How to evaluate a Web3 job offer.

1. Check who is hiring

Start from the company’s own domain. Find its careers page through the main site, then compare the role title and application link with the listing you found. Check that the company name, product, team, and contact details are consistent across its documentation and public channels.

For a protocol or open-source project, inspect its documentation and public repositories to understand what the team builds. Repository activity and social followers are clues, not proof of a healthy business or a genuine recruiter. If a recruiter uses a personal email account, ask them to confirm the role from a company-controlled address.

2. Get the role and working arrangement in writing

Ask what you will own in the first months, who you will work with, how success will be measured, and whether the position is employment or an independent contract. Confirm the employing entity, work location, time-zone expectations, benefits, probation terms, and who handles payroll. “Remote” can still have country restrictions or required overlap hours.

For technical roles, ask how the team reviews code, handles production access, responds to incidents, and makes protocol changes. A credible team should be able to explain its process without asking you to connect a wallet or disclose credentials.

3. Understand every part of compensation

Separate guaranteed pay from variable or speculative compensation. For any token or equity grant, request the amount, vesting schedule, cliff, valuation method, unlock restrictions, and the legal documents that govern it. Ask whether the stated cash amount is gross or net and which currency and payment schedule apply.

If compensation is paid in cryptocurrency or stablecoins, agree in writing on the asset, network, conversion reference, fees, payment dates, and what happens if a payment is delayed. Confirm which entity pays you and how you will receive funds. Tax and employment rules depend on where you live; get advice from a qualified professional in your jurisdiction before relying on a token package.

4. Protect your wallet and devices

Open application links in a browser and check the final domain before entering personal information. A legitimate coding exercise should run in a normal development environment. Do not run unknown scripts with administrator access, install a “required interview wallet,” or connect a wallet to prove your identity.

Stop if someone asks you to pay for equipment, training, background checks, or access to a job. Verify unusual requests through a contact channel you find independently on the company’s official website.

5. Ask direct questions before accepting

• Which legal entity will sign my contract and pay me?
• What are the cash, token, or equity terms, including vesting and payment dates?
• Which countries can this role hire in, and what are the expected working hours?
• What does success look like in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does the team handle security reviews, production access, and incident response?
• Can I review the complete written offer and relevant compensation documents before deciding?

Clear answers help you compare opportunities on their actual terms. If a recruiter will not identify the employer, explain compensation, or let you review a written offer, pause and verify the opportunity independently.