While looking for a job in Web3, the methods we use to grow professionally matter. Hackathons offer excitement and quick rewards, contributing to open-source projects is key to mastering industry standards.

Hackathons: The Coding Sprint

Hackathons are thrilling, pushing you to create a prototype in just 24-48 hours. However, this rush often means sacrificing best practices for speed. The focus is on winning, not necessarily on writing maintainable code.

Contributing to open-source projects, however, is a deliberate decision to build a stronger career. Open-source projects are ongoing efforts that demand rigorous standards, especially in documentation and feedback.

The OSS Marathon

Every pull request undergoes a review process, providing you with valuable feedback on your code. Experienced developers are your coaching team, offering insights to give the extra-mile. This longer process is essential for growth, far beyond the quick feedback of hackathons.

Hackathons are like sprints great for quick wins, but they often fall short in teaching the industry standards. Open-source contributions, similar to running a marathon, immerse you in the training of constructive feedback.

By choosing to contribute to open-source, you make a deliberate decision to cover a longer distance.