Today’s post is based on a massive 2025 Web3 job market survey that asked a key question:
If Web3 is “so hot” — why are so many people struggling to get hired?
Turns out, the signal-to-noise ratio in Web3 hiring is wild. Think: 10,000 applicants for just 28 new grad positions. Yet at the same time, hiring managers are yelling: “We can’t find good people.”
So… what’s going on?
TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- Web3 hiring is heating up, especially among grads from top universities. But companies are being extremely picky.
- Top reasons people want to work in Web3: remote flexibility, higher pay, faster growth.
- Most teams don’t have proper recruiting infrastructure — hiring still happens via DMs, referrals, and vibes.
- What actually works: getting involved early, showcasing value upfront, and showing you’re Web3-native — not just resume-native.
- New grads and job switchers: focus on ops, growth, community, content — easier to break in without heavy dev skills.
Who’s Trying to Break In?
🎓 Graduates from Ivy Leagues, and global top schools are pouring into Web3 — and not just for tech roles. Students with backgrounds in finance, marketing, design, and product are also betting on this space.
Why? Because…
- Traditional finance is shrinking.
- Big tech is cutting headcount.
- AI is hot, but hard to break into if you’re not a hardcore researcher or engineer.
In contrast, Web3 offers more remote jobs, better comp, and lower gatekeeping — if you know how to navigate the culture.
Why Web3? What’s the Pull?
🧠 Most respondents said they were drawn to Web3 for higher pay and remote work flexibility.
According to salary data:
- Junior roles still start around $50K USD/year globally.
- Top-tier contributors in core teams (even non-devs!) can make $100K+ USD, especially in growth or ops roles.
- If you’re based in Asia or EMs, “geo-arbitrage” is real — live affordably while earning globally.
But beyond comp, Web3 still feels like a new frontier — like working in early mobile or the pre-cloud internet. It’s chaotic, risky, and rewarding.
The Problem: Newbies Can’t Get In… and Teams Can’t Hire
There’s a weird mismatch happening.
- Applicants say: “I’ve applied to dozens of roles. No replies.”
- Hiring managers say: “We can’t find Web3-native people who can execute.”
Why the disconnect?
🛠️ Because most teams don’t have proper recruiting infra.
- No job boards (that they use correctly 😉)
- No structured interviews
- No formal pipelines
Most hiring still happens in Telegram chats, group DMs, X threads, and private referrals. And many teams don’t even have HR — let alone clear onboarding or JDs.
What Hiring Teams Really Want
Forget resumes. What actually matters:
- Can you ship something?
- Can you communicate clearly?
- Do you understand crypto culture?
- Will you show up and contribute without being micromanaged?
It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about earning trust fast.
The best way to get hired in Web3? Start acting like you’re already on the team.
What Roles Are Easiest to Break Into?
If you’re new, avoid trying to become the next Vitalik right away. Here are roles with lower entry barriers and high impact:
🛠 Ops & Project Management
- Help projects coordinate bounty programs, events, and internal workflows.
- Great for people with PM or coordination skills from Web2.
🌱 Community & Growth
- Web3 lives and dies by its community.
- Be the person who builds vibes, writes updates, translates docs, runs Discords.
📈 BD & Partnerships
- Help identify partners, craft outreach, negotiate deals, and close ecosystem plays.
- Great for people with a sales or bizdev background.
📝 Content & Research
- Translate complicated tech into human-speak.
- Write explainers, post threads, or help projects educate users.
So How Do You Actually Get Hired?
Some no-BS tips that actually work in 2025:
- Get active in Discords — help moderate, answer questions, or translate docs.
- Comment on posts on X — build relationships by being helpful and insightful.
- Join hackathons, write bounties, contribute to Notion docs.
- Don’t just apply — show up. If you’ve been contributing for 2-3 weeks, cold DMing the core team is way more powerful than dropping a resume into the void.
Final Thoughts
Getting a job in Web3 isn’t just about having the perfect resume. It’s about putting yourself in the room, showing your curiosity, and creating value — even before you’re officially hired.
The best Web3 careers start before the job offer.
We hope this breakdown helps you navigate your own path into the space — and if you’re building something cool or looking to hire, we’d love to feature you in a future piece.
Brought to you by ChainHire 🧠
At ChainHire, we help Web3 builders and believers find the right opportunities. Whether you’re hiring or looking — we’re building the go-to home for remote crypto jobs and real industry insights.
