4 Tips To Help You Land Your Next Job in the Salesforce Ecosystem

Sending resumes. Dusting off cover letters. Attending networking events. The process of changing roles can be overwhelming, but it’s also a great growth opportunity for you—personally and professionally. The key is to make a plan and stick to it when figuring out what the next steps in your career journey look like.

No matter if you’re a seasoned member of the Salesforce ecosystem or just starting to plug into the community, we’re happy to have you and are here to help! Check out these top job-finding tips from three inspiring Trailblazers.

1. Ditch imposter syndrome by skilling up

It’s easy to get overwhelmed as you explore new job descriptions. But the more you build your skills, the more confidence you’ll have in yourself! Maybe you get a boatload of badges on Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, or take it up a notch and earn a Salesforce Certification (or three).

The more you can educate yourself and gain the skills needed for your next role, the stronger your competitive edge will be. As a bonus, your commitment to upskilling shows employers just how invested you are in your Salesforce journey. As a sales rep turned Salesforce Admin turned recruiter turned talent program lead, Maria Alvarez feels the same.

As you build these skills, it’s normal to fall victim to “imposter syndrome”—the feeling you’re faking it or don’t actually know as much as you think. Don’t let that feeling get you down. If you do experience it, turn your impostor syndrome into an asset. People who experience imposter syndrome actually work harder to prove themselves!

2. Don’t let roadblocks get you down

Changing jobs is not for the faint of heart, but it will be worth it if you stay the course. If you’re feeling disappointed in your search, remember to keep your eye on the end goal and take setbacks in stride. Disappointing interviews, a lack of recruiter interest, or even illness can be disheartening, but they’re not the end of your journey. We promise! It’s how you recover that matters.

Salesforce Admin Yajaira “Yaya” Rivera-Fernandez experienced major setbacks just like these. She quit her job to go all-in with Salesforce but was stopped in her tracks when her husband became ill and was laid off. She panicked initially but realized she had a choice: allow the situation to derail her goals or use it as fuel to fast-track them.

Yaya remained undeterred. She spent day and night studying on Trailhead, including testing concepts in her Developer Org, sometimes logging 12 hours a day.

The hard work paid off, and Yaya became certified and landed a Salesforce Consultant role not long after.

Salesforce Consultant Aaron McGriff faced roadblocks, as well—two layoffs in 2 years, to be exact. But he was able to bounce back by getting involved in the Trailblazer Community and building his skills on Trailhead.

He passed his certification exam and—within 24 hours—was interviewing with the University of Michigan! He landed that Business Analyst job and has even held two other Salesforce ecosystem roles since.

If you encounter hurdles, let Yaya and Aaron be your inspiration. Pick yourself up, recommit to your goals, and do what you can to get back on track. This might mean reassessing and rewriting your resume, shifting your certification test date, or scoring a few Trailhead badges while a certain someone is down for a nap.

You can still keep the ball rolling, even while rolling with the punches.

3. Lean on the community when you need a boost

The best part of our Trailblazer Community is how we support one another. The community is full of super talented and knowledgeable folks who share a love of all things Salesforce—and are itching to connect and share their passion with colleagues! You would be there to help support or advise others in the community when they needed it, so don’t be shy about asking for the same.

Chances are that your next job will come from your network. So why not start collaborating with peers now? Even if you just want a quick idea or piece of advice, the community is a great place to go for insight and inspiration.

As a bonus, all of this interaction can be done virtually—a major plus in our work-from-anywhere world. You might be getting advice from a peer halfway around the globe. Maybe you mentor another Trailblazer in a similar career path but completely different location. Or perhaps you ask for feedback on your online personal Salesforce portfolio, resume, or mock interview video, right from the comfort of… well, wherever you are!

And don’t underestimate the emotional support you’ll get from the community. Your fellow Trailblazers know the struggle can be real, and they’re available to help you stay upbeat and motivated. There’s no reason to feel like you have to put on a tough exterior if you’re struggling. Be transparent about your situation. Chances are, there are more people than you think who can relate and offer support.

Yaya credits the community, as well as her family, with keeping her going when things got difficult. Aaron also leaned on the community for motivation, noting that he had never received that level of support and care in his career.

4. Leverage your past to get the role you want

Even if you’re hoping to pivot to a completely new role, the wealth of experience you got from previous positions still applies! It’s all about how you frame your experience in the context of the role you’re targeting.

At first glance, your skills—for example, in retail, hospitality, or food service—might seem unrelated to the Salesforce role you’re pursuing. But if you take a step back, you’ll see that they translate more than you think.

Take Aaron, for instance. He spent 12 years in loss prevention and retail management. You might not immediately connect the skills needed for that role with those needed to be a Salesforce Administrator. But they actually prepared him extremely well—specifically, assessing risk and identifying patterns.

And Yaya leveraged her impressive 19 years in the insurance industry to find her niche role in Salesforce consulting and business analysis.

As you take stock of your skills, don’t be afraid to ask the Trailblazer Community to help you identify which ones are transferable. Your fellow Trailblazers have a massive amount of experience and knowledge from roles and industries around the world. That means they have a virtually infinite set of experiences and insight to help you see your past through a different lens.

After hearing their perspectives, you might find that the skills you’re questioning are the ones that set you apart the most.

Bonus: Salesforce mentors share their own advice

• Try everything. You know that old saying about throwing things at the wall to see what sticks? That’s where the fun is! Challenge yourself to learn everything you can about every subject and role that interests you, whether or not you think it aligns with your past experience. Then, apply for roles that excite you. Even if you fail, you’ll gain valuable lessons. Just don’t apply for every job. By doing so, you’ll exhaust your network and yourself.
• Put in the work. If you’re willing to work hard, there’s no limit when it comes to your career. The time you put in now upskilling and networking is a major investment in your future and will pay off. You just have to be patient.
• Approach interviews as conversations. Remember, you’re interviewing them, too! This isn’t an interrogation—it’s a chance for you both to assess if a role is a good fit. Relax, smile, and ask questions—especially about their company values—to see how they align with yours.
• Be yourself! Embrace your experiences, and don’t let others define you or your path. The more authentic you are in your new role, the happier you’ll be. Lead with your personality and best qualities, and you’ll be sure to land a role that allows you to bring your full self to work and value to the Salesforce ecosystem.

Now, you’re ready to dive in!

It’s time to commit to your upskilling and networking. What are you waiting for? Visit Trailblazer Connect to find your next opportunity, get career-ready, and network with fellow Trailblazers, mentors, and employers.

For more valuable ways to stand out in the Salesforce ecosystem, check out these three Insider Tips. And, discover how you can create your standout personal portfolio site on Salesforce.

You’ve got this, Trailblazer!