This post is published in partnership with our friends at Micro1
The vision for Web3 is an internet that returns ownership and authority to the users. It uses blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to achieve this vision.
Conceptually,
- Web1 was read-only,
- Web2 is read-write,
- Web3 will be read-write-own.
How can Web3 be helpful for businesses?
Web3 provides a way to create a direct relationship with business customers. Web3 gives businesses an opportunity to offer clients a unique and personalized experience, creating a sense of loyalty. It allows companies to take advantage of new technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) in new ways.
This means there are many avenues for businesses to explore these new tools—and even more when combined with other emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and machine learning (ML).
It also means Web3 will enable businesses to offer more personalized products and services, while giving them access to data that can improve their offerings over time.
What to consider while hiring Web3 developers?
If you’re hiring developers for your Web3 projects, look for these key skills:
1. Strong Solidity development skills
Solidity is a programming language designed to create smart contracts for Ethereum. It’s similar to JavaScript or Python, but it has its quirks and special syntax that can be tricky to grasp. If you're looking for a qualified blockchain developer, you'll need to hire someone with a solid understanding of Solidity development.
2. Know-how of NodeJS development
NodeJS (or node) is a server-side JavaScript framework that allows you to build scalable web applications. It's also a necessary skill for developing Web3 apps because it enables developers to use JS libraries like React and AngularJS, which are popular front-end frameworks that can be used with Web3 applications.
3. Cryptocurrency development
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have changed the way we think about money. Although crypto is only one of the ways to apply blockchain technology, to truly capitalize on it, you need people who understand how it works to develop new applications for it. Web3 developers with cryptocurrency experience can take the lead on projects built on blockchain and help your company stay ahead of the curve.
4. Great eye for design and user experience
Blockchain technology is still new, so Web3 developers need to be knowledgeable about creating user experiences for new technologies and applications to create products that are easy to use and innovative.
Not sure what a fair, attractive salary looks like across the globe? Deel has done the work for you.
How to structure the Web3 Developer hiring process?
Web3 developers are in high demand, so hiring a good Web3 developer can be a challenge. You not only want the best person for the job, but you also want to ensure they're a perfect fit for your business and culture. To achieve the best results, you need a well-structured hiring process.
1. Be specific when writing a job description
The role of a Web3 developer is to work on decentralized applications (dApps) that run on the Ethereum blockchain. These DApps are built using frameworks such as Truffle, Embark, Web3.py, and Metamask. As we mentioned before, they need to understand Solidity as well.
Here is a suggestion on what to include in the role and responsibility section:
- Building smart contracts using Solidity
- Understanding how Ethereum works and how to interact with it through web3.js
- Writing unit tests and integration tests using Mocha/Chai
- Design and develop blockchain-based solutions for web3 platforms
- Create dApps that interact with other dApps and smart contracts, as well as with the Ethereum network
- A passion for building secure solutions that leverage blockchain technology
2. Send them a coding challenge
A coding challenge is a good way to assess candidates. This will be an opportunity to see their skills in practice and assess their ability to code, apart from just reading the code. A good developer is not defined by the number of lines they can write within an hour but by their expertise to be resourceful and complete a task at hand. An open-ended coding challenge will showcase their creativity, so consider framing it like that.
3. Interview
A good interview will help determine if a candidate is qualified for the job they are applying for.
The Web3 developer interview can be divided into four parts:
- Informational round: This round is used to learn more about the candidate’s background, experience, and interests. This round aims to gather the information that will help you determine if this candidate is a good fit for your team and if they have the skills necessary to do the job well.
- Behavioral round: This round focuses on how candidates have behaved in situations similar to those in their new job. Candidates may be asked questions such as: "Give me an example of when you had to work in a difficult environment." This round aims to determine whether candidates have what it takes to succeed in this position at your company.
- Structured round: This round involves asking all candidates the same set of questions to compare their answers and evaluate their suitability for employment with your company. Structured interviews allow employers to compare candidates objectively by using consistent criteria across all applicants to make informed hiring decisions.
- Technical round: The technical round is an important part of hiring and is usually conducted by a senior engineer. Web3 developers should be well versed with the technical aspects of the project they have been part of and should be able to explain the solutions they have provided in detail. The goal of the interview rounds is not just to see if the candidate can answer technical questions correctly, but also if they can communicate the problem they tried to solve with code and why that solution works.
Common interview questions for Web3 developers
Technical questions
- What is the difference between Web3 and Ethereum?
- Can you explain what smart contracts are?
Open-ended questions
- Why do you think Ethereum will be successful?
- How do you see Web3 development changing in the next five years?
Personal questions
- What is the most difficult part of Web3 development for you?
- What is your least favorite thing about Ethereum?
Five tips on assessing Web3 developer skills
It can be challenging to assess the candidates’ skills, especially if you’re unfamiliar with all the concepts. However, some things can help you make an educated decision when hiring your new Web3 developers.
1. GitHub review
GitHub is an excellent resource for examining the skillset of Web3 developers. Look for Web3 projects a developer has worked on and see how they performed in the past. Research their commit history, the number of issues resolved, number of downloads, etc. The more you can find out about the developer’s history and capabilities, the better equipped you'll be to make an informed decision about whether or not they are a good fit for the project.
2. Ecosystem knowledge
Ecosystem knowledge is one of the most important skills for a Web3 developer. Knowing how to code is not enough; a good developer also needs to learn the workings of the whole environment. They need to understand all the technologies, protocols, and platforms that make up Web3 and how they interact.
A good Web3 developer will know the range of platforms available and where they fit in. They should also know how each platform works and its weaknesses to decide which platform to use. They should always be aware of what’s happening in the community as well as future developments and launches.
3. Investigate developer’s approach to scope creep
Even with the most detailed project scopes, unexpected things happen with schedules, budgets, and resource allocation. That’s when the scope creep occurs.
The best way to assess Web3 developer skills is to see how well they can manage scope creep. The best developers can do the job without over-complicating or adding unnecessary features and get a project across the finish line with minimal delays.
4. Give them a project overview and look for cues
Even the best developer needs to fit your business' needs. Having a clear idea of the developer’s competencies needed for a project is crucial when assessing the candidates.
It’s good to present your project and see how they respond. Just listening to their feedback or the questions they ask will give you insight into their true capabilities and expertise.
5. Ask them to code a simple smart contract
It is vital to assess a Web3 developer's skills and see them in practice. A smart contract is a piece of code that lives inside the blockchain and enables your decentralized application to function. Basically, it ties everything together, making blockchain technology powerful.
When interviewing someone for the job, make sure they can show you their coding skills by assigning them this task.
Web3 developer salary insights
As companies move towards Web3, the demand for skilled developers has skyrocketed, and so have their salaries. Here are the average annual salaries of Web3 developers by region:
- US: $136,000
- Asia: $87,500
- Europe: $73,300
- Remote developer: $123,750
Where to look for Web3 Developers
As Web2 is a competitive market, you need to go beyond posting a job and proactively search for potential candidates.
Micro1.io
Micro1 is a platform that makes it easy for businesses to find and hire full-stack blockchain developers. They have a robust network of experts and companies eager to help you find the perfect developer for your needs. Plus, they have access to some of the best talents in the industry. So, if you need someone who's already established in their blockchain career, or if you want someone with more experience or education than what's available on other platforms, micro1 is the place for you.
With hundreds of top US companies using this platform, they know what it takes to find the right fit. They offer an intuitive way to track your candidates' progress and see how they're getting along with their new job. You'll see how your candidates perform under pressure and assess their personalities. This helps ensure that you won't end up with someone who isn't quite right for your needs, which often happens when people only look at job postings or keywords instead of qualifications and experience firsthand!
The best part? Micro1 handles everything on your behalf, from hiring to monitoring productivity. You'll only need to provide them with what you're looking for and they can take care of the rest.
If you want to hire a Web3 developer, LinkedIn is the easiest yet toughest place to start.
With around 750 million members, the professional social network can be a powerful tool for finding and recruiting talent. It is, however, not advisable to assume the knowledge and experience a person claims on their profile.
LinkedIn's search function is excellent and allows you to filter candidates by location, industry, experience, education, and more. You can also use the "People You May Know" feature to find people who might know someone who fits your needs.
Once you've identified some promising candidates, send them an InMail message or request to connect on LinkedIn and ask if they’re interested in hearing more about your opportunity.
You can also read reviews and find out what other people think about them. This way, you can see if they are a good fit for your project.
Upwork
Upwork is a common platform for finding freelancers specializing in Web3 development. It offers a flexible way for companies to find, hire and work with highly skilled freelancers worldwide.
It has more than 10 million registered freelancers from more than 1,000 countries and territories.
Always ensure that whoever you hire is qualified, trustworthy, and has experience with your exact project scope before hiring them.
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