How to Get a Product Manager Job in Crypto

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Everywhere you go online (and off), it’s “crypto this” and “blockchain that.” Of course, this makes sense when you consider that the global cryptocurrency market is currently in the $2.52 trillion range. With a full-time job in crypto, I’ve personally experienced the growth of the industry across the board. This holds true with everything from the availability of PM jobs to the number of new projects making their way to market.

If you want to get a product manager job in crypto, you must know two things from the start:

• There is a growing number of opportunities thanks to more and more companies getting involved in the space.
• There is increased competition among job candidates. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at why the large majority of applicants never land a job in the crypto industry:

• They have no (or little) knowledge of crypto and blockchain. 
• They are not passionate about or have a deep interest in crypto. 
• They are focused on the financial reward aspect rather than being excited about the technology and use cases.
• They are involved in too many projects, which tells the interviewer that they won’t be solely focused on the job they are being hired for. 

Now that you know why many people struggle to land a PM job in crypto, let’s turn our attention to the things you can do to tilt the scale in your favor.

Improve Your Knowledge Base

Start by reading key content that exists in crypto. If you don’t already have it, this helps you establish a good understanding of the basics. It gives you the foundation you need to improve your knowledge base to the point where you can land an interview and impress the interviewer. 

Other things you can do include:

• Read the Bitcoin and Ethereum whitepapers. 
• Learn how the blockchain works at a high level, as well as how it’s already being put to work. 
• Learn how financial systems work in the crypto world. 
• Watch some of the more educational content on YouTube like FineMatics channel to improve your knowledge base

It can take several months — or longer — to obtain enough knowledge to confidently tackle a PM crypto interview. Even so, it’s critical to the preparation process, as you’re unlikely to get a job without it. Don’t look at this as a waste of time. Look at it as an investment in your future. 

Tip: At PM Exercises, we have plenty of tools and resources for preparing for a crypto PM job interview. For example, read through our Coinbase product manager interview questions (among hundreds of others) and sign up for a group practice session.

Become Part of the Crypto Community

The crypto community is huge (and growing fast). And that holds true across the globe, not just in North America. There are many ways to become part of the community, and you can be as involved or uninvolved as you want. 

For instance, attend local hackathons to meet people, network, learn about different projects, and gain experience communicating with individuals in this space. 

Also, join Discord and/or Telegram groups of crypto projects that interest you. Read through them, ask questions, and connect with other members on a deeper level. 

Even if you’re entirely new to the crypto space, diving headfirst into the global community will help you quickly learn more. 

Search, Search, and Search Some More

There’s no shortage of information online about cryptocurrency, blockchain, and related topics. You could spend 24 hours a day searching and you’d never even scratch the surface of what’s available to you.

Pick a topic in crypto that’s difficult to understand. One that’s boggled your mind to this point, such as Defi, DAOs, NFTs, or liquidity mining. Google it, search on YouTube, and take in as much information as you can find. Vow to continue doing so until you gain a better understanding.

Read industry blogs for crypto news, watch YouTube videos, and stay active in online cryptocurrency groups. The more you search, the more you’ll find. And the more you find, the more you’ll learn. 

Research Specific Companies

It doesn’t matter which company you’re interested in working for, you should research it as much as you can before applying for a PM job. Answer questions such as:

• What is the company’s mission? What problem(s) do they want to solve?
• How long have they been involved in the crypto space?
• How many employees does the company have?
• Who are the key players on the product team? Do you have any connections to them?

Nothing is less attractive than interviewing someone who’s never interacted with the technologies that they want to be a part of building. The people in crypto feel like they are part of something very special and are turned off when they see the other side doesn’t walk the talk.

Complete Some Crypto Transactions

It’s one thing to read about cryptocurrency and how to get involved, but another thing entirely to gain real-world, first-hand experience. This is why it’s important to complete some crypto transactions before your interview. For example:

• Purchase a few tokens 
• Set up your own wallet 
• Do a few token swaps 

• The more transactions you make using different blockchains, the better you’ll come to understand the finer details of the industry. This approach also gives you the opportunity to experiment with a variety of products. 

Start With Smaller, Newer Projects

Don’t set your sights on companies that are at the top of the crypto industry. It’s okay to apply for PM jobs at these companies, but a one-track mind is a bad thing. You’re likely to have more success with smaller, newer projects. That’s especially true if you don’t have any product management experience. 

Smaller, newer projects are more likely to bring on aspiring, up-and-coming product managers. One trick is to offer to do contract work in exchange for tokens, as opposed to a salary. This makes your offer more enticing, as the company doesn’t have to put out any cash to obtain your services. 

Once you gain experience with a smaller project, you can seek a full-time job at a more established company. 

Final Thoughts: Prepare Through Practice

Everything you see above sets the table for you to get a product manager job in crypto, but you don’t want to stop there. You want to put as much time as you can into practicing for your interview. This way, when your big day arrives, there’s no question you can’t answer or no challenge you can’t overcome.

In addition to reviewing common PM interview questions and potential answers, consider one-on-one coaching, an interview course, and mock interviews. All of these things will help you solidify a practice plan that prepares you for your upcoming crypto product manager interview.