Getting hired in web3: how to build an on-chain resume?

The digital world has revolutionized the job-seeking and hiring process, with the rise of resumes being sent electronically. Now, we are beginning to see a new trend that is gaining popularity: on-chain resumes. On-chain resumes provide an immutable and unrestricted path to recording skills and backgrounds, allowing users to gain more recognition in the web3 landscape while giving employers access to verified talent pools. In this blog post we discuss what is an on-chain resume and how to build one.

What is an on-Chain resume?

An on-chain resume is a digital resume that is stored on a blockchain, a decentralized and secure digital ledger. The technology behind on-chain resumes allows data to be stored securely without any censorship or restriction from third parties. It also helps create an open platform where individuals can showcase their qualifications and experiences with potential employers. This provides opportunities for both employees and employers, allowing them to connect more easily than ever before. On-chain resumes also provide more transparency into job applications, eliminating biases that may have been present in traditional hiring processes. You can also easily update your resume by making changes to the data stored on the blockchain.

The differences between traditional resume and on-chain resume

As everyone knows, a traditional resume is a document which outlines an individual's work experience, educational background, and skills. Most resumes include a summary statement, followed by sections for work history, education, and skills.

An on-chain resume has a similar function with a traditional resume, but it is a game changer as the on-chain resume records your experiences on blockchain which includes your cryptocurrency transactions, De-Fi and blockchain-related skills. These data can be accessible through your public key, also known as your public address used to send cryptocurrency into your wallet. When it comes to applying for a job in web3, an on-chain resume will be a better fit as it highlights and verifies your activities and skills on the blockchain. In other words, these activities serve as a proof that you are involved in web3 and your experience with the tokens and projects can be seen as more valuable than a traditional qualification resume.

How to build an on-chain resume

Just as how a traditional resume would be created according to the roles you’re applying for, it works the same for an on-chain resume. An NFT project developer’s on-chain resume would display a different skill and credential compared to a DeFi developer. The first thing that you need to consider before creating your on-chain resume is a niche in web3 that you want to get into. For example, if you want to be a smart contract developer in an NFT project, you can focus on building and deploying smart contracts for NFT projects. It could be a volunteer job that you do to include in your on-chain resume.

Another thing to take a proper consideration of will be the wallet address that you want to showcase to your future employers which will compile all your skills and experiences on the blockchain. Be sure to have one wallet address specifically for your on-chain resume so that all of the data will not be scattered everywhere.

There are a lot of ways to build your on-chain resume and transactions can be done in other chains aside from Ethereum. Here are a few suggestions for you to build skills and credentials to prepare for a job in web3.

Create your ENS domain name

As most transactions will be done on Ethereum for an on-chain resume, you can create a domain name for wallet address using ENS (Ethereum Name Service). If you decide to use another blockchain network, such as Binance or Solana, you can use the wallet address to access your on-chain resume.

Trade on DEX platforms

Investing in crypto would be one way to show that you have a presence and knowledge in crypto. You can swap one coin with another such as Solana to Binance or vice versa. These transactions can be done in DEX platforms such as PancakeSwap, UniSwap, SushiSwap, SpookySwap and many others.

Stake coins or tokens

Staking in crypto is a process of locking up coins or tokens in a digital wallet to earn rewards. It is essentially a form of long-term investment and is an alternative to the more traditional forms of investing, such as stocks and bonds. Staking in crypto requires users to own a certain amount of cryptocurrency in order to be eligible for rewards. The rewards can vary depending on the amount of coins or tokens staked and also the length of time for which the stake is held. To fully understand staking requires you to know the mathematical formulas for rewards and interest.

This would be especially helpful to be shown on your on-chain resume if you’re applying to be a software engineer in web3. You can stake well-known cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Tezos, Cosmos, Solana, and Cardano.

Take part in a governance proposal

Writing and proposing a governance proposal demonstrates your active participation in a blockchain project. Passing the proposal will lead to non-trivial on-chain activity, which in turn would lead back to the original proposal. Protocol teams often take notice of their active governance participants. It’s amazing to have your work showcased in your resume, is it not?

Blockchain technology is still evolving and thus, there are more ways to be explored in building your on-chain resume. It takes you a progressive learning experience as you go along the journey and grow as the web3 space expands.

Conclusion

On-chain resumes are a great way to take control of your career and show employers what you can do. They make it easier for employers to quickly view and verify your qualifications and skills, and they are more secure than traditional resumes. An on-chain resume does not only serve as a resume but also your portfolio at the same time. Whilst there are also cons to on-chain resume, it does not hurt to explore and experiment given the possibility that web 3.0 is the internet of the future, hopping on the on-chain resume train early would definitely give you an upper hand. It could be the gateway to both on-chain and off-chain opportunities in the near future.