What do you do if you're offered a temporary or contract position in Blockchain?

I speak with a lot of professionals looking to transition to the industry. Diving into a full-time role with no experience can be challenging, which is where contract work can be an excellent opportunity to sharpen your skills and expand your network in the field. Before signing on, it’s worth while evaluating the company/use case, and fully understand your contract, focusing on roles and compensation.

Before accepting a temporary or contract role in blockchain, assess its alignment with your career goals and skill set. Ensure the position offers opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects that enhance your expertise and align with the rapidly evolving technology. Evaluate the company culture and project scope for growth potential and challenges that push your professional boundaries. Consider the role's potential as a gateway to permanent opportunities and its capacity to expand your professional network. A role that challenges you, fosters skill development, and offers networking opportunities within the blockchain community can significantly contribute to your long-term career development.

Often, Blockchain contracts include payment in the native cryptocurrency of the project you are working for. This may mean you get paid a different amount each month or that you'll need to be attentive to when you sell your tokens. Liquidity can also be a problem. If the project pays you in the native token, you'll need a crypto wallet that accepts that token and allows you to swap it into a token available on centralized exchanges. You'll then need to use a cryptocurrency exchange to have it converted into your country's regular money if you want to use it for your daily expenses. Each of these actions will incur transaction fees. You will also need to understand the regulations in your country for accepting payment in cryptocurrency.

When evaluating a contract position in blockchain, assess the compensation package to ensure it covers additional costs not typically provided, like health insurance and retirement plans. Research market rates for similar roles to ensure competitive pay, considering the specialized skills required in blockchain. Factor in expenses usually covered by permanent employment, such as taxes and benefits, and be prepared to negotiate terms based on your findings. Consider the long-term financial implications, including income stability and lack of long-term benefits. If necessary, consult a financial advisor to better understand the financial impact of the contract offer on your personal situation.

Ape into it and try to offer a subcontracting offer so you cost less to your boss. Also get paid in crypto to not give a cent to the government and launder money with NFT's before converting into fiat through an OTC trader

Absolutely agree. The legal intricacies of blockchain projects, especially concerning intellectual property and data security, require careful examination. It’s essential for all parties to consult legal counsel to understand and negotiate terms that protect their interests without restricting future possibilities. Smart legal preparation is the foundation of innovation and career mobility in tech

Blockchain companies often pay you in cryptocurrency. In most jurisdictions the legal and accounting implications are in flux. In a handful of jurisdictions, accepting cryptocurrency is illegal. Before accepting a contract that pays you in cryptocurrency, check out the legalities as well as the accounting implications of accepting cryptocurrencies. In the EU, for example, you will be asked to send a tremendous amount of paperwork on an annual basis to maintain a crypto business account. You may be subject to police investigation if the amount you withdraw and the EUR amount invoiced are not the same (which is very common in crypto). Make sure you know how you plan to handle all of these issues before accepting crypto payment.

The different Blockchains are somewhat siloed. The Ethereum network is the largest, but Cardano, Solana, Cosmos, and Bitcoin are also growing networks. Also, within the Ethereum network, there are sub-networks for the Layer 2s and other EVMs. Arbitrum, Optimism, Blast, NEAR, etc., each have their own sub-cultures. There are also sub-cultures around groups like Holochain and IPFS, which are not strictly blockchains. While skills are often transferable, your connections do not often transfer from one network to the next. When looking at future prospects, take a look at the longevity, culture, and financial health of the sub-culture you are choosing.