Entrepreneurs are critical to the implementation and success of Ethereum. The ecosystem depends on their investment. So why do entrepreneurs have difficulty hiring Ethereum developers?
A simple conclusion is a lack of talent. It’s obvious that there are, at present, only a tiny community of capable programmers. ConsenSys Academy’s efforts to train, hire, and retain this talent is one example.
Yet, something else is at play, too: communication.
Hiring Freeze versus Hiring Frenzy
A clever wordsmith will point out that the word “freeze” differs from the word “frenzy” by just two characters. Further note: the letters are “N” and “Y,” shorthand for the geography, New York, where much of this seismic technological shift is happening in the United States.
What’s the big deal about two characters? Ask a programmer. Or a writer.
Current conversation in the hiring space focuses on programmers. Almost all discussions overshadow the need for communicators. This must change.
Entrepreneurs need the latter to find the former.
Idea Shortage
“More than anything, I think there is a shortage of good ideas,” says blockchain angel investor Shidan Gouran. Programmers — like creative sorts of all stripes — want to be involved in the interesting projects. Is your endeavor truly interesting?
Until entrepreneurs start envisioning blockchain, generally, and Ethereum, specifically, as a solution there are plenty of other coding challenges and platforms developers will preference, either economically or intellectually.
To answer the is it interesting question requires communicating what a project will do and why that matters. Economic appeal is easy. Intellectual or emotional appeal is more difficult. Get the latter two right by communicating the creativity necessary to unpack the problem and reassemble a solution.
Therefore the first task of an entrepreneur is selling their idea — and even Ethererum itself. Given the shortage of Ethereum developers this involves selling non-technical stakeholders on the value of team retraining and/or the budgetary needs for recruitment.
Specificity
Great ideas demand the confluence of differing perspectives. By virtue of this necessity a less technical founder may overlook the specificity needed to find and hire the best Ethereum developer. What, specifically, will this person need to deliver? What aptitudes or attributes will enhance these skills? All need to be enumerated.
For example, will the developer be building a blockchain from scratch? Will it be public or private?
An Ethereum developer will likely be building an application on top of blockchain. Do they know Solidity, Whisper, or Truffle? What is their existing programmatic framework?
Technical writers are required for explaining complexity in yellow papers or constructing technical knowledge bases. These writers are extremely close to the technology and often have computer science backgrounds. They are valuable because they communicate ideas to developers using their own language.
What of speaking to the vastly larger, non-technical audience of investors and stakeholders? This is a different skillset. Here is where classic communicators shine.
True communicators translate technical ideas into familiar constructs using plain language. The communication handle must be cranked constantly for any real business — or in this case, virtual machine — to run smoothly.
Don’t discount how communication supports the recruitment and retention of development talent. A communicator speaks to a broader base and can elicit excitement not present in writing valued only for its technical chops.
Virtual Fishing Holes
Find tech-savvy communicators and you will have a greater chance of reeling in Ethereum developers to your team.
LinkedIn may be the go-to solution for HR managers, but, best to linger where those already involved in blockchain technologies congregate.
21.co, for example, connects entrepreneurs with subject matter experts. The SMEs are paid using in bitcoin. As such, they are already familiar with cryptocurrency, if only to convert it to fiat currency.
One better is Ethlance, the freelance platform where contributors are paid in Ether. To list a writing profile a freelancer must interact with the Ethereum network. In contrast to LinkedIn or 21 the listing alone demonstrates a familiarity with Ethereum-specific interactions, from creating a MetaMask wallet to paying gas fees.
Entrepreneurs are critical for Ethereum to reach its potential. Focus on building content that reaches non-technical investors and Ethereum developers alike. Find your communicators.
Katie McCaskey is a writer based in Washington, D.C. She has written about fintech issues for ten years and holds a M.S. from NYU. Her interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency began in 2013. Connect at her website, on 21.co, or Ethlance.