Feb 12, 2026 
16 mins to read Value Reassessment of Service-Oriented Talent in Historical Cycles
Reflecting on the past three market cycles, I recall the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis in Wall Street—when Services Delivery Manager roles, which ensure business continuity, actually gained premium value. Essentially, the current surge in demand for Inside Account Management positions and Services Sales Representative roles in the Web3 industry mirrors the scenario seen when enterprise-level blockchain services emerged in 2015.
In recent recruitment data from MyJob.one, service-related job postings have increased from 12% during bull markets to 28%. This figure reminds me of a case in 2018 where a nearly bankrupt exchange transformed its business by reemploying Sr Manager-level service talent. Strategically speaking, this reflects an eternal truth: when speculation recedes, positions that truly create customer value reveal their gold standard.
Cyclical Resistance Analysis of Service Roles
Structural Changes on the Demand Side
Contrary to traditional perceptions, our compensation reports show that the median salary for Senior Solutions Engineer positions逆势上涨 by 7% in Q2 2023. Behind this anomaly lies Web3 project teams' growing emphasis on:
- Technical implementation success rates for institutional clients
- Quality of enterprise-level solution delivery
- Service standardization under compliance frameworks
This reminds me of the service process designs mocked as "too traditional" during my time at JPMorgan's blockchain group in 2014, which are now being replicated in the DeFi space.
Supply-Side Scarcity Challenge
True Services Delivery Manager roles require simultaneously possessing:
- PMBOK certification in traditional IT service management
- Practical experience in smart contract deployment
- A framework of cross-jurisdictional compliance knowledge
In MyJob.one's talent database, fewer than 3% of candidates meet all three criteria. The cultivation cycle for such composite talents typically requires 5-7 years, far exceeding the growth curve of standard development roles.
Value Investment Strategy for Career Development
For professionals considering a transition into service roles, I recommend evaluating your suitability using Warren Buffett's "moat" theory:
Specifically regarding role selection strategy:
- Sr Manager: Suitable for talents with traditional finance operational backgrounds aiming to build Web3 service ecosystems
- Services Sales Representative roles: Ideal for former SaaS solution sales experts
- Senior Solutions Engineer positions: Best suited for full-stack engineers transitioning from technical roles
Notably, compensation structures for these roles are undergoing historic transformation—with base salary components rising from 40% to 65%, striking similarities to post-2009 Wall Street compensation reforms.
Rebalancing Risks and Opportunities
The current market enthusiasm for service talent also harbors pitfalls. In 2021, I witnessed certain hastily transitioned Services Delivery Manager roles fail due to lack of blockchain fundamentals knowledge. We must guard against:
- Purely traditional backgrounds ignoring Web3 native work methods
- Overreliance on past experience while resisting learning new smart contract architectures
- Underestimating customer education costs in decentralized environments
In recent employer surveys on MyJob.one, 78% of Web3 companies stated they need not just service performers, but paradigm-shifting strategic talents. This reminds me of the common traits among successful post-2008 investment bankers—who respected traditional financial rules yet dared to break service boundaries.
Historical Perspective from Veterans
After observing 12 years of talent market fluctuations, I want to emphasize: the value curve of Web3 service roles differs fundamentally from traditional internet sectors. When I advised a colleague to abandon a high-paying PM role for a Senior Solutions Engineer position in 2016, it faced widespread skepticism. But today, his career safety margin far exceeds his peers.
For those at a career crossroads, my ultimate advice is to plan your career with VC thinking—short-term focus on skill alignment, medium-term on industry growth potential, and long-term on paradigm transformation possibilities. In MyJob.one's recruitment data, talents combining traditional service rigor with Web3 innovation thinking are gaining unprecedented premium value.
History never repeats, but always rhymes. When market noise subsides, what endures through cycles are always those service providers who create genuine value for customers—whether they're called Sr Manager, Services Delivery Manager, or any other title.
