Salesforce is a leading SaaS company that dominates the CRM market, making it an exciting field in the technology industry. Despite the high barriers to entry and potential salary sacrifice when switching careers, Salesforce offers exceptional opportunities for new entrants to land high-paying jobs. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions for entry-level users to kick-start their journey in the Salesforce ecosystem.

What is Salesforce company?

Salesforce Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that provides cloud computing and social enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS). It was founded in March 1999 by Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, and Frank Dominguez. Initially, Salesforce started as a vendor of customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

The main idea behind Salesforce is the concept of software as a service (SaaS). Instead of installing client software on each user's computer, users access the service through a web browser. This eliminates the need for users to upgrade and manage their client software beyond the browser. All software and user data are stored in Salesforce data centers and transmitted over the internet to the user's browser.

Since its launch in 1999, Salesforce has become a leading player in the SaaS industry. It offers multiple cloud platforms that serve specific purposes. In its most recent fiscal year, which ended on Apr, 2024, Salesforce reported revenues of $9.13 billion -- an 11% increase over the $8.59 billion in revenue from the previous fiscal quarter.

Till today (July, 2024), Salesforce has had over 150,000 customers worldwide and is behind the scenes of business behemoths such as American Express, Sony, the Coca-Cola Enterprise, the Charles Schwab Corporation, TD Ameritrade, and others.

And nowadays, Salesforce dominates the CRM market with over 20% market share, and its share prices will only increase.

What can Salesforce do?

To put it in a simple sentence: Salesforce provides customer relationship management (CRM) software that offers a centralized location for storing, tracking, and managing customer information.

It is designed to cater to businesses of all sizes and industries, regardless of their growth stage. The CRM software operates in the cloud, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly from any location.

Salesforce's portfolio of products and services brings together various teams within a company, including sales, service, marketing, commerce, and IT, around a shared view of customers. This is achieved through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and unified, actionable data.

As a result, customer information, such as tech support chats, recent purchases, and website behavior, flows in real time throughout the organization. This enables the sales team to offer personalized product recommendations, helps the service team assist customers more efficiently, and empowers customers to resolve issues independently through automated self-service tools.

How to get a Salesforce job?


1. Begin the Journey with Trailhead

Trailhead is the best playground for new beginners to get familiar with Salesforce. And many companies will ask about your "Trailhead Score" during the interview to see your familiarity of Salesforce.


1.1 Create a trailhead profile

  1. Create a trailhead profile at Trailhead and start exploring
  2. Various possible career options
  3. Trails (covering in-demand topics)
  4. Trail mixes (customized hands-on exercises to gain project or real-time knowledge)
  5. Hands-on projects
  6. Certifications
  7. Super badges and super sets

1.2 Deep dive with a different career path

If you are interested in pursuing a career in Salesforce, you have various paths to choose from, such as Salesforce Admin, Salesforce Developer, Salesforce Designer, or Salesforce Architect. You can enroll in the courses that align with your interests and complete them at your own pace.

1.2.1 To start exploring the Salesforce platform, it is advisable to begin with the Salesforce Admin trail. As a Salesforce Admin, your responsibility is to set up the organization (the work area) for your teams, including developers, users, and testers. You can deep dive into this trail by following the link below:

Admin Beginner | Salesforce Trailhead: This trail will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how Salesforce, as a 360-degree CRM system, is set up. It covers system functionalities, capabilities, object relationships, data structure, business rule setup, process setup, and more. As an admin, you will focus on configuring the application, while as a developer, you will have the opportunity to customize it.

1.2.2 Once you have gained a fair idea of the Salesforce platform and its customization options, you can further expand your knowledge by studying for the Platform Developer I Exam. 

Platform Developer I | Salesforce Trailhead: This will allow you to explore more advanced topics and gain a deeper understanding of the platform's capabilities. Additionally, you can check the App store and even create your own App if needed.

1.2.3 If you are interested in specific products supported by Salesforce, Trailhead offers separate learning modules for each of them. These include 

  • Sales Cloud
  • Service Cloud
  • Marketing Cloud
  • Tableau
  • Experience Cloud
  • Commerce Cloud
  • Salesforce CPQ


You can explore these modules to gain specialized knowledge in the respective areas. Remember, Trailhead provides a wealth of resources and learning opportunities to help you navigate your chosen Salesforce path and enhance your skills.

1.3 Resources for Job Seekers

Learn about the resources Trailblazer Connect has available for job seekers. Once you start exploring Trailhead, you would understand how simple it is to really get started on an area of your interest.


1.4 Trailhead Hire Me button

Once you have gained a solid understanding and practical experience in your field of interest, obtained relevant certifications to validate your expertise, and are actively seeking employment, Trailhead now offers a convenient 'Hire Me' button on your profile. This feature allows employers to easily identify your availability for new opportunities and directly reach out to you!


2. Join the Salesforce Trailblazer Community

Networking plays a crucial role in securing a job within the Salesforce ecosystem. Salesforce boasts a vibrant and inclusive community of enthusiasts who not only possess extensive knowledge and passion for the platform but are also eager to assist anyone who becomes a part of this community. You can join this community by actively participating in local groups in your city or town, and staying updated with the latest developments in the Salesforce ecosystem. Discover more about Salesforce events and explore various groups within the Salesforce Trailblazer Community.


3. Volunteering opportunities with Nonprofits.

"Engaging in volunteering opportunities with Nonprofits and Education cloud customers not only provides valuable hands-on experience in solving real-world problems but is also recognized as work experience by many companies. It offers a unique chance to apply your Salesforce expertise in a meaningful way. Learn more about how you can volunteer your Salesforce skills by visiting the 'Volunteer Your Salesforce Expertise' page on Salesforce Trailhead.


4. Get Certified

Obtaining a Salesforce certification will provide a significant advantage to your resume. Explore the wide range of Salesforce certifications available and learn about the associated costs. Also, if you are interested in taking a look at what does exam looks like and getting familiar with the exam questions, here is a free demo practice test course I prepared.

Besides that, as a fresher, funding your Salesforce certification can be challenging. To address this, you can refer to a helpful post that explains how to obtain a Free Salesforce Certification Voucher.


5. Select your Salesforce Career Path

Selecting the appropriate Salesforce career path is crucial for a Salesforce fresher in order to secure a job. To provide a concise overview of the different roles and responsibilities within a Salesforce project/program team, you can check out this page. 


6. How to Get Salesforce Experience?

As a fresher, it is advisable to gain volunteering experience and hands-on practical knowledge. Salesforce Trailhead offers a free hands-on org, providing an opportunity to acquire real-world problem-solving experience. Additionally, there are several options available to gain Salesforce experience:

  • Work as a Freelancer
  • Volunteer in a nonprofit organization
  • Create your own project

Summary

The Salesforce economy is experiencing rapid growth and demands a fresh influx of talent. This presents an incredible opportunity for individuals looking to enter the tech sector or even reskill in a different technology altogether.

I trust that this comprehensive guide has equipped you with all the necessary information to embark on your journey.

Certification - Practice Tests

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