Scaling Crypto Talent
Understanding Recruitment played a vital role in assisting a cryptocurrency exchange with its engineering and security talent needs during a scaleup. We quickly became trusted partners, particularly skilled in finding niche crypto-native talent like Rust developers. Our support led to over 150 successful placements in various engineering roles, contributing to the exchange's growth and success in the competitive crypto industry. The partnership extended beyond the exchange, as Understanding Recruitment gained expertise in securing Rust talent for other clients in the crypto space.
To respect the privacy and security of the client, we have anonymised this case study.
Client Overview
The cryptocurrency exchange is a renowned platform, recognised for its reliability and security. It has grown to become one of the largest global platforms for buying, selling, and trading digital assets. With a user-friendly interface and comprehensive security measures, the exchange offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies and trading options to cater to the needs of both experienced traders and newcomers.
Before working with them, we collaborated with a smaller crypto organisation that was later acquired by the exchange. News of our successful partnership spread, leading to more opportunities within the exchange's engineering functions globally. Today, we stand as an essential pillar of the exchange's success story, shaping the future of the cryptocurrency industry together.
The Challenges
The exchange encountered significant challenges in their hiring endeavours, particularly in the realm of engineering talent acquisition. Initially, their needs were straightforward – they required a considerable number of engineers to meet the growing demands of the cryptocurrency industry. As our collaboration expanded to encompass various areas like DevOps, Data, Testing, Product, Frontend, App Development, Python, and C++, the hiring processes encountered hurdles due to the lack of established protocols within the organisation. While the internal team at the exchange was talented and enthusiastic, they were still in the early stages of developing concrete hiring procedures, resulting in an ad hoc and reactive approach to recruitment. Given the sheer scale of their hiring requirements, this approach posed considerable challenges.
On the Java front, the exchange faced the difficulty of finding talent that met their high standards. As for Rust, the challenge was not only to identify skilled individuals but also to achieve the desired numbers quickly. Experienced Rust talent remained scarce and elusive, making the hiring process time-consuming and demanding. However, despite these challenges, the exchange and Understanding Recruitment shared a common commitment to maintaining high standards, ensuring that only top-notch candidates were considered for positions.
The Solution
While other agencies initially attempted to assist with the hiring process, Understanding Recruitment demonstrated an unparalleled understanding of the exchange's needs and became a genuine partner and advisor in the project. As the collaboration with stakeholders across Talent Acquisition, HR, Engineering Managers, and Directors deepened, it became evident that our team grasped the nuances of the exchange's culture and requirements, making us an indispensable asset in securing the right talent. Although the exchange managed to make some hires internally, our support played a crucial role in meeting the pressing engineering requirements within the desired timeframe. As our relationship evolved, we not only fulfilled the exchange's immediate needs but also became a driving force in fostering a smooth and effective hiring process that allowed for continued growth and improvement.
By implementing pre-screening, introducing new tech test procedures, making interview process changes, providing training to internal members about the benefits of pre-close, and leveraging LinkedIn for marketing, we significantly enhanced and streamlined the exchange's hiring process.
The Results
Working closely with the exchange, we achieved remarkable results, with a total of over 150 successful placements across various engineering roles. The recruitment process covered a wide range of technology domains, and though timelines were dynamic with fluctuations in hiring needs, we adapted flexibly to accommodate these changes. Throughout our collaboration, we engaged with and thoroughly assessed thousands of tech talents, ensuring that only the most qualified candidates progressed through our rigorous screenings. Additionally, we oversaw hundreds of candidates completing challenging technical assessments and actively supported many individuals in upskilling, especially in emerging areas like Rust, where some candidates had never worked before. Our commitment to identifying top talent and assisting them in honing their skills contributed significantly to the exchange's ability to build a strong and capable engineering team.
Just some of the 150+ roles we filled:
- Senior Frontend Engineer
- Senior Data Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer
- Infrastructure Engineer
- Rust Engineer
- C++ Engineer
- React Native Developer
- C++ Developer
- Big Data Platform Engineer
- SDET – Python
- Java Developer
- Engineering Manager
- Golang Developer
- Node Engineer
- Software QA
- DevOps Engineer
- Java Engineer
- Graduate Java Developer
- Mifid Engineer
- Senior DevOps Engineer
- Full-Stack Developer
As a massive player in hiring Rust Engineers, the exchange's emphasis on this specialised talent pool further strengthened our collaboration. Our experience with the exchange expanded beyond their specific engineering requirements, and we ventured into various projects with other clients in the Rust space. This broader exposure allowed us to gain valuable insights and expertise, making us even more adept at identifying and securing top-notch Rust professionals for the exchange and other clients alike. As the Rust ecosystem continues to grow, we are poised to continue our fruitful partnership with the exchange, while also actively supporting other companies seeking Rust talent in this dynamic and evolving industry.
Are you struggling to find the right engineering talent to scale your cryptocurrency business? Partner with Understanding Recruitment, the specialists in identifying and securing top-tier crypto-native professionals. With proven expertise in placing over 150 engineers, including sought-after Rust developers, we can help you build a world-class team. Get in touch with us today to discover how we can support your growth and ensure your success in the competitive crypto industry.