How To Work in Web3 Full-Time |
Read Time: 3 minutes I recently left a secure six-figure job to make the jump to Web3, but it wasn't as intimidating as you might think. It’s an amazing feeling to spend each day doing something you’re passionate about. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re contributing to a great project. But most people never summon the courage to pursue their calling. I was in the same boat for years. I graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2018. I had my whole career mapped out. Serve for 20 years, earn a retirement pension and sail off into the sunset. But I quickly realized I needed to follow my passion. Shortly after pinning on the rank of Captain, I decided it was time for a new career. But it took a long time for me to finally commit to making a change. Fear, Uncertainty, DoubtPeople let outside factors prevent them from making the leap. Things like:
But luckily there is a solution. If you are willing to follow my playbook and have a bit of patience, I can almost guarantee you will break into Web3 and find your dream job. Here’s how, step by step: Step 1: Create ContentI started making Youtube videos focused on crypto in September 2021. They were terrible. My mom was the only person who watched (thanks Mom!) But I continued to hone the craft and slowly got better. A year and a half later, my videos are improving. The goal is to make each video better than the last. The important thing is I put myself out there. Creating content is the easiest and most effective way to stand out from the crowd. If you provide value to others, you will begin to see more value than you can imagine flow back to you. You never know who is watching (more on this later). Pick a niche that is interesting to you and where interesting things are happening. I started with decentralized finance. Examples of other niches include:
Pick a niche and start studying the space. Share what you find on Twitter. If you want an extra leg up, create video content. The internet is moving more and more towards video, so you will have a major advantage if you can learn how to make engaging video content. Step 2: Be ConsistentOnce you start creating, you have to be consistent. One Youtube video is not enough. One Twitter thread is not enough. On Web2 social platforms, consistency is key. You are fighting for attention. Create a content system to remove the friction of thinking about what to write about or talk about on a regular basis. It took me a little over a year to build a small following and get noticed by projects who reached out to me with job offers. Be patient. Opportunities will come your way if you are consistent. Step 3: Test the WatersBefore making the career switch, I worked part-time on nights and weekends for a Web3 company. Yes, moonlighting is an absolute grind. But it allowed me to test-drive the job before going full-time. If I didn’t like it, I could continue with my traditional job. But I realized it was the perfect fit. Testing the waters provided even more motivation to make the jump. So how do you get your foot in the door? In Web3, it is easier than most traditional job markets. Join a DAO or find a Discord community. Offer to to be a moderator. If you find an interesting project and their documentation sucks, offer to rewrite it for free. There are also job boards for Web3 positions if you want to see what opportunities are available.
You will be surprised how easy it is to start contributing to a project. Open communities and decentralized work/contributions is the ethos of crypto. Once you find an opportunity and stick with it for a few months, you will know whether going full time in Web3 is for you. TL;DR
Creating content changed my life. By publishing my videos and writing, I put myself out there for others to see. I got my first Web3 job offer through Twitter DMs. No resume, no traditional interviewing process. My published work spoke for itself. Yours will too. If you decide to join the Web3 creator economy, you will not regret it. Thanks for reading and I will see you next week! |