Getting Started with Salesforce in 2023

Salesforce is the largest cloud computing service provider created to provide you with services that help build customer relationships and your apps and integrate with other systems. 

So if you are an IT professional searching for some ideas to specialize in a niche area for lucrative career prospects, Salesforce is the natural choice for you. 

The Salesforce certifications are clever ways to gain knowledge and skills in the most popular CRM platform in the world. Getting started with Salesforce feels more appropriate and essential than ever because end-users are increasing on the Salesforce platform. Organizations are facing a shortage of highly skilled Salesforce professionals. 

Now, let us know a bit about the Salesforce platform to help you understand how to get started with it. 

What is Salesforce?

Salesforce was established as a CRM platform, but it now integrates all customer touchpoints parts into a single platform with its continuous evolution. The platform deals with automation, marketing, customer service, and analytics for improvement and application development. 

IT professionals can create highly personalized apps on the platform. Salesforce also provides a one-stop solution by allowing users to customize products according to customer needs and develop add-on-apps with the help of the lightning platform. Salesforce also offers several non-CRM services such as Health Cloud, Financial Cloud, IoT Cloud, etc. 

With Salesforce, you can conduct your business from anywhere in the world. Salesforce provides standard features and products to handle customer relationships, engage and collaborate with partners and employees, and expand beyond the out-of-the-box functionalities. Check out our in-depth guide on What is Salesforce?

Having read about the Salesforce platform, it is now time to see what career choices Salesforce provides to decide better how to start your career with Salesforce. 

Why Choose a Salesforce Career?

Choosing a career in Salesforce can be one of the most rewarding decisions for a multitude of reasons:

1. High Demand

As companies of all sizes continue to adopt Salesforce for their customer relationship management (CRM) needs, the demand for skilled Salesforce professionals is growing rapidly. This increased demand has led to a wide range of job opportunities in various roles such as administrators, developers, consultants, and architects.

2. Competitive Salaries

Salesforce professionals are among the top earners in the tech industry. According to a survey conducted by Mason Frank, the average salary for a Salesforce professional ranges significantly depending on the role and experience, but they typically offer a higher-than-average salary compared to other tech jobs. Furthermore, as you gain more experience and earn more certifications, your earning potential increases.

3. Diverse Career Paths

Salesforce offers a multitude of career paths. You can choose to specialize in a specific area such as administration, development, consulting, or architecture, each with its own unique set of responsibilities and skillsets. Opting to be a generalist allows you to gain comprehensive knowledge of the platform.

4. Continuous Learning

Salesforce is a dynamic platform that continually evolves with three major updates each year. This provides an exciting opportunity for continuous learning and growth. Trailhead, Salesforce’s in-house online learning platform, offers complimentary resources to keep you abreast of recent advancements.

5. Vibrant Community

The Salesforce community, known as the Trailblazer Community, is one of the most supportive and engaging tech communities. The community offers a great platform to network, share knowledge, solve problems, and even find mentorship opportunities.

6. Future-Proof Career

With digital transformation being a top priority for businesses, CRM platforms like Salesforce are only expected to grow in importance. A career in Salesforce offers stability and job security in an ever-evolving tech landscape.

7. Opportunities for Freelancing and Remote Work

The skills of a Salesforce professional are not bound by location. As a Salesforce professional, you can find ample opportunities for remote work or freelancing. This approach affords you a higher degree of flexibility and autonomy in managing your work schedule.

Choosing a Salesforce career not only offers immediate benefits but also ensures a promising future with vast opportunities for growth and advancement.

Top Salesforce Career Paths in 2023

1. Salesforce Admin Career

Salesforce Administrators act as the backbone of any organization that uses Salesforce. Their role includes troubleshooting, adding new features, onboarding and training new users, and ensuring customer satisfaction. This role is particularly suited for individuals from non-technical backgrounds looking to break into the Salesforce ecosystem.

The specific responsibilities of a Salesforce admin can vary widely but often involve customizing and optimizing the Salesforce platform to streamline the organization’s processes and workflows.

2. Salesforce Developer Career

For those with a strong background in coding and technical skills, a career as a Salesforce Developer can be an excellent choice. Although the role involves significant programming, Salesforce developers also have broader responsibilities.

Salesforce Developers are tasked with designing applications on the Salesforce platform. They work in tandem with sales and marketing teams, overseeing debugging, testing, quality assurance, and user documentation.

3. Salesforce Consultant Career

Salesforce Consultants are key players in managing the entire lifecycle of a project. They leverage their deep understanding of Salesforce products and services to implement scalable and cost-effective solutions. However, this role is generally not an entry-level position, as most companies tend to allocate consulting tasks to experienced admins or developers.

4. Salesforce Architect Career

The Salesforce Architect role requires profound knowledge and unwavering commitment. Architects are responsible for designing effective Salesforce solutions and must possess a deep understanding of technical aspects like coding strategies and declarative functionality. As experts on the nuances of the solution’s internal operations, Salesforce Architects play a crucial role in the Salesforce ecosystem.

5. Salesforce Cloud Specialist Career

Salesforce Cloud Specialists are experts in various Salesforce cloud services, including commerce, marketing, financial, and industry clouds. Organizations hire these professionals to manage their cloud systems and services effectively.

While all these roles hold significance in the Salesforce job market, the Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Developer roles are often the most accessible starting points for those new to Salesforce.

With these diverse Salesforce roles and opportunities in mind, it’s clear that starting a career in Salesforce in 2023 is a promising decision with numerous opportunities for growth and advancement.

How to Get Started With Salesforce?

If the popularity and potential of a Salesforce career have piqued your interest, you may be wondering how to start your journey with this powerful CRM platform. Whether you’re aiming for an Admin or Developer role, there are several paths to learn Salesforce effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Learn the Basics of Coding Languages

Start by familiarizing yourself with the coding languages used in Salesforce. Begin with Apex, Salesforce’s proprietary language, and get an overview of the platform. Next, dive into learning Java. Once you’re comfortable with Apex and Java, move on to Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL).

2. Explore Trailhead

Trailhead, Salesforce’s learning platform, is an excellent resource to get started. It provides detailed explanations of each module, coupled with case studies that allow you to implement what you’ve learned. As a beginner, start with the Admin Beginner Trailmix and progress to more advanced trails as your skills develop.

3. Gain Hands-On Experience

Practical experience is invaluable and can make your CV stand out, along with the certifications you earn. Try designing business apps for Salesforce to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge. You can develop these apps in a “Salesforce Developer Org.” Don’t worry if you don’t have prior database or CRM experience; for an admin role, the most important thing is a basic understanding of coding languages.

4. Earn Salesforce Certifications

Once you’ve gathered sufficient skills, experience, and knowledge, aim for Salesforce certification. Start with the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential and then move on to the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer. With over 30+ Salesforce certifications offered by Salesforce, it’s advisable to investigate and select the ones that resonate most with your career aspirations.

Also read – Is Salesforce hard to learn?

5. Polish Your LinkedIn Profile

Never underestimate the power of a well-crafted LinkedIn profile. A multitude of recruiters are scouting for Salesforce talent on LinkedIn, hence, it’s crucial to maintain an updated profile throughout your Salesforce career.

6. Network with the Salesforce Community

Connecting with others in the Salesforce world can provide invaluable insights and support. Join developer forums, participate in #Askforce on Twitter, get involved in “Topcoder” challenges, and try to engage with questions posted on these platforms daily.

7. Practice, Practice, Practice

Lastly, practice as much as you can. Take mock exams, complete practice tests, and continue learning and practicing on Trailhead. Remember, Trailhead isn’t just a learning tool; it’s a fun way to deepen your Salesforce knowledge and skills.

Starting a Salesforce career in 2023 can be an exciting and rewarding journey, and following these steps can set you on the path to success.

To Sum Up

Having read about the crucial steps to follow to start your Salesforce career, as a next critical step, join the saasguru Job Guarantee Salesforce training program and move one step closer to getting started with Salesforce.

You can also check out our self-study Online Salesforce Courses – get personalized study plan, free mock exams, quizzes, flashcards and so on. 

So, instead of getting stuck in an inflated economy, practice Salesforce by giving mock exams and connecting with the Salesforce world on saasguru Slack Community. 

Also, download the best Salesforce Learning App. Available on Android and iOS, this app provides interactive, mobile-friendly content to help prepare you for various Salesforce roles and certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is Salesforce easy to learn for beginners?

Even though the Salesforce platform is vast and extensive, it is not tough to understand. As a beginner, if you learn with dedication and the correct strategy, you can learn Salesforce in as little as two weeks.

Q2. How do I start with Salesforce?

As a beginner, it is crucial to understand the basic concepts of Salesforce. And to understand it, you don’t have to go any further because Salesforce provides its guiding platform, Trailhead. Aim for the Salesforce Admin exam and start your Salesforce journey with Trailhead and an online course that comes with practice exams.

Q3. How long does it take to become Salesforce certified?

The time it takes to become Salesforce certified can greatly depend on your current familiarity with the platform and the specific certification you’re pursuing. With consistent study and practical application, most people can achieve a Salesforce certification within a few months.

Q4. Do I need a technical background to get into Salesforce?

Not necessarily. While having a technical background can be advantageous, especially for roles such as Salesforce Developer, it’s not strictly mandatory. Many roles, such as Salesforce Administrator or Business Analyst, emphasize understanding business processes and customer relationship management, which don’t require extensive technical knowledge.

Q5. What is the average salary for a Salesforce professional?

The average pay for a Salesforce professional varies, influenced by the specific role, the extent of experience, and geographical location. However, due to the high demand for Salesforce professionals, they generally earn a higher-than-average salary in the tech industry, often well into the six-figure range.