The Power Of Language in Attracting Bitcoin Talent
How Unintentional Language Choices Can Influence Who Applies (and Who Doesn't)
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I was discussing this with one of our POW Lab members.
She is highly competent, deeply aligned with Bitcoin, and exactly the kind of thoughtful, reliable, high-signal person many startups say they want.
But she had read a job description that made her hesitate. She said it sounded “insane.” Almost like the company needed someone to parachute into chaos, carry the entire operation alone, and never ask for support.
I had to read the job description three times. Three times before I could read in between the lines that this could actually be a really enjoyable job, plus a strong fit for her.
So we did a simple exercise. We asked ChatGPT to translate the job description into more balanced language.
Same role. Same standards. Same level of responsibility. Just in a language that resonated better with us.
It completely changed her perspective.
It went from:
“I don’t know if I’m the kind of person they want.”
To:
“Actually, I could do this.”
The job did not become easier. It became clearer.
The hidden filter
Did you know there’s such a thing as “gendered language” in job descriptions?
No, it’s not a new “woke” term. It’s a practical observation.
Some words and phrases tend to carry masculine-coded signals, and some carry feminine-coded signals. It’s understandable - men and women communicate differently, and if the job description is written (or prompted) by a man, it will sound in a way that resonates and makes sense to him. Unless he makes a conscious effort to neutralize the language.
For example, startup job descriptions often use words like:
Dominate
Crush
Rockstar
Relentless
Own this end-to-end
No hand-holding
High-pressure environment
Aggressive growth
And they may include phrases like:
“You thrive under pressure.”
“You bring a high level of autonomy and accountability.”
“You execute, not just plan.”
None of this is wrong. But when the entire job description is written in this register, it can unintentionally filter out some high-agency candidates.
Especially women, who may not recognize themselves in the role.
What hiring managers can do
If you write Bitcoin job descriptions, you can of course use this as an intentional filter. If you want to attract only a certain type of person, lean into the language that you believe resonates with them.
But if you want to attract a wider range of high-agency talent, including women, you may need to neutralize the language a bit.
Run the job description through an LLM and ask it to analyze for masculine vs. feminine-coded language. Then rewrite in a more neutral, balanced tone while staying honest and direct.
What women can do
If you are a woman in Bitcoin - or anyone reading a job description with some initial hesitation - translate it! Read it in a language that resonates more with you. Not to fool yourself, but to see the role clearly before rejecting yourself.
Because sometimes the door is more open than the wording makes it sound.
Be intentional about job descriptions
Bitcoin needs builders. It needs people who can write, sell, teach, design, code, support customers, grow communities, manage operations, build partnerships, run events, tell better stories, and make hard things understandable.
It needs ownership. It needs resilience. It needs calm execution in uncertain environments.
Those strengths are not male or female. They are human. They are Bitcoin.
But people arrive at them through different paths, and they may recognize opportunity through different language.
So if you are a hiring manager, be intentional about how you write job descriptions: use or reduce the language filters consciously.
And if you're a Bitcoin career builder and want to discuss this sort of thing in a group of peers, join us in the POW Lab!
Enjoy your Sunday!
Thanks for being part of the Bitvocation community 🧡