New data from fintech analytics provider Autonomous NEXT shows the amount raised via initial coin offerings (ICOs) has surged above $4 billion for the first time. The fact that so much money has been directed toward blockchain-based initiatives demonstrates the investment community’s belief in the impact and potential of blockchain technology.
Beyond the investment community, corporations and startups from industries as diverse as healthcare, media, nonprofits, and education are all betting on blockchain. And blockchain’s growth is only expected to grow in the coming years.
Blockchain is booming, and according to all accounts, it’s here to stay.
But there is one huge issue getting in the way of these projects actually gaining traction:
Who’s going to be responsible for building these world-changing projects?
Somehow, amid the visions of a transparent global marketplace, starry-eyed investors and startup founders alike have overlooked one crucial fact: there is a huge projected shortfall in blockchain developers.
Steven Nerayoff, Founder and CEO of Maple Ventures, a VC firm primarily focused on emerging blockchain-based technologies and payment systems, is one of the few in the investment community to draw attention to this problem. He says the blockchain developer shortage is so severe that there are “only a few hundred people that truly understand this blockchain development at a foundational level. That’s such a small group of people for a technology niche that could significantly change how people organize and live their lives.”
One example: Lamar Wilson, chief executive of blockchain startup Fluent, said he recently tried to hire two blockchain engineers but they already had $250,000 offers on the table and Wilson wasn’t able to match the salary — 1.5 times that of the median salary for a software developer. “We just couldn’t afford them,” he says.
While this shortage can mean a slowdown, if only temporarily, for organizations looking to launch blockchain projects, it’s great news for those who have the chops and are already skilled in emerging cryptotechnology.
This sellers’ market means blockchain engineers can not only earn premium salaries; they can also pick and choose the cream of the blockchain projects to work on. “In my opinion, the best programmers always want to go to the most interesting projects, while others will continue to struggle to hire people,” Nerayoff says.
Nature abhors a vacuum, so eventually the labor market will balance itself as more and more people move to the supply side of the equation. But in the meantime, there’s no better time to throw your hat into the ring and get the training needed to cash in on the boom.
So what do you need to know to get the training you need to successfully land — and perform in — a blockchain engineer role? And where do you get that training?
You could turn to one of the “coding bootcamps” that promise to make you a blockchain expert in a weekend, or a week or two. But some of those are pretty sketchy, and quality varies. Not only are they unlikely to provide the level of mastery you’ll need to undertake a cutting-edge project; they’re also not looked on too favorably by those in the industry. When asked about coding camps, Maggie Johnson, Google’s director of education and university relations, said, “Our experience has found that most graduates from these programs are not quite prepared for software engineering roles at Google without additional training or previous programming roles in the industry.”
In other words, don’t waste your time and money.
Your best bet is to find an accredited, well-recognized program that has a great track record — one that will not only train you in what you need to know, but help you locate the job you want once you’ve got your certificate.
And right now, the only one that fits that bill is Kingsland University — School of Blockchain.
Kingsland University — School of Blockchain is the first accredited school of blockchain in the world, and is part of one of the most innovative academic institutions, Kingsland University (formerly Social Media Management University). Through Kingsland, you’ll learn the exact skills you’ll need to be successful on the job. And what’s even more awesome, after you’re trained, Kingsland will help you find a job that fits your skills and your desires. Kingsland University is committed to reaching 100% placement for all graduates — and that’s something you won’t find with a weekend coding camp.
If you are ready to take your place in the blockchain ecosystem, there’s no better place to start than at Kingsland.
Jason King is founder of humanitarian blockchain projects Unsung.org and Sean’s Outpost, as well as co-founder of Kingsland University — School of Blockchain, the world’s first university-accredited blockchain training program. To find out more about how the Kingsland University — School of Blockchain is working to address the developer shortfall, please download a copy of the whitepaper, “Developing the Future of Blockchain”.
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Source: Crypto New Media
