As the blockchain industry evolves, the demand for skilled professionals exponentially increases. Recent studies note the blockchain job market’s remarkable growth at a staggering 552% in 2022, emphasising the urgency for expertise in this field.
Discover the diverse career avenues within blockchain in this comprehensive infographic, as it discusses each role’s unique functions and purposes.
How to start a career in blockchain
Although a career in blockchain can be exhilarating and rewarding, beginners may find the initial steps daunting. For this reason, it would be best if you had practical insights and guidance on how to kickstart your blockchain career.
1. Learn blockchain fundamentals
Knowing what the industry is about is the first thing to getting into that niche. Similarly, it helps to learn the fundamentals of blockchain and familiarise yourself with foundational concepts so you can understand the technology’s underlying mechanisms and decentralised nature. Blockchain basics include:
- Bitcoin script: Bitcoin script is a language that defines how transactions may be spent.
- Hash functions: Learn what hash functions are, the hash functions used in Bitcoin, how hash functions are used in Bitcoin, why double hashing is used in Bitcoin, and the role hash functions play in Bitcoin’s security model.
- Merkle trees: Merkle trees serve to encode blockchain data more efficiently and securely.
- Digital Signatures: Digital signature schemes – ECDSA – are fundamental building blocks in the Bitcoin protocol.
- Protocol and Design: an introduction to the Bitcoin protocol, its method of operation and is intended for beginners to Bitcoin.
Enrol in free courses on Bitcoin primitives at the BSV Academy
2. Determine what blockchain career to pursue
Whether your passion lies in blockchain development, cryptocurrency analysis, cybersecurity, project management or another specialised field, this step encourages you to identify the specific role that aligns with your professional goals.
Roles are abundant for every skill level. If you’ve been honing your skills for a long time, you may want to consider pursuing a career as a senior back-end developer or senior test engineer, granted you have the skill set to take on such a responsibility.
On the contrary, a junior designer may be fitting if you want to leap from beginner to proficient blockchain professional without the pressure of having the top position in your line of work. Regardless of what you pursue, there’s always a place for great minds in blockchain.
3. Enrol in blockchain courses and get certified
When starting your blockchain career, it’s ideal to enrol in courses that let you gain more knowledge about the industry. Fortunately, BSV Academy has no shortage of programmes for different disciplines, offering courses that specifically tackle:
Apart from that, BSV Blockchain also offer courses relating to law, software engineering, development, business and more. These courses provide a comprehensive overview of blockchain fundamentals and delve into the intricacies of the legal and technical aspects surrounding the industry.
Once you learn all the essential knowledge for your chosen expertise, the next step involves securing certification. The best certifications solidify your blockchain expertise because they validate your skills and prove your commitment to the field, boosting your credibility in the competitive job market.
4. Join a community
Blockchain communities typically organise forums, events, workshops and online platforms where you can exchange ideas, gain more industry knowledge and seek advice regarding the right career path for you.
So, seek and become a part of vibrant and supportive communities when launching your blockchain career since your interactions with them can lead to knowledge-sharing and collaboration opportunities. Plus, engaging with like-minded individuals lets you stay updated on industry trends, gain valuable insights and potentially find mentors or collaborators.
If you’re looking to be a part of a community filled with like-minded people, BSV Blockchain has dedicated channels to get you in touch with some of the best minds the industry has to offer.
You may visit the following links and join the BSV Blockchain family today:
5. Attend conferences and events
Attending conferences and events, like BSV Hackathons, is a powerful strategy for immersing yourself in the latest industry trends, innovations and emerging technologies.
Apart from imparting knowledge, these gatherings offer invaluable networking opportunities. Building connections with professionals, enthusiasts and potential collaborators can open doors to mentorship, job opportunities and other partnerships. These events also enhance your understanding of the blockchain landscape and position you within a dynamic network to propel your career forward.
6. Apply for internships or apprenticeships
Internships or apprenticeships provide you with practical and hands-on learning. These opportunities allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, hone your skills and build a portfolio.
These training programmes also serve as a gateway to establishing industry connections, potentially leading to full-time positions and offering a unique perspective on the day-to-day of blockchain experts.
6 top skills needed for a career in blockchain
Your desire to enter this industry is a good first step. However, you also need the skills to thrive in the blockchain landscape. Here are some of the sought-after skills in the blockchain industry.
1. Web application development
Web application development is the key to creating intuitive and functional interfaces for blockchain-based platforms. This skill encompasses the ability to design and implement user-friendly applications that seamlessly interact with blockchain technology.
For example, blockchain-based music player Jamify’s web application features a seamless and user-friendly interface. The platform allows you to utilise NFTs, stream music and engage with blockchain enthusiasts.
2. Programming languages
Proficiency in programming languages is necessary for creating, optimising and securing blockchain applications, implementing blockchain protocols, conducting security audits and enhancing the overall performance of decentralised and distributed systems.
When it comes to digital currency development, you need to rely on programming languages when coding the logic governing tokens and similar assets.
3. Cryptography
One of the main facets of blockchain is security and data protection. Cryptography plays a crucial role in securing transactions, upholding integrity and ensuring privacy on blockchain networks.
A good understanding of cryptographic principles enables you to implement secure consensus mechanisms, create tamper-resistant digital signatures and establish secure communication channels within the blockchain.
4. Data structure knowledge
This skill facilitates efficient storage, retrieval and information management. With this knowledge, you can optimise blockchain performance, ensure scalability and maintain the integrity of decentralised ledgers.
5. Blockchain principles and practises
Your know-how of the industry’s principles and best practises equips you with the necessary skills to manage blockchain architecture, consensus mechanisms and security protocols. Then, you can effectively design, implement and optimise blockchain solutions. Ultimately, you contribute to the industry by ensuring a tamper-resistant ledger for tracking and verifying payments, contracts and transactions.
6. Smart contract development
Smart contracts automate and enforce agreements to reduce reliance on intermediaries. As a skilled developer, you design, implement and audit these self-executing contracts to make transactions transparent and efficient.
Your proficiency in this department aligns with industry demands for enhanced operational efficiency and accountability. For example, Tokenized utilises smart contracts for streamlined financial record-keeping on the BSV blockchain.
5 blockchain careers to pursue
A career in blockchain opens doors to a wide range of job opportunities. These positions play vital roles in shaping the future of this technological innovation.
1. Project manager
Project managers hold one of the top spots in the field whose jobs involve linking blockchain projects with industry experts. As a project manager, you need a specific skillset to determine which projects go with which solutions that companies offer. The required skills are akin to those of a conventional (cloud) project manager.
Your proficiency in traditional and technical project management is vital in comprehensively understanding the technology. So, if you’re well-versed in project management principles and excel in understanding the specific nuances of the blockchain industry, this is the ideal career path for you.
2. Developer
No technology is possible without the expertise of a developer. Today, there is a significant demand for skilled blockchain developers to assist companies in navigating various platforms. In fact, the growing global market size for blockchain may be worth approximately $469.49 billion by 2030.
Currently, blockchain development stands out as a sought-after career that can harness the full potential of the technology. Blockchain developers are programmers with a background in languages such as C++, Python and JavaScript, usually gaining substantial experience before transitioning to blockchain development.
3. Solutions architect
The architect designs and coordinates the various components of a blockchain solution, collaborating with team experts like developers, network administrators, UX designers and IT operations. The role requires the successful development and implementation of the said solution.
4. Analyst
You can become an analyst if you’re skilled in data analysis. As an analyst, you are responsible for examining and interpreting data within blockchain networks. Part of your work involves scrutinising and overseeing transactions, tracing the flow of digital assets and identifying patterns to ensure compliance, security and transparency.
Data analysis teams utilise forensic tools and blockchain analytics to detect fraudulent activities, investigate discrepancies and enhance the overall integrity of blockchain systems. If you belong to this team, expect your role to be crucial in maintaining the reliability and trustworthiness of decentralised ledgers. Be ready to uncover insights that contribute to effective decision-making and risk mitigation.
5. Researcher
Blockchain continues to have use cases in different sectors. This kind of novelty propels industry leaders to explore its possibilities, which means blockchain needs the constant input of researchers to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and innovations.
Researchers explore new protocols, consensus mechanisms and applications to acquire insights that drive innovation. Continuous research ensures the development of robust solutions, enhances security and expands the potential applications of blockchain technology amid various challenges.
Embrace the future of blockchain careers today
Many career avenues wait for you in the blockchain industry. The diverse skills and steps for starting a blockchain career emphasise the importance of the BSV blockchain, serving as the bedrock for a data-driven economy. Its scalability, transparency and innovative applions position it as a key player in the industry’s future.
Delve deeper into the potential of the BSV blockchain by downloading our ebook, Enterprise blockchain products using the BSV blockchain. Unlock the full potential of enterprise blockchain with our comprehensive guide on using the BSV blockchain. Discover the unique properties of BSV that set it apart from other enterprise-scale blockchains and learn about the wide range of applications and products that can be built using BSV, from healthcare to eSports and beyond.
