4 Trailblazer Tips for Job Hunting Success
Whether you’re looking to join the Salesforce ecosystem for the first time or pivoting to a new role, it’s more important than ever to have a set of job hunting strategies that will help you land your next opportunity.
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If you’re currently job seeking, chances are you’re facing a new set of challenges in this new world, both personal and professional. You need a way to make the most of circumstances that are less than ideal.
Change is never easy, but we’re here to help! Here are four tips — gleaned from the inspiring stories of three Trailblazers — for making your job hunt a success.
1. Skill up and skip the imposter syndrome
This might mean collecting a boatload of badges on Trailhead or taking it to the next level by getting a Salesforce Certification (or two, or three). No matter how you do it, building your skill set gives you a competitive edge and shows employers that you’re deeply devoted to your Salesforce journey.
As Maria Alvarez, a sales rep turned Salesforce Admin turned HR recruiter, puts it, skilling up shows employers that you’re truly invested in your own future and aren’t relying on others to dictate your path.
And as you build those skills, try not to fall victim to “imposter syndrome” — you know, telling yourself you’re not awesome when you really are. Maria emphasizes,
“Employers don’t expect you to have all of the answers or know what to do in every situation. What they do expect is for you to admit that you’re still learning, be proactive in seeking answers, and face challenges head on. Expanding your skills will help you do just that.”
2. Stay the course while staying flexible
Perhaps you’ve sent out a ton of resumes and haven’t heard a word, or you’ve had a few disappointing interviews. Or maybe you’ve even experienced more serious setbacks, such as an illness or a layoff.
Don’t let these unexpected snags trip you up. After all, it’s how you recover that matters.
Salesforce Admin Yajaira “Yaya” Rivera-Fernandez quit her job to go all-in with Salesforce but was seemingly stopped in her tracks when her husband got sick and was laid off. She remained undeterred, though, sometimes spending 12 hours a day skilling up on Trailhead.
The hard work paid off, and Yaya landed a Salesforce Consultant & Business Analyst role not long after.
Salesforce Consultant Aaron McGriff faced two layoffs in two years. But he was able to rebound by getting involved in the Trailblazer Community and building skills on Trailhead (and watching a little Netflix during his downtime).
He passed his certification exam and was interviewing with the University of Michigan 24 hours later. Aaron landed that Business Analyst job and has had two other jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem since.
If you encounter hurdles, brush yourself off, 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.
It’s possible to roll with the punches and keep the ball rolling.
3. Connect to the community to stay positive and motivated
You know the saying: Birds of a feather flock together. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Trailblazer Community. It’s full of super talented and knowledgeable folks who share a love of all things Salesforce and are itching to connect with colleagues.
The community is a great resource for sharing ideas, getting advice, collaborating on thousands of projects, learning Salesforce with peers… you name it. And it all can be done virtually, which is especially important now that many of us must adapt to the reality of having to build a network from afar.
The beauty of the Trailblazer Community is that it’s right at your fingertips. You can meet Trailblazers from all over the world, find a mentor, get feedback on an online personal Salesforce portfolio or resume, or share a video of a mock interview — 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 that the career struggle can be real, and they’re right there to help you stay positive and motivated.
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 the support he received was something he had never encountered in his career. As he puts it,
“The people you surround yourself with have a tremendous impact on your outcome.”
4. Lean into your past to move into the future
Even if you’re looking to pivot to a totally new role, don’t ignore the wealth of experience you’ve gained from your previous positions. Maria suggests,
“By using your past experience in conjunction with your new knowledge, you’re showing employers that you not only know Salesforce but also have a broader knowledge of industries and end users.”
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.
For example, Aaron was able to apply skills gleaned from his background in loss prevention and retail management to his role as a Salesforce Administrator.
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.
Taking inventory of and assessing transferable skills is where being part of a larger community really comes in handy. Your fellow Trailblazers can help you get out of your head and approach your past experience from a different vantage point.
With the community’s insight, you might discover that the skills you have doubts about are really the ones that will set you apart from the pack.
🌟 Pro Tip: Want to discover even more valuable tips? Dig into the empowering stories from these three Trailblazers, all of whom took part in the July Trailhead Scholarship Panel.
Bonus advice from Salesforce mentors
- Try everything. No, really! Even if you fail, that failure will come with a lot of valuable lessons. But don’t apply for every job. By doing so, you’ll exhaust your network and yourself.
- Put in the work. Ceilings shmeilings. If you’re willing to work hard, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your career.
- Approach interviews as conversations, not interrogations. Relax, smile, and ask a few questions of your own.
- Be yourself! Embrace your experiences, and don’t let others define you or your path.
Now you’re ready to hit the ground running!
For more valuable ways to stand out in the Salesforce ecosystem, check out these 3 Insider Tips. Plus, discover how you can create your own standout personal portfolio site on Salesforce.
And visit Trailblazer Connect to find your next opportunity, get career-ready, and network with fellow Trailblazers, mentors, and employers.
