Are you ready to develop your Salesforce career in 2019?
As the number 1 CRM (customer relationship management) system in the world, Salesforce is becoming an increasingly important part of many business success strategies. As organisations recognise the importance of customer experience and satisfaction, studies reveal that the Salesforce ecosystem is set to create 3.3 million jobs by 2022.
Salesforce provides a broad range of employment opportunities for professionals with a passion for technology. However, you’ll need to decide how you want to build your career in the Salesforce ecosystem if you’re going to find the right path to success.
Whether you’re looking for a change, or you’re starting with Salesforce for the first time, here’s your guide to long-term development.
Step 1: Decide Which Salesforce Career Path You Want to Take
Salesforce started life as a customer relationship management system or “CRM.” However, over the past 20 years, the software has grown into an enterprise-ready platform, brimming with various layers of technology.
As Salesforce continues to grow, new specialisation areas have emerged, creating unique roles for people with a passion for CRM. For instance, you might become a Field Service Lightning consultant or an Einstein Analytics technician. Deciding which kind of Salesforce careers appeal most to you will show you what sort of training you need to stand out in your field.
For instance, a Salesforce consultant would need a range of consulting certifications, experience with the configuration of CRM tools, and perhaps even a knowledge of the new “Customer 360” system.
Step 2: Create an Admin Account
Experience with Salesforce software is a must-have for any role in the CRM area. If you’re new to the Salesforce ecosystem, then it’s important to start experimenting with the tools as early as possible, so you can begin to develop your expertise.
Fortunately, you can sign up for a free Admin playground account, where you can get some hands-on experience with the application. A playground account can even be useful for any stage of your Salesforce career path, as it gives you a safe place to experiment with new tools, integrations, and strategies before you take them into your business. For instance, you can check out the latest Einstein features before suggesting bringing it to your company’s big data strategy.
On Playground you can:
- Create and execute developer
- Access and connect with the Salesforce Success Community
- Build new functionality and features in Salesforce
- Install AppExchange packages to test their performance
Step 3: Become a Trailblazer
The Salesforce ecosystem is set to be five times bigger by 2022. If you want to stay ahead of the curve with your Salesforce career path, then you need to commit to regular training as part of the Salesforce “Ohana” family. The good news is that the Salesforce “Trailhead” platform is ideal for learning everything you need to know about the latest technology and tools.
With Trailhead, you can build your own Salesforce training based on the skills that you know you need to thrive in your preferred role. Complete trails and modules to earn badges that you can use to show your expertise. This consistent learning strategy will support your career in the Salesforce ecosystem and stop you from feeling like you’re stagnating.
The more you learn new skills, the more competitive you become in your space, and the more you can challenge yourself with new responsibilities and projects.
Step 4: Get Certified
Once you’ve mastered Salesforce Trailhead, the next step up is to get certified in the area that’s most relevant to your skills. To eliminate the emerging talent gap in the digital CRM ecosystem, Salesforce has introduced multiple great certifications that technology candidates can use to refine their skills.
For instance, Salesforce consultants can explore options like the “Salesforce Certified Cloud Consultant” educational path for Marketing, Service, Field Service, Sales, Community, and “Pardot.”
As companies continue to discover new things that they can accomplish with Salesforce, advanced certifications will keep showing up for the platform. For instance, architects can become “CTA’s”, or Certified Technical Architects to demonstrate their abilities in building advanced CRM solutions. Although certifications require more work than a Trailhead badge, they’re also a great way to make your CV shine.
Step 5: Network and Meet MVPs
Finally, one of the things that make the Salesforce ecosystem so special is its impressive community. Salesforce isn’t just a piece of software or a company; it’s also a source of passion for professionals who love helping others, and watching businesses grow. To build your career in the Salesforce ecosystem, you’ll need to become a part of the “Ohana” community and stay in touch with your peers.
Salesforce user groups and communities launch meetings, conferences, and training sessions in cities around the world, so there’s a good chance you’ll find one in your area. You can visit these events to learn about new features and collaborate with local talent.
Additionally, remember to track down the Salesforce “MVPs” – or Most Valuable Players, who offer mentorship and guidance to people on their Salesforce career path. Don’t forget to add a specialist Salesforce recruitment team like ROD to your network too. We’ll be there to find the Salesforce careers that are right for you when you’re ready to put your training to the test.
About Resource On Demand
Resource On Demand is Europe’s first specialist Salesforce Recruitment Company, now also focusing on growth Cloud markets.
We assist innovative and disruptive organisations to grow their technology teams. Supporting companies to fill Cloud roles that span across Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Human Capital Management and the growing Salesforce.com suite of skills.
The team at Resource On Demand have access to an extensive database of key talent, registering over 8000 Cloud professionals each year.
To find out how we can support you call us on 01322 272 53