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As we have spoken about previously on this blog ( here! & here! ) finding great talent is tough at the best of the times, but finding great blockchain talent is super difficult right now. Blockchain & DLT is being explored by hundreds of start ups and major organisations around the world as we speak.  To develop a good distributed system you first need an A-Player developer. These are the ones who understand workflows back-to-front, perfect user interactions and are learned in the industry nuances to required to build complex distributed systems. However, these amazing developers don't spend much time being unemployed and the companies that were lucky enough to snag them, they won't give them up without a fight. The result? Very few experienced blockchain people looking for work, and even fewer really excellent people. So, let's get to the bones of this blog post: How do you attract excellent blockchain development talent to your business? To attract the very best people to your blockchain project you’ll need to offer and present something that they don’t already have.  Great developers want to work on the most interesting project: Changing the world?   Let people know! State how complicated and difficult the challenge is in your job advert. Opportunity to work with brilliant minds?  Many blockchain developers are in small innovation teams and crave the interaction with likeminded bright and knowledgable people.  If your blockchain project has the involvement of key figures in Ethereum, Hyperledger or R3 then shout about the opportunity to learn. Remote working?  This is a great benefit that results in our highest number of job applicants per job advert.  If your business will allow a developer to work remotely then you give them the ability to conduct their work life from a low cost (usually warm and sunny!) environment and significantly increase their quality of life. You can even put this in the job title. How should I promote my job: Ask for referrals. We find that the most reliable source for hiring the best people is personal referral. Make sure that you personally shout about your need to hire a blockchain developer, tell people on social channels and face to face. This is the most reliable way to hire great people, and you should make asking for referrals a life habit. Advertise you vacancy on Blocktribe.com – Yes the website you're on right now! We can help. Blocktribe is the world's largest blockchain job board with more blockchain vacancies than any other. Thousands of blockchain experienced people search the site every month and you’re very likely to get response to your advert. Check out your competition here. Recruitment Agency. Recruitment agencies can take the hard work out of finding people, helping to build teams quickly.  You pay for the priviledge of their efforts, but a good recruitment agency can be a very valuable supplier. Be sure to pick an agency that finds only good quality people to avoid paying fees for bad hires. Social. Once your job is advertised on Blocktribe promote that advert on all of your social channels and consider paid advertising to increase the reach. LinkedIn and Twitter are most likely to attract the people you're after. Have an opinion on this? Let us know your thoughts @BlockchainTribe

The blockchain community is growing fast, and as mentioned in our previous post , is seriously lacking in the talent department. This post focuses on effective strategies and opportunities to solve this talent shortage. In our research, the main issue is a lack of education or practical knowledge of blockchain technology and a diverse workforce is needed to close the skills gap. So how can you get involved? Here is a list of top strategies to get you started. Luckily, whether you are thinking about education, training and certification, community outreach, governance and regulation, or you are looking to find yourself in R&D, startups, incubators or investment, there is so much in terms of guidance, leadership and expertise! 1.    If you are a start-up, innovation department or a major corporation, engage all available talent to build a strong foundation. This includes developing talent and finding talent for high demand positions, such as: smart contract developers, blockchain business architects, salespeople, marketing managers, and computer engineers, but also investors, financial institutions, academia, policy groups, and leaders from traditional fields that can cross-over. 2.    Plan and implement effective Workforce Strategies in your workplace.  This can include: Grow your own talent from the bottom-up. Invest financially in your workforce. Form partnerships with key industry players. Offer total employment packages (salary, equity, unlimited vacation, etc.) Consider offering your own Teen-Turn Initiatives – a form of work placements for young girls and boys to help them enter the world of technology. You can also create your talent through a focus on ancillary services such as marketing and copywrite. Post thoughtful job advertisements with an emphasis on training and developing your talent ( stay tuned for next week’s post about how to draft the best job advertisements! ).   3.    Get your company to sponsor your learning and development. Eventbrite offers so many events on bitcoin and beyond in top major blockchain hub cities like New York, London, and Toronto. The emerging block-chain space is also fueling local startup economies, hackathons, conferences, community events, and white papers. Get involved could be a stepping-stone for a full-fledged career. 4.    If you are looking to gain formal training, many universities now offer courses in blockchain, cryptocurrency, architecture, software engineering and integration. Top universities offering courses in these topics as part of their degrees include NYU, University of Edinburgh, Stanford University, University of California, Berkley, and MIT. In Europe, Cyprus is at the top of its game in this regard, as the University of Niosia has introduced a world-renowned, one-year online program leading to a Master of Science in Digital Currency. Further, California start-ups have joined forces to create Blockchain University, and are expecting to start early next year to teach seasoned software engineers about the technology. The Cryptocurrency Certification Consortium also hands out certificates in this field. 5.    If going back to university isn't possible, but if you want still want to pursue a blockchain education you're still in luck. We've written an entire blog post on the various blockchain courses you can take . This includes: B9lab's Academy , Blockchain University , The Institute of Financial Markets . You can also dabble in the field by taking Coinsilium’s Bitcoin, Blockchain and Beyond CPD course . There are also massive open online courses (MOOCs) and mentorship programs for developers interested in crossing-over into the fintech space. Functional Programming (Training) bootcamps are emerging in hub cities like London, California, New York, Toronto, and especially in Eastern Europe. A free 11-week cryptocurrency tech course is offered on Coursera . 6.    Learn how to code either independently or through formal training. There is hot demand for talented coders in Solidity, LLL, Serpent, Java, C++, Go and Python. 7.    And last but not least, be mobile and investigate countries that offer swift visas to attract tech talent. You may have to move to develop your skillset! As mentioned, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, and because there is a low supply of talent, but a high demand for it, there is lots of opportunity for growth. If you position yourself well in this industry, you can build a very rewarding and fascinating career! Don’t fall behind, get started today!

In today's blog post, we revisit our concerns about blockchain and cryptocurrencies’ skills shortage and see how the situation has changed since we first blogged about it in October 2016 ( read our previous blog post here ).   Described by Altcointoday.com as “the war on talent”, the blockchain skills shortage is real, people.  Let's face it, this niche field is growing rapidly, and if there isn't a solution soon, it’s predicted to impact worldwide financial markets significantly.  Accenture forecasts blockchain technology will cut costs by $20 billion by 2021 worldwide and with stats like that the current talent shortage needs to become a top priority if blockchain innovation is to ever achieve a paradigm shift in global banking and payments systems.   The biggest problem blockchain employer's face at the momemnt is the limited knowledge and technical skills offered by talent in blockchain technology. This is despite over $1 billion dollars being invested in the industry from key industry players, such as Goldman Sachs and IBM. However, while the skill appears to be lacking, LinkedIn has noted a surge in blockchain-related job advertisements by threefold, increasing demand even further. Let's look at some stats.   Back in 2016, Mougayar, author of The Business Blockchain, estimated that about 5,000 developers worked in cryptocurrency, bitcoin or blockchain, and around 20,000 dabbled with the technology in some shape or form. But in comparison to the number of software developers in the world (approximately 18.5 million), blockchain developers are few in number, and thus, a possible impediment to the successes blockchain technology can do for the world of business. The World Economic Forum predicts a revolution by 2027 with 10% of global GDP stored with blockchain technology. While some corporations have started blockchain labs in an effort to develop proof of concepts, working models, test cases, and production systems to position themselves for the near future, many are not equipped. A recent poll carried out by Synechron and Tabb Group found that 40 % of firms don’t have the talent to implement blockchain into their business. And this same survey determined that 6% would support training and 23% would reallocate resources to rectify this problem. In short, now faced with this shortage, the blockchain community has been competing for the same limited talent and consequently, this has led to hiring wars and high salary demands, with some exceptional blockchain engineers commanding a salary above $250,000, according to IBM VP of Blockchain Technologies. Simply put, the demand for a highly skilled labour force is exceeding supply, and some quick and effective solutions are needed for wider deployment of blockchain technology. Check out next week’s post for strategies on what you can do to close this skills gap.

This week we are travelling around the world of finance and technology. Starting with a new bitcoin initiative from India, new blockchain regulations from Switzerland and London is being touted as the leader in the FinTech industry, swiftly followed by Singapore and New York. So buckle up and let’s begin! Indian bitcoin exchange launches new mobile wallet app. The release of Unocoin comes 2 months after the company raised $1.5 million from investors and according to the owners reflects India’s love for mobile devices. The app allows iOS and Android users to buy and sell bitcoin directly. Read more here.   New report finds London is leading the FinTech sector. A report from Deloitte and All Street Research, analysed 21 of the major FinTech companies across the world and found that 5 of these have a leading Index Performance score of 25, indicating that they are more conducive to FinTech developments. At the top spot was London, followed by Singapore, New York, Silicon Valley and Hong Kong respectively. Read more here.   Swiss government relaxes regulations for FinTech companies. The Swiss Federal Council has recommended a three-pronged strategy, which they hope will support FinTech start-ups. Finance Minister, Ueli Maurer said, “We assume that with the steps we have prepared and the commitment we have to the overall financial services industry we can provide a solution that puts us among the top [countries] in the world that regulate this.” Read more here.   (Sources: Coin Desk, Crypto Coin News, Blockchain Age)

Today we are showcasing why you should want to work for Gem - a company that builds blockchain operating systems with projects in healthcare, supply chain management, and insurance. Fancy working with a vibrant, enthusiastic and tech-obsessed bunch? Then look no further!   Location Based in beautiful Los Angeles, California , the Gem office is modern with an open floor plan just one block from the Venice Beach boardwalk. The area is famous for body builders (Hello Arnold Schwarzenegger) and street performers, just think of the people-watching potential come lunchtime!     Office Life Collaboration is a huge part of Gem’s culture , so you'll find every conference room has wall-to-wall whiteboard paint. Every Wednesday they have an All Hands-style meeting called “Gem Sesh” where the entire team gets to enjoy company sponsored lunches and discuss the latest and greatest technologies . Past topics have included; comparisons of various consensus algorithms in the blockchain space, messaging pipelines in enterprise architecture and security issues with smart contracts. Having an informed team keeps everyone at the top of their game and Gem knows this. To keep everyone in the loop they created a slack channel called "Read This" which allows employees to post and discuss major news in the blockchain industry .      Nice Extras This year Gem flew the entire team to Nashville for Distributed:Health, the first blockchain healthcare conference . ( Watch their video here .) People who enjoy a spot of light-hearted competition will love taking part in Gem's socials. As big fans of classic parlor games, the team love to play "Guess the Celebrity", Giant Jenga, Family Feud, cornhole, and pool - sore losers need not apply! Games aside, every other month they host an Ethereum meetup at the Gem HQ and invite top people from the community to speak, network and learn more about their industry. Perhaps one of the coolest perks - for a Gemologist's one year anniversary they get a personalized bobble head that lives in the office. Who doesn't want their own personalised bobble head?! Click here for all of Gem's vacancies   Want more? Follow @GemHQ on Twitter and you can find us @BlockchainTribe   (Images supplied by Gatecoin and Adobe) Click here for all of Gatecoin's vacancies   Want more? Follow  @Gatecoin on Twitter and you can find us @BlockchainTribe   (Images supplied by Gatecoin and Adobe) - See more at: https://blocktribe.com/blog/11/why-you-should-want-to-work-for-gatecoin-blocktribe/#sthash.bgqfvioW.dpuf

Following on from our blog post ‘ What Does a Great Blockchain Developer Look Like? ’, this week we will cover how to hire a good blockchain developer. Here are our tips for the interview process, what to look for in their CV and how to advertise your blockchain role effectively. Don’t scare people with your job spec It can be tempting to use your job spec to filter out candidates. You will often see ‘only apply if you have X’ – which is fine to an extent but if your advert is repeating this phrase over and over again you might want to reconsider. Make it exciting and appealing so that when the rock star reads it, they will send across their CV. Remember, you can always filter through the applicants later on!   Challenges and Complexities Speaking of the job spec, great developers love challenges, complexity and visibility - make sure you jobs spec discusses the impact that they can make on your business and how visible their achievements could be.   Core Product Once you are at the reviewing resumes/CVs stage, consider how critical their project is to the business? Is it the main project or an enhancement? If they’ve been put in charge of the core product then they will be the best developer. Basically, the rule is the more complex and visible the project, the better the developer.   Why should someone want to work for you? It’s not always something that interviewers consider, but it’s important to think about what makes your company desirable. To paraphrase author Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , "begin with the end in mind". What does this mean? Well ask yourself why would a great developer want to work for you? Why would a great developer want to work on your product? Once you’ve identified the answers you will be better placed to find these qualities in a prospective employee.   Watch out for unexplained short job roles or long career gaps This isn’t blockchain developer specific but worth noting all the same: be wary of developers with unexplained short job roles and/or long gaps between work.  It's not to say that no one with a fractured resume/CV is any good, but usually great developers don’t struggle to find work. These are the people that work with companies for a long time (because they are invaluable) and they usually get re-hired by the same people repeatedly.   Want more? Follow us on Twitter @BlockchainTribe

Happy Monday! It’s time to kick start your week with all things blockchain-related, so grab your coffee and get ready for some serious tech knowledge. Today we’ve got Walmart using blockchain to avoid rotten purchases, a blockchain competition sponsored by US Department of Health, 9 blockchain firms accepted into to the UK Financial Conduct Agency sandbox scheme and increased scrutiny for US voting system. Let’s get started: Walmart trials using blockchain to remove unsafe foods from shelves. The supermarket giant has begun using the blockchain’s distributed ledger to identify the sources of hazardous foodstuff making it far quicker to pull a dodgy item from the shelves. The info will detail everything from the supplier to the courier, making it easy for the brand to clamp down on bad business. Read more here.   US Department of Health sponsored a blockchain research contest. The federal agency sponsored the so-called ‘Blockchain Challenge’ received over 70 white papers from industry and academics, with topics included; maintaining the security of patient’s medical records and giving patient’s better control over their records. Read more here.   Nine blockchain tech companies accepted into UK Financial Conduct Authority scheme. As part of the sandbox program, which was launched in May earlier this year, the FCA has given the go-ahead to 24 applications made by 9 companies. This will allow the firms to test out new innovative ideas minus all the regulatory consequences that would usually ensue. Read more here.   New York-based tech firm wants to increase scrutiny for US voting system. Following a controversial presidential election, Blockchain Technologies Corp. aims to use ‘tamper-resistant’ blockchain technology on any elections. The smart tech would report any suspicious behaviour or any hacking threats. Read more here.   (Sources: Engadget, Blockchain Finance, Coin Telegraph, All Coin News) Want more? Follow us on Twitter @BlockchainTribe  

Blockchain development is currently being explored by organisations across the globe, from 100-year-old banks to fledgling start-ups . Knowing how to identify the best person for the role can be tricky, so we have outlined some factors that can help sort the mediocre from the absolutely incredible.   Reputation First and foremost, great developers have great reputations.  If you meet a potential superstar developer, be sure to speak to some of his former employers to make sure that they agree. You should also browse through their portfolio of previous work and investigate any that are similar in scope to your project.   Up-to-date industry knowledge They will know the relevant industry systems, protocols and underlying technologies. And any blockchain developer worth their salt will know the basic languages, tools and software development methods that are widely used in the industry.    Active member of the blockchain community Hire developers who are part of the rapidly growing blockchain community. They will be the ones going to conferences, meet ups and presentations to learn, and teach.  The industry is hugely collaborative at the moment and a great developer will be someone who benefits from and contributes to the wider community.   An excellent multitasker Blockchain (and other distributed ledger technologies) adds a layer of complexity to development and one of the biggest challenge is to think in a way that is conducive to creating systems and platforms that multiple parties access and rely on.  Development has rarely been done like this before and a great developer will need the mental capacity to solve technical and business problems simultaneously.   Internal software or commercial product? If you're developing a commercial product it pays to hire senior blockchain developers who are used to delivering viable products to customers. Other developers who work on internal systems can be great, but sometimes they aren't used to the user experience and quality of finish requirements needed in a commercial development.     Want more? Follow us on Twitter @BlockchainTribe

Welcome to the start of a brand new week! Today we recap the most exciting news that happened over the weekend so you can get start your Monday on the best note possible. Today’s topics include a report from Deutsche Bank which says blockchain will be mainstream in six years, a Singaporean bank uses blockchain for inter-bank transfers for the first time, FinTech start-up company Nimbrix announces the launch of an asset management platform with Microsoft and KMPG and reports that Ukraine will be the next country to go cashless. Blockchain will be mainstream within six years. In a survey of 200 financial market players, Deutsche Bank and FT Remark, three quarters believe blockchain technology will be widely used within 3-6 years. While an enormous 87% of participants thought that distributed Leger Technology will completely change the settle model for securities. David Rhydderch, Head of Alternative Fund Services at DB said: "The entire back end would become a far more efficient, far less costly, more accurate and less risk-prone function.” Read more here.   Singaporean bank becomes the first to use blockchain to make inter-bank fund transfers. OCBC Bank claims it is the first bank is Southeast Asia to make local and cross-border inter-bank fund transfers using blockchain technology. This comes following their successful pilot transaction between the bank and its subsidiaries, OCBC Malaysia and Bank of Singapore. There are hopes that this will pave the way for other financial products and applications. Read more here.   FinTech start-up partners with Microsoft and KPMG to launch blockchain asset management. Nimbrix, a London-based start-up, has announced that it is developing a platform for the asset management industry in co-operation with Microsoft and KPMG. It will aim to drastically reduce costs by allowing instant trades between counterparties. Nimbrix CEO, Simon Bullers has called it a “revolutionary approach to software for the financial services sector”. Read more here.   Is Ukraine the next to launch digital currency? The eastern European country looks set to be the next cashless country, according to the National Bank of Ukraine. A report from the NBU said, “Like other world central [NBU] is considering an opportunity of introducing a digital form of national currency using blockchain technologies.” Read more here.   (Sources: Straits Times, Fin Extra, Coin Telegraph, The Bitcoin News) Want more? Follow us on Twitter @BlockchainTribe

This week marks the start of a new weekly feature on blocktribe, where we will be showcasing just how amazing our job posters are. For our inaugural post, we are kicking things off with Gatecoin - a regulated online trading platform for cryptocurrency and blockchain assets. So without further ado, here is why you should want to work for Gatecoin…                                                Location Gatecoin is located in the heart of Hong Kong, Asia's bustling, cosmopolitan and commercial hub .  When you’re not at your desk, you will be able to explore the diverse and dynamic Asia Pacific region during your free time. You will also have the chance to work remotely 10% of the time so that you can extend your travels in other parts of Asia.   Office Life You will be exposed to the latest developments in the blockchain industry and have the chance to learn about new technologies through regular training sessions conducted by their in-house experts . Depending on the role you may also have the opportunity to travel for work for conferences, competitions, and high-level meetings.  You will also have the opportunity to engage with corporate partners , including major financial and technology institutions such as Standard Chartered and Microsoft to design leading blockchain applications.  Spend up to 10% of your time at the office creating or contributing to your own open-source blockchain projects .      Nice Extras Gatecoin is proud to promote a collaborative, creative and friendly working culture . They are strong believers in work-life balance and respect time dedicated to family, partners and friends.  As a team, they often eat lunch together and try to arrange an after work social activity once every two weeks and during summer they organize team junk boat trips and other outdoor excursions.  They often socialize with other FinTech start-ups and members of the blockchain ecosystem in Asia as well as encouraging you to attend and participate in blockchain related meetups and events so you can build your personal network.    Click here for all of Gatecoin's vacancies   Want more? Follow  @Gatecoin on Twitter and you can find us @BlockchainTribe   (Images supplied by Gatecoin and Adobe)