How to Get a Job in Blockchain: Required Education and Skills

Blockchain is the next big thing in the technology industry. This emerging technology is set to change how the digital world handles data and transactions, especially in the rapidly growing crypto space. Blockchain technology was first introduced in 2008 to allow for seamless bitcoin transactions and has since evolved into its own field.

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably seen the rapid growth of this sector and have been wondering how to get a job in blockchain. In this article, we will help you navigate your career path as you learn what are the highest-paying blockchain jobs, as well as what blockchain skills you’ll need to land one.

What Is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed digital ledger that simplifies the process of storing transactional records and tracking assets in a network. In blockchain, block stands for the structure that stores the records, and chain is the several databases used to store public records.

Blockchain has been accepted worldwide thanks to its transparency, making it easy to track or trace data. This technology can be used to conduct electronic elections, allow secure transactions, and speed up data transfer. Financial institutions around the world have begun using blockchain technology.

Blockchain Job Outlook

Blockchain developers are listed under the same category as software developers by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to BLS, blockchain developers have a positive job outlook of 22 percent, which is faster than the average of all occupations.

What Education Do I Need to Become a Blockchain Developer?

To become a blockchain developer, you’ll need to get an education from a coding bootcamp, community college, or university. However, most universities have no blockchain-specific bachelor’s degrees, so registering for a computer science or information security program would probably be the best option.

Can I Get a Blockchain Job Without a Degree?

Yes, you can get a job in blockchain without a college degree. There are presently very few undergraduate degrees specifically in blockchain development, which means it is not a requirement. You can instead get coding bootcamp training or take online courses.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job in Blockchain?

Yes, a coding bootcamp can help you get a job in blockchain. Coding bootcamps are designed to prepare you for a career in various technology fields. This makes them an ideal place to get the relevant skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience required to become a blockchain developer.

At a coding bootcamp, you can learn in-demand skills sought after by employers in the field, choose the learning format that suits you, and spend less time learning the important things. Best of all, you can get hands-on training, work on real-life blockchain projects, and get access to career services. Some bootcamps even offer job placement opportunities.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Job in Blockchain?

It can take between three months and a year after graduation to get a job in blockchain, depending on the education path you choose. If you decide to join a coding bootcamp, it could take approximately six months after graduation to land a good job, unless the bootcamp offers a job placement guarantee.

If you attend a community college, it may take six months to a year after graduation, and the same goes for a four-year college. Applying for apprenticeships or internships to build your real-life skills and get relevant experience will increase your chances of landing your dream job sooner.

Common Blockchain Education Paths

Getting an education in blockchain isn’t too difficult, with many options available for you to explore. The fast-growing field of blockchain has many learning opportunities to take advantage of. Your approach depends on your preferred learning style, what you can afford, and how fast you want to enter the job market. Bootcamps, community colleges, and universities are the most common education options.

Blockchain Bootcamps

Bootcamps are designed to help you learn the relevant skills required to start a career in technology, including blockchain. You can join a blockchain bootcamp to get the knowledge and skills needed to begin a rewarding blockchain career.

Community College

Community colleges are two-year institutions designed to give students the skills required to land jobs soon after graduation. They offer in-person and online associate degrees to those who complete the programs, which can be used to immediately start a career or transfer to a university for a shortened bachelor’s degree.

To learn blockchain at a community college, you’ll want to apply for a computer science degree or information technology degree. Some schools offer blockchain technology degrees as well, although these are less common.

Blockchain Developer Degrees

You can get a blockchain education at university. You’ll have to apply for a program in computer science, information technology, or information security. These programs will prepare you for a career in blockchain technology. If necessary, you can also pursue an advanced degree if you hope to enter higher-level positions.

Key Blockchain Skills to List on Your Resume

There are specific skills that you are required to have as a blockchain developer. Data structures, programming skills, cryptography, and blockchain architecture are essential to include on your resume to show your level of expertise.

Programming Skills

Blockchain developers build data structures from scratch, which requires the knowledge of programming languages. Some of the most important programming languages for blockchain developers include C, C++, C#, Scala, Java, and JavaScript.

These are the languages your potential employer expects to find on your resume. You should highlight these programming languages to show the employer your skill level and expertise. To learn them, you can use online learning platforms or join a coding bootcamp.

Cryptography

Cryptography is used to design procedures and algorithms to prevent foreign entities from decrypting personal messages throughout a communication session. It is used to protect information by transforming it into a secure format.

This is an essential aspect of blockchain development as it ensures security. It is used to secure a blockchain ledger. Cryptography allows every blockchain to be recorded through encrypted data allowing users to buy and sell securely with their private and public keys. To demonstrate expertise in blockchain, this skill should be on your resume.

Data Structures

A blockchain system is made up of data structures that store information. A block is a container data structure that brings together transactions to be included in a public ledger. Knowledge of data structures in blockchain development is vital to becoming a blockchain developer and is one of the most important skills that a hiring manager will want to see on your resume.

Where to Find Blockchain Jobs

These days, the most widely used platforms to find blockchain and cryptocurrency jobs are online. Obviously, your options aren’t limited to this list as there are various other blockchain platforms, but these options currently offer the most job listings.

Crypto Job List

This website is one of the top online platforms to find cryptocurrency jobs, blockchain jobs, and Web3 jobs. With over 4,000 job postings so far, this job posting platform allows you to connect with hiring blockchain and crypto companies. You can find job listings for positions of all experience levels from different organizations and in different locations.

CryptoJobs

This is another widely used blockchain job board. It includes job listings from various blockchain companies for professionals with different levels of experience. It aims to connect blockchain professionals to jobs that will help their careers. There are currently over 3,000 jobs listed.

Cryptocurrency Jobs

This online platform connects blockchain professionals from different areas of specialty with job openings at various companies in multiple industries and locations. You can register to this platform to get alerts on new job openings in the industry.

How to Prepare for Your Blockchain Interview

To prepare for your blockchain interview, you should get familiar with essential keywords, tools, and methodologies in the field. This will help you answer questions your potential employer may have about your credentials and experience. Make sure you do some research about the position and the company to learn about their culture, achievements, strengths, and weaknesses.

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Blockchain Interview Questions

• What is your experience using blockchain technology? 
• How would you explain blockchain technology to the average person? 
• What are the different types of blockchains?
• What principle is blockchain technology based on?

The Five Highest-Paying Blockchain Jobs

*These jobs are listed under the same umbrella by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Blockchain Developer

• Salary: $154,550

Blockchain developers research, design, build, install, and maintain applications to ensure that digital transactions are secure and safe from hacks and changes. This profession requires skills in blockchain architecture, data structures, cryptography, and smart contracts.

Blockchain Architect

• Salary: $152,205

Blockchain architects work with multiple teams to design and build blockchain solutions to help solve blockchain development problems. They also work to test the quality and performance standards of new solutions.

Blockchain Software Engineer

• Salary: $108,657

Also known as blockchain engineers, these professionals are in charge of designing, developing, analyzing, and implementing blockchain applications. You’ll need to have strong knowledge of business models to manage those using blockchain technology.

Blockchain Product Manager

• Salary: $106,667

Blockchain product managers research and develop blockchain products in an organization. They carry out research for the product, oversee entire projects from start to finish, and ensure quality standards. Strong analytical skills are important for this profession.

Blockchain Consultant

• Salary: $105,891

Blockchain consultants help organizations new to the blockchain industry set policies and develop growth strategies using blockchain technology. They do research so they can give accurate advice on the best strategies and development policies to ensure business growth and efficiency.

Blockchain Career Path

The career path of a blockchain developer starts with working in an entry-level position like a junior blockchain developer. This is an assisting role that will prepare you for higher positions. You will then proceed to a mid-level role, which requires handling projects independently with little or no supervision. Senior positions are more supervisory, ensuring quality products.

Entry-Level Blockchain Jobs

• Junior Blockchain Developer – This entry-level role involves working with a senior blockchain developer to secure digital transactions by creating systems preventing the hacking of data.
• Blockchain Analyst – A blockchain analyst is charged with the role of identifying problems within blockchain technology, devising solutions for them, and implementing policies to maintain fixes.
• Blockchain Community Manager – A blockchain community manager is a professional who ensures the success of any blockchain project from inception to delivery. They’re in charge of bringing together the people who will bring the project to life.

Mid-Level Blockchain Jobs

• Blockchain Developer – A blockchain developer is in charge of researching, designing, developing, testing, and maintaining a secure blockchain network. These professionals ensure that digital transactions are secure and can’t be hacked.
• Blockchain Engineer – A blockchain engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining digital blockchain enterprise solutions. They need to be able to manage business models that use blockchain technology.
• Blockchain Solution Architect – A blockchain solution architect collaborates with the research and design teams to implement blockchain technology while developing and designing solutions that leverage cross-asset structures and concepts.

Senior-Level Blockchain Jobs

• Blockchain Quality Engineer – This professional is in charge of ensuring the quality of blockchain development. To achieve this, they develop automation frameworks, and manual and automatic testing methods to ensure that the final product is free of bugs and glitches.
• Blockchain Project Manager – This senior role requires professionals to monitor the blockchain development process. They are responsible for overseeing blockchain database systems and all other aspects of a project to deliver a quality product.
• Senior Blockchain Developer – The senior blockchain developer will oversee the design, development, and implementation of blockchain solutions. After production, they must ensure that the system is secure and free from foreign attacks.

Blockchain Certifications

Certifications are one of the best ways to show your potential employers that you are skilled for the job. They are evidence of your technical skills and are highly recognized by employers in the industry. These are some of the best certifications you should consider getting.

BTA Certified Blockchain Business Foundations (CBBF)

This certification is designed for beginners who want to learn the basics of blockchain and how it’s used. It demonstrates your blockchain skills and knowledge and shows that you understand how it works and how to implement it within organizations. You’ll have to complete an online 90-minute exam with 70 questions to earn this certification.

BTA Certified Blockchain Solution Architect (CBSA)

This certification tests and proves your knowledge of blockchain systems. With this, you can show potential employers that you can discern between different blockchain systems and work with them efficiently. The certification requires a 70-question exam that has to be completed in 90 minutes.

BTA Certified Blockchain Developer Ethereum (CBDE)

This certification is for those who want to specialize in Ethereum. It tests your knowledge and skills in blockchain development. You’ll have to complete a 90-minute exam of 70 multiple-choice questions to earn this certification. It is valid for a year.

Tips on How to Get a Job in Blockchain

If you follow the right steps, getting a job in blockchain is quite simple. Taking blockchain courses, getting certifications, and honing your skills within an area of specialty while building a strong network of peers will help you on your journey.

Take Blockchain Courses

Before you can work in this field, you’ll need to know how blockchain works and how it is used, as well as its tools, methodologies, and terminology. To do so, you’ll need to enroll in some kind of program. You can join a coding bootcamp or take online courses.

Choose an Area of Specialty

Blockchain is a broad field with multiple areas of specialty. Before you begin to work in blockchain, you should decide what area you want to specialize in. This will help you narrow down the skills you’ll need to develop to forge your career path intelligently.

Hone Your Skills

Once you’ve decided on your area of focus, you can then work on the hard and soft skills you’ll need most. The best way you can do this is by working on projects and taking more courses. You can also apply for an apprenticeship or internship to prepare you for real-life projects.

Build a Strong Network

You’re as strong as the network you build. Building a strong network of professionals in the industry can keep you stay informed on industry trends and job openings at various companies. You can build a network by joining a crypto community or forums, and attending industry events.

Get Certified

A certification will get employers to recognize your skills. Once you’ve built your skills, you should take entry-level certification that’ll help you demonstrate your expertise to employers. Luckily, certifications in blockchain technology don’t usually take very long to earn.

Should You Get a Job in Blockchain in 2022?

Yes, you should get a job in blockchain if you’re interested in the field. It is an emerging field with a lot of growth opportunities. The field is predicted to have a lot more job openings in years to come, making it a promising career to pursue.

With it being an emerging field, there is less competition in the job market. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore several careers and areas of specialty. Blockchain developers earn high salaries and get the benefit of understanding cryptocurrency better than anyone.

Blockchain Developer FAQ