaging environments for audiences, addressing needs and concerns and moderating the interactions between community members. With Web3 being such a new space, audiences have a lot of questions that require prompt, clear and accurate responses to help build trust.
Web3 marketing specialists
Building on the skills of Web2 marketers, Web3 marketing specialists need to have a good understanding of the Web3 ecosystem in order to develop the most appropriate comms and marketing strategies to boost the application, project or product they are promoting.
Business developers
In such a new and rapidly changing space it’s important to have people dedicated to building up partnerships, developing collaborative strategies and new opportunities for a business to move into different spaces.
Some final thoughts
Web3 is an exciting and rapidly growing field that presents a wealth of opportunities for those looking to start or evolve their existing career in this industry. The good news is that most existing roles across industries will continue to exist, just in a different way. Learning early and immersing yourself in the Web3 community is a great way to get a head start on building your professional experience and position yourself where you’d like to be before the competition follows suit.
Words: Rebecca Haddad
