As more and more businesses transition to Web3, finding competent staff with a solid understanding of blockchain is quite difficult, especially in development. Are you wondering how to find a blockchain developer for your business? Whether you’re looking to hire through job platforms or in-house, you’ll want top-notch talent. Finding a developer who meets your business goals and produces the expected results can take time and effort. There are a few key points to consider when hiring a developer. Identifying end goals as a business, priorities, expectations for employees, and the kind of work culture you want to foster is important.
In the next few paragraphs, we’ll provide some tips and tricks on finding the right fit for your business. We’ll discuss what to do and what not to do to find the most successful developers. We’ll also take a look at the pros and cons of hiring outside of your local region. Don’t let the hiring task daunt you; we’ll discuss all you need to know in the paragraphs below.
Hiring Guide: How to Find a Blockchain Developer
Blockchain startups are experiencing exponential growth, and the demand for blockchain developers in healthcare, public service, education, finance, and other industries is growing. Additionally, the global cryptocurrency market is estimated to surpass $7 trillion by the year 2025. With such high demand, will developers be able to catch up to the needs of businesses?
Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, finding a developer to match your business culture takes work. Using a job posting platform or freelancer agency may help filter candidates. Now, if you’re looking to hire in-house, we’ll provide some tips on how to seek out the best and most qualified candidates for the job.
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Defining Business Goals
For a company that’s looking for potential candidates, it’s essential to outline company-specific goals. What are the overall goals for the blockchain developer job? How does the company outline its priorities to meet those goals? Keep in mind that goals should be both long and short-term. A long-term goal for the specific blockchain developer job might be to create a private blockchain network for the company and its entire staff of 5,000 employees. On the other hand, a short-term goal may be to establish what coding language will be used to develop the network or decipher what kind of consensus mechanism will be utilized. Having a clear and specific target will give the candidate a better understanding of the work ahead. Also, these long and short-term goals will allow the developer to create a timeline of daily goals to be met to get the job done right.
With the rise of remote developer jobs, many companies are adopting a new style of work that’s more flexible and more attractive to the new generation of blockchain developers. Pay rates for blockchain developers are also significantly more than traditional developer roles. So, if you’re wondering how to find a blockchain developer, it’ll be important to note that remote jobs that offer competitive pay are rising, and you’ll want to match or go beyond what the competitors offer.
Online Platforms to Find Developers
Another tip on how to find a blockchain developer is to use job platforms such as LinkedIn and Toptal. On these platforms, businesses can post the full details of the job, salary information, and the kind of candidates they are looking for. Some platforms, such as LinkedIn, are a general platform for professional connections, while other platforms, such as UpStack and Stack Overflow, specifically cater to developers. Keep in mind that while resumes and cover letters can provide an excellent summary of a candidate’s background, they may not always create a full picture of what the candidate will be like for your company. It’s important to weed out incompatible candidates through an effective interview process which we’ll discuss later in this article. For now, let’s take a look at the different online platforms that may help your business connect with blockchain developers.
LinkedIn is a popular professional network platform that’s been around since 2003. It’s possibly the world’s largest network of professionals with 875 million users. Furthermore, candidates can share their work history, professional certifications, accomplishments, and recommendations from previous colleagues and employers. LinkedIn can be a great way to connect with many developers worldwide. Profiles will even indicate which LinkedIn members are open to job offers. As a business, all you’ve got to do is post a job on LinkedIn, and candidates can apply directly from the application.
UpStack
UpStack is an online platform that helps connect freelance developers with tech startups. UpSstack allows engineers to use its online tools to conduct remote work and to communicate with coworkers. Also, UpStack encourages a competitive salary and a flexible working structure and claims that flexibility is a key aspect of its work culture. They encourage businesses to do the same.
Stack Overflow
Stack Overflow is a “question-and-answer” platform for software engineers. The platform serves over 100 million people a month, making it one of the most popular websites in the world. Users can ask any tech-related questions while other members can answer them. Stack Overflow has over 21 million questions asked to date, with an average of 13.6 seconds between posts.
Moreover, Stack Overflow specializes in helping companies build their brand with top talent. Employers can advertise their job posts to attract top engineers and blockchain developers.
Toptal
Toptal is a global remote company that connects companies with software engineers, developers, product managers, finance experts, and project managers. The platform is a marketplace for top freelance developers and engineers from all over the world who work remotely without the limitations of time zones. A Toptal director works directly with companies to hand-pick developers to match the individual company’s needs.
Challenges of Finding a Developer
Finding a developer with the skills and experience to meet company goals can be cumbersome for many startup companies. Additionally, with demand for blockchain developers on the rise, individual salaries are growing to upwards of $150,000. For smaller companies, competing with such wages can seem daunting. Most startups don’t have the resources to take a chance on someone, with the risk of wasting those resources on hiring the wrong candidates. So, it’s important to establish clear company goals, understand the kind of candidate you are looking for, and create an interview process that will help your ideal candidate stand out.
Now that most companies are offering remote positions with candidates all over the country or even the world, time zones are a factor to consider. If your projects are extremely time-sensitive or if consistent communication with the team is key, hiring a candidate in a completely opposite time zone may be counterproductive.
Communication is the key to success for any business. When a team can clearly and effectively communicate, they are not only saving time and energy but also saving the company from fatal errors. Furthermore, culture can sometimes play a significant role in communication. When hiring a candidate from across the globe, consider their communication style. Cultural differences can sometimes create unintended miscommunication. Thus, it is helpful to have a company handbook to guide candidates toward the company culture and the most appropriate forms of communication. Most tech companies have a platform where teams can quickly and easily reach one another, such as the Slack platform.
Interview Questions
One of the most significant tasks when deciding how to find a blockchain developer is asking great questions. Interview questions allow employers to know what kind of worker the candidate will be. They also allow the candidate to represent themselves beyond a resume. Questions are an opportunity to better understand the candidate’s level of knowledge on blockchain technology and Web3. Moreover, asking good questions is key to getting to know your candidates. Interview questions should be concise and straight to the point. Here are a few ideas to start with:
- Explain blockchain technology.
- What are blocks?
- Name the different types of blockchain networks.
- How does a blockchain recognize a network?
- What are the essentials of a blockchain network?
- What is your favorite platform for building blockchain projects?
- Can you modify a block?
- What are the pros and cons of proof-of-work consensus mechanisms?
- What coding languages are you familiar with?
Aside from asking great questions, an employer must give the candidate a clear idea of the role, company culture, and what to expect during employment. Job details beyond the role description, such as vacation and sick days, company perks, and events, are a great way to help the candidate understand the company culture. Such details could also help the candidate decide between employers when each one offers a lucrative opportunity.
Check out our blog with questions and answers on all things blockchain and Web3. Explore our blockchain guides, Web3 ebooks, and much more at Moralis Academy!
Freelance Developers
Every company wishes to hire candidates that turn ideas into real-life applications. One of the challenges of doing so might be the lack of local talent. Hiring freelancers and remote workers is often a quick fix to the problem though it can also present some issues. When looking to hire freelancers, it is crucial to check your regional laws and tax regulations to ensure that you can legally and properly hire freelancers from other parts of your country or state. Another challenge to consider is that companies with seemingly unlimited resources can “poach” your candidate and leave you with a half-finished project. Half-finished projects can throw off your company goal’s timeline.
When hiring a freelance developer, it is key to understand what their professional goals and expectations are. It is also helpful to ask for feedback from time to time to ensure the candidate is satisfied with their job. If the employee is content with their role and compensation, they’ll be less likely to leave you with unfinished work.
Key Traits to Look for When Hiring a Developer
Investing in qualified and top-tier talent can make all the difference for your company and business goals. A few key traits to look for during the hiring process can help to identify candidates that best fit the role.
As we’ve mentioned above, clear communication is key to success in any business. Does the candidate respond promptly to emails? Does the candidate show up on time to meetings? Is the candidate able to clearly and thoroughly answer interview questions? A “go-getter” and a solution-oriented candidate are key for a blockchain developer role. Candidates must be self-motivated and driven to successfully produce powerful blockchain applications.
They say curiosity killed the cat, but curiosity can make a valuable candidate when you’re wondering how to find a blockchain developer. Furthermore, candidates must be curious and able to ask questions. Curiosity plays a key role in innovation and development. It can lead developers to think outside the box and bring new ideas to the company. Moreover, patience is key. A candidate must be able to have patience and understanding when errors come up during the development process. Candidates should be eager to learn and perfect their skills to achieve company goals.
What Not to Do
It’s well known that you get what you pay for. When hiring a blockchain developer, the last thing you’ll want to do is go the cheap route. Companies large and small need talented developers. They can offer lucrative salaries and bonuses for employed developers to end active contracts. So, what are some things to avoid when you’re wondering how to find a blockchain developer for your business? Here’s a short list:
- Don’t be cheap! You get what you pay for, and cheap labor could leave you for a more attractive salary. Half-finished projects can destroy your production schedule, leaving a huge mess for the next candidate to fix.
- Don’t go in without a plan! Benjamin Franklin once said: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail“. Clear goals and expectations for your company will help candidates better understand the role and deliver projects.
- Don’t be a ghost! Consistent communication and feedback are key to developing a relationship with your team. If you or the candidate are unable to communicate clearly with one another, make an effort to fix it before more significant issues arise.
- Don’t rush! Rushing the hiring process can be fatal. It takes time to find quality talent that can make your company grow. Invest in the resources that will bring out the best candidates for your company.
Find a Blockchain Developer for Your Business – Summary
When thinking about how to find a blockchain developer for your company, you’ll want to consider all of the points we mentioned in this article’s previous sections. It’s important to invest in your company through quality resources, and resources can mean strong team members. A blockchain developer that is solution-oriented and self-motivated may be hard to find, but investing in the right hiring tools and taking time to create an effective interview process may lead to finding a dream candidate.
An effective interview process means carefully crafting questions that will allow candidates to express themselves beyond the cover letter and resume. Good questions will also allow you to understand the candidate’s work ethic, ideal work environment, and preferences.
Time zones are another critical factor to consider when hiring candidates outside of your region. If communication is relaxed and not time-sensitive within your company, hiring candidates outside your region may allow for an opportunity to find talent beyond what is locally available.
There are many different platforms to help with posting jobs. Finding the ideal platform for your company’s needs may require some investment in time and resources, but it’s worth it. Overall, the talent is out there. Finding it may be difficult, but we’ve provided a thorough guide on all the “dos” and “don’ts”. Outlining company goals clearly and using the right hiring tools can pave the way for finding the ideal candidates.
Learn more about blockchain developer jobs on our blog. At Moralis Academy, we’ve got articles and courses on all things Web3 and blockchain. Our courses allow you to go at your own pace and become an expert.
