Do you even need to interview?
Web3 is unique in that you have other avenues of getting a job in a web3 organization instead of going through a typical hiring process. In this article, we’ll go through ways of skipping the interview and getting right to work!
One way is to pick up a bounty. In web3, a bounty is another word for freelance work. You can pick up a bounty by researching the organization’s bounty page, which might be on Dework or Notion. Bounties are typically related to developing code, but sometimes you can find design and writing work. You’ll be paid for your efforts, but it’s also a great way to get your foot in the door at the organization. Maybe you can even become a regular bounty contributor. The core team will start to notice you as a skilled worker, and you could land a job that way.
We just launched our ambassador program and you should check it out.
Another way is to become a thought leader in the space by building a presence on Twitter, at crypto conferences, and in content like articles and podcasts. Then, the company might come to you! Our ambassador program allows you to do that too! A third way is to join the DAO. Start making a name for yourself by picking up bounties and holding a role or two. This is a great way to get noticed by the core team and get a full-time job. All of these ways require extra initiative and work on your end. But, if you go through these steps, you might find that getting the job is even easier than you might’ve thought!
A great way about using these methods is that they can be a resume booster for other interviews and organizations down the line. You can use these newfound skills anywhere!
Research the web3 organization prior to the interview
Now, say you have an interview lined up. What are the steps you need to take to research the organization beforehand? Web3 organization research is very different from the web2 space. Many of these companies fly below the radar and don’t have articles written about them. You’ll need to get more creative in your research process.
First, check if they have a page on Dune Analytics. This open-source analytics tool has data on tons of cryptocurrencies, DAOs, and DeFi protocols. Dive into the information to get the backstory on many of the protocols your future company maintains. Next, do a deep dive on their social media pages, such as Twitter and LinkedIn. Many web3 organizations don’t use LinkedIn, so spend a little more time on their Twitter. See who they follow to get a sense of who works at the company (but this tactic doesn’t always work, because Twitter accounts don’t always follow the company employees, so don’t rely entirely on it).
You should also investigate their Discourse forum, if they have one. This is where you’ll get info on proposals and topics up for debate. Make sure you’re at least somewhat familiar with the products or services they sell, maintain, or provide. Sometimes a web3 company exists just to maintain an already existing protocol. Get familiar with it, and maybe try executing a transaction.
Research the competitors in the space. This includes both DAOs and web3 organizations, as well as web2 competitors or future competitors. This will give you some talking points for the upcoming interview. Try to get a sense for the organization structure. Maybe the organization is a DAO, or it just has one arm that’s considered a DAO. Sometimes it’s hard to find out the exact organization structure, or the structure is very fluid, so don’t stress too much on this step.
Lastly, find out if the organization has a token. Check out the prices and information on a website like CoinGecko, and consider diving into the token split on Dune Analytics to see how centralized the distribution is.
Practicing your interview with test questions
Like a web2 job interview, you’ll need to practice some potential interview questions. But, these questions will be a little different than you’re used to in web2. For example, you could be asked about why you’re pivoting into web3, and what interested you in the space. For this, have a personal story ready discussing why you got into web3. You might also be asked about your experience using crypto. They’ll want to know how used to using crypto and being involved in the ecosystem you are, and how much they’ll need to teach you on the job. This is why learning some key technical concepts beforehand, and testing out wallet transactions is very important.
You could also be asked about which projects in web3 excite you. Web3 is very open and collaborative, meaning that many contributors or employees are involved in other projects. It’s okay to talk about other projects and players favorably! Be prepared to answer if you’re comfortable being paid in crypto. Some organizations can only pay in crypto, so know that you might have to be flexible. You’ll also be asked traditional job interview questions, such as your work experience and background. So, a web3 job interview can look pretty similar to the one you might’ve experienced in web2.
Other than those questions, you should practice some of the basic web2 interview questions, as the interviewer will likely pull from those as well.
What else do you need?
You might be worried about interviewing for a web3 organization because of the possible technical skills needed. Don’t fret, because most web3 jobs don’t require significant technical knowledge to do well. But, you’ll need to know a couple of things.
First, make sure you’re tech-savvy enough to know about wallets and how to use them. Practice sending transactions and maybe deposit a small amount into a DeFi contract. You might need a wallet to get paid, so this is a very important step to take. Next, make sure you know the basics of the product or service the company provides. Smart contracts? Protocols? Tokens? Learn the ins and outs of the product, and consider diving into the developer documentation for even more information. Along with understanding the product basics, you should also know the blockchain and layer that the product is on. The interviewer probably won’t quiz you on this, but when talking about the product, it’s best to know the base information like this.
You might need to know slightly more technical details about the industry sector the company is in. For example, if you’re interviewing for an NFT platform, read up on ERC-721s and their functionalities. Or, if you’re interviewing for a company that maintains a decentralized exchange, read about exchanges and the challenges of building them. For the most part, the technical information you’ll need is specific to the sector the industry is in. You won’t need to know the ins and outs of every detail of every type of product or service in web3. Just know the basics of what you’re interviewing for! If the interviewer asks you about something technical that you don’t have the answer for, just say that you’re still learning about crypto every day and you’ll add that topic to your list. Be humble but positive, and don’t worry too much!
It’s okay to not know all the technical details about the type of product or service the company provides. To learn more about what to do when you’re asked something that you don’t know the answer to, head to the next course.
What to do when you’re asked something you don’t know the answer to?
Most web3 interviewers won’t quiz you on technical information or try to put you in a tough spot. But, like any other type of interview, there will probably be situations where you don’t know how to answer a question. Don’t worry too much about getting a curveball thrown your way. The best thing to do is to prepare for situations when you don’t know the answer, and stay cool and collected the entire time. One strategy is to say that you’re not sure, but then elaborate on how you find information to questions you don’t know the answer to. Sounds meta, I know! Walk them through your research process and how you learn new things.
Another strategy is to delay it. If it’s something you need to think about a little more, ask if you can answer it at the end of the interview once you’ve thought of an answer. If you know a bit of information but not the whole answer, simply provide the information you do know. That could be what the interviewer had in mind!
Another thing to do is ask the interviewer to clarify the question. They will elaborate more on the topic and maybe even set you up for a great answer by providing the extra nugget of information you needed. The most important thing is to remain calm and collected, even though you might feel nervous or distressed because you don’t know the answer. A big piece of the interview is your appearance and your ability to remain professional, so don’t let anxiety get the better of you!
Interviewing in web3 has many similarities to web2. So, you can also use strategies you used in your web2 professional experience. Download our app to learn more of the key skills you need for web3 interviews.
Thinking of making a switch to Web 3? Read on to find out how you can get the job!
