Your Guide to Building a Career in Salesforce
Your Guide to Building a Career in Salesforce
Considering landing a high-paying professional career in Salesforce, or are you currently working in a Salesforce environment and interested in what else you could do to maximize your potential? Here’s a basic guide to give you a headstart on your professional journey.
What is Salesforce?
Salesforce is the #1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform in the world. It brings customers and companies together and helps you run an entire business with just a single platform. Through the Salesforce Customer 360 platform, they help unite every department of your business so you can better focus on your customers.
It improves productivity by helping the entire company work smarter and more efficiently. It automates processes and eliminates the manual efforts that consume time, making it easier and faster for you to achieve your business goals. Since it‘s also a cloud-computing technology, everyone from your team can access and do the following anywhere in the world, including via mobile app, as long as they are connected to the internet:
- Provide different services
- Store and manage customer data
- Oversee marketing campaigns
- Automatically analyze insights and performance
- Promote products across multi-channel platforms
- Gather leads and convert them to sales
- Communicate with customers
- Collaborate within your departments
- Develop custom-fit apps
- Customize as your business grows
What are the Salesforce Cloud Services?
Salesforce provides a wide range of business solutions for all industries and needs - from sales, marketing, commerce, app building, and more - all integrated on a single platform. So whether you are a start-up, small to medium company, or a large corporation, you can customize the platform to fit your operational needs.
1. Customer 360
Connect to your customers more intelligently by uniting sales, service, marketing, commerce, IT, and analytics.
2. Sales Cloud
Manage leads more effectively. Monitor pipelines more accurately. Automate administrative tasks, and close more deals faster with the world’s most trusted sales force automation software.
3. Marketing Cloud
Whether you’re looking for enterprise-level email, marketing automation, digital advertising, data management, analytics, or anything else, Salesforce has you covered.
4. Commerce Cloud
Drive growth and customer relationships with a completely connected digital customer journey.
5. Service Cloud
Unify all your channels on the world’s first all-digital engagement platform. From the contact center to the field, deliver industry-leading customer service management.
6. Analytics
Tableau brings together data from anywhere to empower your people everywhere.
7. Integration
Unify data to go digital faster, empower your business with integration and APIs, and create connected experiences that scale.
8. Platform
Build enterprise-quality apps that help your company reach its goals from anywhere.
9. Work
an employee-centered experience to help everyone at your company succeed. No matter where they’re working.
10. Experience Cloud
Deliver customer-first digital experiences from anywhere globally and quickly build connected websites, portals, and applications.
See the complete Salesforce Cloud-based Solutions here.
Why are careers in Salesforce in demand?
Career opportunities in Salesforce are thriving. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), the Salesforce ecosystem will create a whopping 4.2 million new jobs from 2019 to 2024. IDC has been the global leader in providing technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries, with more than 1,100 analysts worldwide.
Since its creation 21 years ago, Salesforce is a global CRM leader and an award-winning platform solution and even ranked #1 for CRM Applications based on IDC 2020 Revenue Market Share Worldwide, which topped some of the technology giants, such as Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and Adobe.
Image Source: https://sforce.co/2QLvZZj
More than 150,000 companies worldwide, from small businesses to FORTUNE 500 companies, use the Salesforce scalable cloud-based solutions. Even the world’s most important companies, such as Google, Facebook, Toyota, Canon, Amazon, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and many more, rely on its technology.
With so many companies using Salesforce and endless possibilities of upgrading the experience, surely one can imagine how many Salesforce professionals are needed. It has become the third most in-demand technology skill and has 2.7x faster job growth; that’s why they heavily invest in upskilling as many professionals to help grow the ecosystem.
Do careers in Salesforce pay well?
Salesforce professionals are probably one of the most well-compensated. Becoming successful in this industry requires a combination of different skills and knowledge to administer, implement, or develop properly. To give you an idea, jobs in Salesforce pay around $80,000 a year on average.
Image Source: https://sforce.co/3oUAVHM
According to Zippia, workers at Salesforce on a national level earn an average salary of $120,566 per year, or $57.96 an hour. Those in the bottom 10 percent make under $90,000 a year, and the top 10 percent make over $160,000. The department you work in can have an impact on your salary as well. Of course, different roles have different wages.
Career Choices in Salesforce
Image Source: https://sforce.co/3oUAVHM
With the platform’s diverse cloud-based solutions, you would expect that there is also a wide selection of career choices in Salesforce. Here are some of the roles that you can choose from.
1. Salesforce Administrators
Salesforce administrators are the trusted advisors in all things Salesforce. They are considered the CRM rockstars who work alongside management and act as the vital bridge between business and technology.
“Learning Salesforce is a great career decision. The skills are in high demand, and there is high-quality free training available to the public. The community, both online and off, is unparalleled. You can always reach out to the community with questions, and someone will respond. You’ll be amazed at the generosity of the community and the fun you’ll have learning Salesforce.” - Scott Luikart, Senior Salesforce Administrator at Whole Foods Market (United States), Salesforce MVP
What do Salesforce Admins do?
- Act as gatekeepers of their employer’s sales and marketing data
- Create each user account and determine the proper level of access based on the employee’s role within the company
- Ensure the system is working for its users
- Builds functionality based on new requirements
- Fix bugs
- Train users
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication (Written and Verbal)
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Business Analysis
- Project Management
- End-User Enablement
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce Platform
- Business Process
- Data Management
- Process Automation
- Formulas & Validations
- System Configuration
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 400%
- Average Salary (US Data): $91,000
- Average Entry-Level Salary (US Data): $ 79,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
2. Salesforce Developers
They are responsible for designing, coding, testing, and implementing new Salesforce software applications and solutions to meet and support the objectives of the business. To do these, they must be well knowledgeable using three core technologies: Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Component Framework.
“Working with Salesforce is truly interesting. I am genuinely curious and deeply passionate about Salesforce development. I often feel I got lucky because I enjoy my job so much, but many people who work with Salesforce feel similarly. Guess we’re all lucky! Trailhead can also keep things interesting by introducing you to the latest releases and features. There’s always something new to get interested in.” - Christian Szandor Knapp, Lead Salesforce Developer at appero GmbH (Germany), Salesforce MVP, and Co-Leader of the Munich Developer User Group
What does Salesforce Developers do?
- Design, develop and implement CRM workflows and custom solutions for a variety of industries
- Maintain and improve good programming practices
- Implement performance and responsiveness tests
- Animate workshops
- Interpret end-user
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Writing
- Problem-Solving
- Project Management
- Organization
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce Platform
- Lightning Web Components
- JavaScript
- Application Lifecycle Management
- Object-oriented Programming
- Apex
- System Integration
- SOQL / SOSL
- Web Services
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 206%
- Average Salary (US Data): $108,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
3. Salesforce Architects
Architects are in charge of designing the structure and general layout of the system. They always look at the bigger picture and resolve things before they become an issue. They are also considered the most trusted digital advisors and respected team leaders.
“My “marriage” to Salesforce started way back in 2008 when I landed a job in Sales Ops as a reporting analyst supporting 250 salespeople and four other admins in markets around the world. I was told one of the systems I’d be working with would be Salesforce. “Have you ever heard of it?” I was asked. At that time, I hadn’t, but it would end up changing my life.” - Gemma Blezard, CEO at The Architect Club (United Kingdom), 16x Certified Salesforce Architect and Founder of Ladies Be Architects
What do Salesforce Architects do?
- Design domain-specific, multi-cloud solutions
- Identify and resolve issues early on
- Solve complex, large-scale customer challenges
- Serve as executive-level strategic advisors
- Communicate technical solutions and design tradeoffs effectively to business stakeholders
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Project Management
- Organization
- Writing
- Planning
- Management
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce
- Object-oriented Development
- Knowledge of web applications, databases, and program languages
- System Architecture
- API Integration
- Application Design
- Business Process
- Data Management
- Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL)
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 1,292%
- Average Salary (US Data): $105,000 - $141,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
4. Salesforce Business Analysts
They guide businesses to improve their processes and efficiency in Salesforce. They thrive in data gathering and analyzing key insights that help in creating actionable recommendations and strategies.
“Don’t be afraid just to get started! Like everything else, taking that first step is the hardest. Don’t be afraid to dive in, explore, and ask questions. I think everyone I have met who works with Salesforce is similar to me…when asked, “So, how does that work?” our eyes light up, and we love geeking out. We are just waiting to be asked, and we love sharing!” - Heeyeon Park, Lead Solution Engineer at Salesforce.org (United States), Non-profit Trailblazer
What does Salesforce Business Analysts do?
- Understand business needs
- Helps in drafting specifications and framing of the Salesforce project
- Gather requirements for business process analysis
- Manage complex multi-cloud CRM consulting projects
- Configure Salesforce and develop new solutions
- Analyze and identify performance indicators
- Prepare and facilitate workshops
- Perform end-to-end cross-discipline leadership
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Project Management
- Organization
- Writing
- Detail-oriented
- Problem Solving
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce Platform
- Business Analysis
- Data Analysis
- Data Management
- Scripting Languages: SQL, Python
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 240%
- Average Salary (US Data): $84,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
5. Salesforce Marketers
As Marketers, they are responsible for creating campaigns that target the right audience and craft personalized consumer journeys. With the power of Salesforce, they have instant access to data which helps them track performance faster and develop more effective strategies and retain customers.
“I am so thankful for all of the opportunities that Salesforce and Pardot have given me. I can live well, work in an exciting technology field, be 100% myself, and be a part of the Trailblazer community!” - Sara McNamara, Senior Marketing Ops Manager at Cloudera (United States), Trailhead ranger and 3x Salesforce Certified Marketing Automation Manager
What do Salesforce Marketers do?
- Create marketing strategies
- Implement and oversee campaigns
- Personalize customer journey
- Integrate and monitor key marketing platforms
- Track and reports performance metrics across channels
- Gather leads and analyze the behavior
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Organization
- Communication
- Project Management
- Writing
- Planning
- Creativity
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Marketing Cloud
- Social Media
- Salesforce Platform
- Product Marketing
- Marketing Automation
- Market Strategy and Analysis
- Email Marketing
Salary
- Average Salary (US Data): $69,000 - $ 100,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
6. Salesforce Salesmen
They grow their network by building long-term partnerships. Their goal is to make businesses succeed by consulting, listening deeply to what the business needs, and presenting solutions backed by collaborative cross-functional teams.
“In my role as an Account Executive, I use Trailhead to stay on top of all the latest in Salesforce technology. Salespeople must stay relevant when speaking to their customers about the new products that they are interested in.” - Mike Martin, Chief Customer Officer at 10K Advisors (United States), 4x Salesforce MVP, and Indianapolis Salesforce User Group Leader
What do Salesforce Salesmen do?
- Act as a consultant with customers on the Salesforce Platform to create solutions
- Evangelize Salesforce by generating new business through inbound and outbound opportunities
- Pitch the suite of products to executives at prospective companies
- Develop a technical sales strategy
- Present product offerings and architecture to prospects and customers
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Time Management
- Writing
- Customer Service
- Presentation Skills
- Organization
- Relationship Building
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Sales
- Prospecting
- Closing
- Opportunity Management
- Inside Sales
- Account Management
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 123%
- Average Salary (US Data): $67,500
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
7. Salesforce Consultants
Consultants are the trusted advisors and have a greater in-depth knowledge of Salesforce. The success of their customers is their number 1 priority, so they should be able to add value to the business, deliver innovative solutions, and work to help companies meet their goals.
“Please don’t be afraid of innovation. You can learn so much on Trailhead, and you should not shy away from implementing your new skills at work. You should become the Salesforce subject matter expert at your company. Admins should be brave and arm themselves with the resources from Trailhead to educate their teams on what’s best for the road ahead..” - Sadahiro Suzuki, Salesforce Consultant at NTT TechnoCross Corporation (Japan), multi-certified, Lightning Champion, and Salesforce MVP
What does Salesforce Consultants do?
- Gather business needs and translate them into processes and technical solutions
- Plan and budget the project
- Control the quality of data
- Configure and implement solutions
- Train end-users
- Manage projects
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Writing
- Teamwork / Collaboration
- Presentation Skills
- Problem Solving
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Salesforce Platform
- Sales
- Project Management
- Business Development
- Customer Service
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 9%
- Average Salary (US Data): $110,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
8. Salesforce Services
As believers of excellent customer service, they considered achieving high customer satisfaction as their greatest reward.
“I’ve learned pretty much everything I know about Salesforce from Trailhead. At first, I used Trailhead mostly for troubleshooting, but then I started diving deep and following the trails. I also use Trailhead as an onboarding tool.” - Julie ODonnell, Director of Client Services at TimeTrade (United States), Salesforce Certified Administrator and Service Cloud Expert
What do Salesforce Services do?
- Foster one-to-one marketing relationships with every customer across multiple channels and devices.
- Respond to customers across a variety of social platforms
- Manage multiple cases across multiple channels
- Create and access resources within the company’s knowledge base
- Direct cases and leads to specific people
- Reports and analyzes performance metrics
Skills and Qualities Needed
- Communication
- Teamwork / Collaboration
- Planning
- Solution-oriented Thinking
- Patience
Technical Skills Recruiters Look For
- Customer Service
- Project Management
- Salesforce Service Cloud
- Budgeting
- Scheduling
Growth Rate and Salary
- Annual Growth Rate: 200%
- Average Salary (US Data): $53,000
If you think this role is for you, start skilling up today with a curated learning path for you.
How to kickstart your Salesforce career?
Improve and reach greater heights in your career by learning more and getting certifications. According to Ebsta, if you are new to Salesforce, you have to spend a minimum of 10hrs/week, and it takes 6 weeks to be ready for the Salesforce admin certification exam. If you have previous experience, you may complete it in 2-3 weeks at the same pace. Lucky for everyone, Salesforce and other content creators have made it easier for anyone to understand the platform. Here are ways to widen your knowledge:
1. Journey to TrailHead - Learn and Earn SuperBadges and Certifications
Image Source: https://sforce.co/3ovSTA8
It’s a fun way to learn in-demand skills in Salesforce, earn resume-worthy credentials, and connect to opportunities - all these for free! Learning topics are organized into modules, which are broken up into units. You earn points by completing a quiz or a challenge. The challenge gives you a specific set of instructions that you need to recreate in the test platform, which is a good way to introduce yourself to the basics of using Salesforce.
For those who want to build a career or business in Salesforce, you can get certifications and super badges that you can use to promote your expertise level. Click here to get started today.
How to become Salesforce Certified?
If you want to take your career further, getting a Salesforce Certification is very important. It is the ultimate benchmark that recognizes your skill as a professional and will lead you a step closer to your goals.
There are different certifications for different roles. To give you an idea of how it works, each role will have a specific certification path which includes understanding the basics, sharpening your skills, preparing and studying, and getting certified through an examination. Yes, you need to sit for an exam which will cost you around $200. Learn more about certification here.
2. Explore the Salesforce Website
The Salesforce website in itself can provide you the basics of getting to know the platform better as there are a lot of resources available from free demos, product guides, articles, and customer stories.
If you navigate through each page of the website, you will understand what it can do for you and how you see yourself in the ecosystem. It also has areas where you can reach out and connect with millions of people who can guide you in Salesforce. Click here to visit the website.
3. Be Part of the TrailBlazer Community
Now that you have a basic understanding of what Salesforce is, it’s time to get to know and interact with the community. The Trailblazer Community is your own support system as you thrive in the Salesforce economy. You’ll be able to interact with millions of peers and mentors worldwide - from getting answers to your questions, joining featured groups for certain topics, exchanging ideas, finding community group meetings, and simply growing your network connections.
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Engaging with the community helps you in your Salesforce journey to find solutions and inspirations from fellow professionals. Start building your profile and meet the community here.
4. Watch a Salesforce Crash Course on YouTube
Depending on what you need to know, there are many educational videos available online, from beginner’s tutorials to a full 9-hour crash course. If you are a visual learner, you’ll find it easier to understand by watching these videos that we’ve compiled for you.
5. Register and Join Free Events
Image Source: https://sforce.co/3vtKfFa
Maximize the free webinars and digital events and attend as many as you can. Not only will this broaden your knowledge and perspective, but it will also widen your connections globally.
Depending on which type of Salesforce user are you, you can select any of the below to explore their upcoming events:
What does the future predict for careers in Salesforce?
The business world changed massively last year due to the effects of the pandemic, so the digital transformation is a matter of survival. Salesforce and automation have become even more vital to all industries. Its game-changing cloud-based solutions will continue to expand and open more opportunities for professionals as it saw a 38% rise in its job listings from 2020-2021.
According to the latest Salesforce financial reports, the revenue for the fiscal year 2020 surpassed $17 billion, reaching the annual Salesforce growth rate of almost 29%. The company’s executives currently believe that the company’s revenue will reach $20 billion with an annual growth rate of 17%.
Find a Salesforce Job Today!
If you have decided to push through with your Salesforce career, you can access a diverse list of opportunities across the globe through Jobssie - the #1 website for Salesforce jobs. It’s easy to use and easy to find your next job!
