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  • Need Career Advice: Unpaid Blockchain Internship vs. MNC Offer

    Arif

    Arif

    @ofh3VYy
    Updated: Nov 10, 2025
    Views: 78

    Hi everyone, I need some advice on a career crossroads.

    I have two offers:

    1. Blockchain Startup :

      • 6-month unpaid internship (accommodation provided).

      • Followed by a 2-year bond.

      • PPO: Max 30k/month.

    2. Capgemini (MNC):

      • 4.25 LPA for Software Engineer role

      • No bond.

    My Dilemma:
    My heart is pulled towards the blockchain opportunity. It's the future, and getting my hands dirty early is incredibly appealing. However, my pragmatic side is worried about the 6 months without a stipend and the very low starting salary during the bond, especially when compared to the Capgemini offer.

    Has anyone been in a similar situation? What would you choose and why?

    1
    Replies
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Replies

  • AshishS

    @Web3SecurityPro • 1mo

    I’ve been in a very similar situation, so I totally get your confusion. On one side, the blockchain startup feels exciting due ton its real tech, close to founders, and you’d actually see how things work under the hood. On the other hand, 6 months unpaid and a 2-year bond for ₹30k/month is a big commitment. That’s not just about money, it’s about opportunity cost. A few things I learned the hard way:

    Early blockchain experience can really accelerate your career if the project is legit — funded, building something real, and has mentors who actually teach you. You’ll learn faster there than in most MNCs.

    But unpaid + low pay + bond can trap you if the startup doesn’t take off. I’ve seen people spend two years in “stealth” projects that never launched anything.

    Capgemini won’t give you blockchain work right away, but it gives you stability and space to learn Web3 on the side — Solidity, DeFi protocols, audits, whatever excites you. Within a year, you can jump into a paid blockchain role with leverage.

    If you’ve got savings and family support, maybe take the startup bet. But if finances are tight, go with Capgemini and start contributing to open-source blockchain projects in your free time that’s how many devs transitioned safely.

    At the end of the day, don’t romanticize “Web3 is the future” if it means burning out today. Make the move when you can afford to learn freely, not desperately.

  • RubenzkArchitect

    @zkArchitect • 1mo

    I’ll be honest — I love blockchain too, but I’d be cautious with this offer. The unpaid internship + 2-year bond combo sounds risky unless the startup already has funding, an active product, or real traction. I’ve seen too many early projects promise PPOs and token-based incentives that never materialized once markets turned.

    Capgemini might sound “corporate and boring,” but it gives you structure, pays you from day one, and keeps doors open. You can still build your blockchain profile on the side like GitHub repos, hackathons, open-source contributions, and move into Web3 once you’ve built proof of work. Think long-term: you’re not missing the “blockchain train.” The industry will still need skilled devs 2–3 years from now, but what separates them is consistency, not early entry.

    If I were in your place, I’d take Capgemini, learn the fundamentals properly, and keep a 6–12 month blockchain plan running in parallel — it’s the smarter way to enter Web3 without gambling your financial stability.

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