It’s 1 AM, I'm staring at my laptop. 100+ applications sent out, and all I hear back is silence. Sound familiar?
If you're in the middle of that job search spiral (especially in the volatile crypto/Web3 world), here are the things I wish someone had told me sooner:
1. Focus > Quantity. Stop applying to every job just to feel productive. I used to do that, and I'd land interviews for roles I didn't even care about. Now, I only apply to projects I genuinely believe in.
2. Be Proactive, Not Passive. Your resume won't shill itself. You have to get noticed before you hit 'apply.' Join their Discord, engage with the team on X (Twitter), or connect with the hiring manager. Show you care about what they're building.
3. Your Resume is an Ad, Not a Novel. Recruiters are busy. They scan for 7 seconds. Make your resume easy to digest: Here’s what I did ➔ Here was the result. That’s it.
4. Track Your Progress or You'll Lose Your Mind. I thought I could remember every application. I couldn't. A simple Google Sheet is a lifesaver. It also helps you see the real progress you’re making, not just the rejections piling up.
5. Interviewing is a Game, Not a Personality Test. You have to practice. Rehearse your answers out loud, even if it feels cringey. Learn to talk about your past projects like you're telling a compelling story.
6. Taking Breaks is Mandatory! Job hunting is a marathon, not a sprint. If you don't take breaks, you’ll burn out and start to hate the whole process. Set a daily limit for applications, then log off and do something else.
Finally, remember: the person interviewing you, the recruiter, the hiring manager—they're all just busy people trying to figure things out, too. You're not behind; you're just in the middle of the mess with everyone else.
Keep going. One 'yes' is all it takes.