One of the advantages of starting a career in Salesforce is its low barrier of entry.
I’ve heard of several success stories in which someone with no prior Salesforce experience teaches themselves using free resources, gets the admin certification, and then lands a $80,000/year job, all within 6 months.
That’s pretty cool, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a common scenario.
What’s more likely is they teach themselves, get the admin certification, and then cannot find a job because the market is saturated.
Why is the market saturated? Because of the low barrier of entry.
So the question becomes: how can someone with little to no project experience land a decent job?
Here are a few ideas:
1. Build your own projects
I know a fellow who built his own Salesforce managed package just to prove he could code in apex. That might be a more extreme example, but this guy is in heavy demand now. He also owns a sellable subscription product. At the least, build usable functionality that can be demoed to potential employers.
2. Start your own brand
Be vocal on communities like Salesforce trailhead, LinkedIn and other Salesforce communities. Learn and help others as much as possible. Be heard and seen (in a positive way).
3. Find your specialization
Being 3x Salesforce certified doesn’t tell me much. I definitely won’t think of you if someone is looking for an admin. But if you become focused with a specialization, then you will be remembered.
The takeaway
Don’t get lost in the crowd. Stand out using your unique voice, perspective, and talent.