Many CRM systems came before salesforce and many more have been invented after salesforce, but none of these CRM systems have managed to create waves in the technology industry like salesforce has. The reason for this is because salesforce is a formidable system that addresses all CRM needs, end to end, and companies that have used it can attest to this fact. New customers are still migrating from their current systems to salesforce, and this will continue creating more demand for more salesforce developers, administrators and consultants.
It’s not hard to get a career in salesforce started, but to be really good at it, you will need to be patient. Even if you find yourself starting at the bottom of the ladder, the following five steps will help you get to your salesforce dream job faster.
- Get your own developer account
Anyone who has been successful with salesforce has done so by playing with it and testing it in a developer account. A developer account will allow you to test features and functions. It will also give you experience in the following areas:
- Create familiarity with the installation process
- You will learn how to customise salesforce by creating features like objects and custom fields.
- Creation and execution of code
- You will have access to unlimited knowledge and experience from the salesforce community
- You can create different environments to simulate the expected behavior of the software in a real environment
Without a developer account, you cannot become an authority on the subject.
- Get learning material
To get started playing in your developer account, you need to get some resources for the learning process. Material such as salesforce trailhead, salesforce learning guides and cheat sheets for quick referencing are all available.
The developer community will be especially helpful in providing their references for material they have found useful. You can also access videos on any topic from simple how-tos to in-depth learning tutorials.
You also need to familiarise yourself with salesforce deployment programs and you can start by going here.
- Network with other developers and user groups
Networks serve as a useful source of information and are also a great source for job references. Through a network:
- You will hold meaningful discussions about new features
- You’ll learn about customer challenges
- You will find talented developers who will help you to troubleshoot
- Use the power of social media
In addition to being on user groups, you need to use social media platforms as most users are now on social media. Get into relevant conversations and in a few months, you will have learned a lot from different people and you will also generate new customers.
- Volunteer
If you are trying to get a full time job, volunteering to work in a company is a great way to do so. Non-profits, especially, are usually shorthanded, and as most are now beginning to use salesforce, you can take advantage of this fact and join some of these teams.
There are salesforce communities dedicated to providing volunteer opportunities and you can start by checking with some of them.
The bottom line
Anyone can learn salesforce if committed and go on to get a full time job at a company, get into business selling or consulting for salesforce or become a developer. All that is required is commitment to the learning process and you will succeed.
Do you have any advice for people wanting a salesforce career? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Clive Darra / Flickr
Wain Lizardo has been working with CRM systems since the early 2000s. He’s an expert on the subject, and has helped many businesses and individuals alike create successful careers. To learn more about salesforce release management and deployment systems, visit flosum.com.
Leave a Reply