Finding Your 1st Web3 Job - AMA Recap

The path to a Web3 career can seem daunting, and with the industry evolving at record speed, how do you break in and stand out? At Unicast, we tackled these questions in our first AMA session we hosted with Daryl, who brings unique insights as both a lead recruiter at Pendle Finance and a talent specialist at Talent@Web3.

Breaking Into Web3: What We Learned From a Leading Recruiter

When it comes to landing your first Web3 role, Daryl shared during the AMA an insightful tip on how to break into this industry: it’s not just about what you know—it's about how you engage with the ecosystem. 

Community: Your Gateway to Web3

"Your network is your net worth" might sound cliché, but in Web3, it's your lifeline and gateway to entering the space. Unlike traditional industries where only applying might be sufficient to quickly securing a new opportunity, Web3 thrives on community connections.

Daryl emphasized that most opportunities are made more accessible and easier to get when having an existing network — people who actively participate in Discord channels, contribute to discussions, and build genuine relationships within the space.

It's not enough to just join a bunch of communities. You actually have to become a valuable part of them. Share your insights, lend a hand to others, and build real connections. This is a space which is thriving and putting community as the cornerstone. Having people who can vouch for you or even refer you for opportunities can make a huge difference when you're trying to land that first gig or make a career switch.

Building Your Web3 Identity

Different paths in Web3 require different approaches, but there is never a situation where having a personal brand will be a disadvantage.

For growth & marketing specialists, immersion in the ecosystem is crucial. It's not enough to follow crypto X—you need to engage, share insights, and build your own voice in the space. The most successful candidates Daryl has placed didn't just understand market dynamics; they were actively participating in Web3 communities.

Product roles require a different kind of immersion. "I look for candidates who can speak about Web3 products from experience," Daryl explains. This means actually using DeFi protocols, participating in DAOs, and understanding the user experience challenges unique to Web3. The best product candidates often come with battle scars from navigating the space themselves.

For technical roles, the path is more structured but no less demanding. Beyond mastering the technical fundamentals, successful candidates build a portfolio of real-world contributions. This could involve participating in hackathons, contributing to open-source projects, or developing side projects that solve tangible problems.

The Web2 to Web3 Transition

Perhaps the most interesting insight from our discussion was about transitioning from Web2. The biggest mistake? Treating Web3 job hunting like Web2. "I see too many candidates mass-applying with generic resumes," Daryl notes. "That approach might work in Web2, but Web3 requires a more targeted strategy."

Success stories often come from candidates who demonstrate more than interest—they show commitment through action. Marketing professionals who already create content, product managers who analyze existing protocols, engineers who contribute to open-source projects. It's about showing, not just telling.

Web3 job hunting boils down to one key thing: show, don't tell. Instead of just sending applications, actually engage with the community, contribute to projects, and build something that demonstrates your skills and commitment. 

Looking Ahead

The Web3 job market is dynamic and full of opportunity. Success comes from active participation, continuous learning, and strong community involvement. As Daryl notes, "The best way to join Web3 is to start building in Web3."

We hope those insights will be helpful in helping you kickstarting a career or developing in this industry! To get more tips and insights from professionals within the Web3 & blockchain space, stay connected with us at Unicast.ai, and find your next opportunity with us!

Few infos about us

Unicast.ai

The first Web3 job board integrated on Telegram, Unicast.ai has become a central hub for Web3 talent, featuring:

• 3,500+ targeted views per job posting

• 500+ daily candidate applications

• 20,000+ Web3 professionals network

🔗 Website / 🔗 Twitter/X / 🔗 Telegram Job Board

AMA contributors
Talent@Web3

A crypto-native recruitment agency working with prominent projects like Aethir, Carv, LiquidX, Pixelmon, and Prodigy.fi. Their approach emphasizes deep ecosystem understanding over traditional recruitment methods.

Pendle Finance

Pendle is one of the major and most established DeFi protocol, focused on yield trading, allowing users to both fix or leverage their yield.