If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be a Salesforce Administrator turned Architect, I never would have believed you. Many of you may feel the same way about your own career paths. Ten years ago, I was teaching English remotely. I had been a waitress in university, taught English to French children, and even worked as a secretary in a law office. I was a mom of two amazing girls at the time.
When I began to learn Salesforce on Trailhead, I thought I was starting from nothing. I wish somebody had told me that was far from the truth. All our past experiences, professional and personal, help us develop transferable skills that will serve us well in future job roles. My own long and winding road made me the Salesforce professional I am today.
To become a Salesforce professional, you need to learn the Salesforce ‘hard skills.’ We learn about the various clouds and products on Trailhead, through community events or local user groups, at Salesforce events, and through other various forms of media. But becoming a well-rounded Salesforce professional goes beyond the hard skills. You may have a whole set of soft skills that you don’t realize are some of the strongest tools in your toolkit.
Transferable skills, while they can be hard skills coming from another area of the tech industry, are often in the form of soft skills. These are the skills that you bring with you from your past experience and job roles. They make up the hidden skill set that help you stand out as a valuable asset, even if you’re just entering the ecosystem and feel new.
Parent: You keep your family afloat and have managed the flurry of doctor’s appointments, school schedules, and activities on a regular basis, potentially even on top of your day job. Those time management and organizational skills will help you immensely when it comes to keeping your Salesforce projects running smoothly.
Waitress: You always bring a smile, connect with your customers to keep them coming back, and never lose your cool—even during the most hectic rushes. The communication and negotiation skills that you learn in the service industry, along with the ability to keep a cool head amid unexpected chaos, can greatly help you to either lead or be a valuable member on Salesforce projects.
Educator: This one is a huge plus in a Salesforce profession. You have classroom management skills, know how to stay on time and in budget, and can find unique ways to communicate the lessons you teach in order to connect with all different learning styles. More likely than not, you’ll need to do some training during your Salesforce career. Whether that’s training your internal team or a group of customers, where some Salesforce professionals struggle, you will shine.
If you’re wondering how to identify your transferable skills, start by taking a look at your resume. If you have any gaps, fill those in with what you were doing at the time, perhaps being a stay-at-home parent or caretaker, or taking a sabbatical to build a new skill set. Then, look for the soft skills. These will become your toolkit of transferable skills. The next step is figuring out how to convey them to future employers.
It can be hard to communicate these transferable skills. When we’re learning something new, we’re out of our comfort zone. That’s where we grow the most, but also where we most lack confidence.
Once you’ve taken a close look and gathered your list of transferable skills, you need to start shouting about them. Add them to your personal brand and use them to make yourself stand out. We are the sum of our experiences, and transitioning into a Salesforce role is no different.
Where can you add your transferable skills?
Transitioning into a new role or career path can be unnerving. Identifying your skill set can be much harder than it sounds. But sometimes, we don’t even realize how valuable our past experiences can be. If you’re having trouble uncovering your transferable skills, find a mentor, champion, or friend to help you out. Many Salesforce professionals have been in your shoes when they were starting out and can help you discover a hidden set of skills that helps you land your next Salesforce role.
Your transferable skills come from each and every part of your career. If you’re just getting started as a Salesforce Admin, you likely need to put in the extra time to learn the Salesforce products. It can be a struggle, but know that your soft skills may be your most valuable asset as a Salesforce professional. Make them part of your personal brand and let them shine.
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