20+ years in finance but not getting interviews in Web3 — what am I missing?

Sebastian Luna · 2024-11-11T18:30:47+00:00

Hey everyone,I need some honest advice because I’m very frustrated now. I’ve been working in finance for more than 20 years. This includes accounting, bookkeeping, analysis, managing teams, controlling — everything.Since last year, I’ve been trying to move into Web3/crypto.I’ve been following this space since around 2020.I genuinely feel this industry has a future, so I decided to try seriously.It’s been almost six months of applying for roles.I haven’t received even a single interview.Most applications just go nowhere.When I do get feedback, it’s always the same points:• Wrong country — I’m based in India, and this seems to be an issue.• Wrong experience — they ask for crypto-native or banking background. I’ve managed finance teams for years, but that doesn’t seem to count.• Overqualified — for junior or entry-level roles.• Wrong tools — Python keeps coming up. I understand why it’s useful, but I’m from finance, not a developer. Still, I’m ready to learn if needed.What confuses me more is this. I’ve spoken to a few finance analysts working in crypto companies.I used to manage and review the same kind of work earlier in my career.Right now, it feels like I’m just sending my CV into a black hole.I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Should I rewrite my resume?Should I reduce my experience? Or is there something specific about how Web3 finance teams hire that I’m missing? Any real advice would really help.Thanks.

20+ years in finance but not getting interviews in Web3 — what am I missing?

Sebastian Luna
@XrjRjAi

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Views: 1.6K

Hey everyone,
I need some honest advice because I’m very frustrated now. I’ve been working in finance for more than 20 years. This includes accounting, bookkeeping, analysis, managing teams, controlling — everything.
Since last year, I’ve been trying to move into Web3/crypto.
I’ve been following this space since around 2020.
I genuinely feel this industry has a future, so I decided to try seriously.
It’s been almost six months of applying for roles.
I haven’t received even a single interview.
Most applications just go nowhere.
When I do get feedback, it’s always the same points:
• Wrong country — I’m based in India, and this seems to be an issue.
• Wrong experience — they ask for crypto-native or banking background. I’ve managed finance teams for years, but that doesn’t seem to count.
• Overqualified — for junior or entry-level roles.
• Wrong tools — Python keeps coming up. I understand why it’s useful, but I’m from finance, not a developer. Still, I’m ready to learn if needed.
What confuses me more is this. I’ve spoken to a few finance analysts working in crypto companies.I used to manage and review the same kind of work earlier in my career.
Right now, it feels like I’m just sending my CV into a black hole.
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Should I rewrite my resume?
Should I reduce my experience? Or is there something specific about how Web3 finance teams hire that I’m missing? Any real advice would really help.
Thanks.

8

Replies

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Replies

FintechLee

@FintechLee • 1w

I’ve seen this happen with many senior finance folks entering Web3. The issue usually isn’t skill. It’s how Web3 companies screen people.

Most Web3 finance teams are still very small. They don’t hire “finance leaders” first. They hire people who can do the work hands-on from day one — dashboards, token reporting, treasury tracking, compliance docs, sometimes even SQL or Python basics.

When they see 20+ years experience, two things happen:

They assume you’ll expect leadership or strategy work

They worry you won’t stay long in an IC role

That’s why “overqualified” comes up.

One suggestion: create two resumes. One senior version. One stripped-down “finance ops / analyst” version.

Also, show Web3-specific work clearly: – DAO treasury tracking – Token inflow / outflow – Stablecoin accounting – On-chain reporting tools

Even small freelance or DAO work helps more than certificates.

ChainPenLilly

@ChainPenLilly • 1w

I’ll be blunt, because this is how hiring actually works in Web3.

Many crypto startups silently filter for: – US / EU time zones – Crypto-native signals – People already inside the ecosystem

This isn’t fair, but it’s common.

For India-based candidates, resumes often don’t even reach the finance lead. They get filtered earlier by recruiters or founders who don’t understand finance deeply.

Another issue is titles. If your resume says “Head”, “Controller”, or “Senior Manager”, founders assume: – high salary expectations – low flexibility – resistance to chaos

Web3 finance is messy. Tools are half-built. Processes break often.

If you want interviews, position yourself as: “Finance ops person who can clean chaos.”

Less leadership language. More execution language.

It feels wrong after 20 years, but it works.

Sebastian Luna

@XrjRjAi • 1w

Hey guys, great suggestions! I really appreciate you took the time to share some advice, it's really helpful! I was just re-reading my post and found out it says I'm based in India, it's really weird, since I'm from Argentina and I find it really hard to belive that I may have 'mispelled' my country. Anyways, in my case, time zone, aligns pretty well. I have tried with a "simpler" resume, wich at least got me some interviews. It's been over a year since my original post, and in that time I've learnt a lot more about python and sql, I find your comments insightful because I am very hands-on, the truth is that those 20 years I've spent most in start-up environments, mainly my own start–ups, but the thing is that I do enjoy working in those first steps, when you have to bring everything up, solve problems, figure out how to deal with unexpected situations. That hint of positioning myself as "Finance ops person who can clean chaos" is brilliant, I think it catches quite precisely what I do. Thank you all so much.