You’ve Earned Your Salesforce Administrator Certification, Now What?

I enjoy talking with aspiring Salesforce Admins about their Salesforce journeys. One of the first questions I often get asked is, “How did you find your first job in the Salesforce ecosystem?” Honestly, in my case, there was a great deal of luck involved — but as the saying goes, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. My hope is that I can help you create your very own personal luck by providing some tips on what to do after you get your Salesforce Admin Certification. In this blog post, we’ll cover how to go about getting and preparing for job interviews, as well as what you should evaluate before you accept a role.

How to get a Salesforce Administrator job interview

Before we get started, take a moment to celebrate the achievement of earning your Salesforce Certification(s). Your time, effort, and focus have truly paid off — congratulations! Now it’s time to get back to work and find your first job in the Salesforce ecosystem.

1. Update your LinkedIn profile — One of the first things that you want to do is review and update your resume and LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, get one set up immediately. This is a great way to connect with recruiters and others in the Salesforce ecosystem. If you need some help updating your resume, check out Resume Writing Strategies on Trailhead.

2. Apply for “quality” jobs — I add the caveat of “quality” because I want you to avoid the black hole of applying for EVERYTHING. This was a mistake I made in my job search; if a position had “Salesforce” in the job title or description, I applied for it. Over time, I started to experience job search burnout and the amount of rejection emails started to build up. My hope is that you’ll find a company and a role that you both enjoy and thrive in, and one that will serve as a launching pad for your Salesforce career. Also, take inventory of your business skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. I’ve often heard hiring managers say they can teach technical skills but they can’t teach self discipline or a good work ethic. These are invaluable skills that will transfer well to any career.

3. Utilize available resources — One of the best things to do is to set up alerts on job posting sites like LinkedIn and Indeed with various criteria on positions. Also, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting involved with Salesforce Trailblazer Community Groups. Sometimes jobs are posted there, plus you may even meet people working for a company or in a role that you’re interested in. A warm connection or referral for a position goes a long way to help you stand out from a long list of job applicants. Also, Community Groups are a great way to find a mentor either in-person or virtually.

How to prepare for your Salesforce Administrator interview

After you have an interview scheduled, there are a few things I would encourage you to do.

1. Review the job description — There’s a good chance you’ve applied for many jobs in your search. Be sure the specific responsibilities of the job you are interviewing for are fresh in your mind. While reviewing the job posting, find relevant Trailhead modules to review and/or complete; this will give you some extra confidence for your interview as well as some example use cases.

2. Research the company — I encourage you to research the company’s values and culture to see whether or not it aligns with your personal values. Be prepared for the question, “Why do you want to work at “X” company?” I also personally like to know who I’m interviewing with, so I go on LinkedIn and view their profile. I look for things such as how long they have been with the company and in their role. By doing so, I’m also able to see if my interviewer and I have any connections.

3. Practice interview questions — If possible, do some mock interviews with a mentor. Behavioral questions are very popular now, and I would encourage you to become comfortable with the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method. The STAR method is used to convey to an interviewer how you handled a specific situation. Also, be gracious to everyone you encounter during an interview. I cannot tell you how many stories I’ve heard about a candidate being rude to a receptionist which ultimately ended up costing them the job.

What to evaluate before you accept a Salesforce Administrator job offer

When searching for a job, it’s wise to be prepared for rejection. You may not receive an offer on your first, or even second or third, interview. Please stay encouraged and motivated, because you will no doubt receive a job offer if you persist and stay committed. Do not jump at the first position that is offered, unless your financial situation deems it necessary. Think carefully before accepting a job offer — beyond the salary and benefits. Ask yourself, “Will I enjoy this job on a day-to-day basis? Do the company’s values align with mine? Will I be happy working in this industry and with these people?” If any of your answers are “no,” I would encourage you to decline the offer. Much easier said than done, right? I turned down a job that paid very well because I did not like the culture of the organization. I’m thankful I did, because I was able to find a job, company, and coworkers that genuinely make me happy to come to work.

We’ve all heard the saying, “People are a company’s most valuable asset.” To paraphrase the book Good to Great, the greatest asset to a company is having the right people within an organization. By taking the first job that’s offered, you’ll be doing a disservice to yourself and the company. While your skill set and certification(s) may fit the job description, if the culture, industry, and values don’t match up, you may regret it later.

After you’ve accepted a job offer, it’s time to continue on your learning journey. Figure out what certification(s) will both complement your current position and help you prepare for future roles in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Resources

• Resume Writing Strategies on Trailhead
• Salesforce Trailblazer Community Groups
• Learn How to Become a Salesforce Administrator video on YouTube