The skills you need to develop to get a high-paying blockchain developer job

I often wonder how many developers out there have already ventured into the blockchain world, compared to those who are sitting on the fence waiting to see how it evolves with time, poised for an increased uptake in popularity—if that’s actually possible; it seems as though blockchain-related jobs have increased by 300% in recent times.

The shift in the developer market depends on how many of us believe that we have the capability to easily transfer to this new, “fandangled”, market, or whether we have the belief in ourselves just to wing it and move over without developing our current skill base.

Let’s be honest, some of the skills are easily transferable but, since blockchain is such a new technology, there will undoubtedly be skills that we need to develop in order to move up the pay grades.

The below list is based on the fundamental understanding that you can already code. Either way, focusing on developing these skills should be a focal point for you:

• A basic understanding of blockchain
• Some cryptocurrency knowledge
• Learning to drive business outcomes
• Embracing blockchain
• Choose a language
• Be an expert in your field
• Understanding blockchain’s uses

A basic understanding of blockchain

For example, do you know the structure of blockchain and that it contains data without any centralized system of supervision? Do you know how to mine? Do you know what the consensus mechanism is and do you understand what ‘decentralized’ means?

If you’re already coming up short with any of these terms or aren’t confident as to what they are, you are highly advised to take a course to bring your skills up to scratch. Without a basic awareness of these areas, you are going to find it difficult to land a blockchain developer’s job.

Some cryptocurrency knowledge

It seems that cryptocurrency and blockchain go hand-in-hand and there is a lot to learn from the already-established use of blockchain in this application. With this in mind, it’s advisable that you have a basic awareness and understanding of how cryptocurrency works. If you don’t already have this, there are plenty of resources out there; as well as night schools and online courses, cryptocurrency infographics are an excellent tool.

Learning to drive business outcomes

It’s important that you bear in mind the bigger picture when you’re using blockchain since this will allow you to tailor its implementation in order to drive a business towards its goals. Working closely with management and business leaders will ensure that you achieve this outcome.

If you feel like you are lacking synergy with the leadership team then it’s up to you to make that contact; this will show them that you are invested in the business and you are also looking to develop your team skills.

Embracing blockchain

Not embracing blockchain is fruitless while you are creating software and working with a business based on this technology. Throwing yourself into blockchain and believing that it’s the future for businesses and that the world will come to rely on it (the internet, anyone?), will enable you to improve your blockchain development skills as well as make you employable for years to come.

Choose a language

You’re likely to have knowledge of more than one language already. However, it is advisable that you broaden this knowledge. For example, do you prefer HTML over Java? If so, did you know that, currently, Java is preferred over HTML as a language source for blockchain?

Be an expert in your field

This may not happen overnight, but establishing yourself as a blockchain developer expert can be key in securing a high-paying developer job. In order to achieve that, not only do you have to possess the basic fundamental knowledge of blockchain, but also knowledge of its advanced uses and knowing how to adapt it to a business situation are going to be pivotal.

SEE ALSO: Running blockchains in the cloud: Benefits & lessons learned

You will need to be able to develop your continuous professional development (CPD) while expanding your on-the-job knowledge, bearing in mind that blockchain is still emerging and so your mindset might need to shift towards efficiency and scalability.

Understanding blockchain’s uses

Blockchain can be perfect for simplifying already-established business processes. It is not necessarily a tool to replace current processes and ERP systems; many businesses are looking to increase their economies of scale, productivity, and efficiencies, through diversification methods, such as acquiring new businesses.

This can naturally produce synergies, however, blockchain technology can increase these as well as amalgamate business processes for even greater efficiencies. With this in mind, it is vital that you’re able to understand blockchain’s place in a business and apply your skills to different situations, depending on the direction that the business is heading.

Final words

In time, blockchain will likely develop even further, taking businesses and governments to higher and higher levels of resource management, levels of operation, and, along with these, improve the capabilities and skills of all involved.

Ask yourself: what skills do I currently have that need to be developed? What skills do I need to add to my repertoire, so that I can land that high-paying blockchain developer job? The above list is not exhaustive, however, focusing on these areas will stand you in good stead.

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