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Salesforce Consultants help customers implement Salesforce in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Discover how consultant Toya Tate uses her in-depth knowledge of both Salesforce and business processes to provide customers with innovative technical solutions.
Tasked with optimizing Salesforce implementations, consultants are required to know Salesforce “inside and out” and to be intensely familiar with their customers’ businesses and processes.
They tackle projects big and small for companies of varying sizes that span many different industries, all while ensuring their customers are set up for success.
Salesforce Consultants need to be comfortable being a little… uncomfortable. For Toya Tate, a Salesforce Consultant for Slalom, this is what makes the role so rewarding. “I’m always learning something new,” she explains.
“I kind of like that ‘living on the edge’ because it forces you to keep up on your skills.”
Tech knowledge and beyond
But what are those skills, exactly? First and foremost, consultants must have deep knowledge of the technical aspects of Salesforce. But to really thrive, they also need to be effective communicators with solid skills in writing, delivering presentations, and building relationships. Toya emphasizes,
“You will be preparing proposals, you’ll be presenting to clients, you’ll be trying to win business, so you have to be able to get in front of that crowd and speak confidently about what you’re trying to offer.”
Having deep technical knowledge is important, but not having a tech background isn’t a deal breaker, Toya admits. “You don’t have to have a computer science degree… You can build your career from the ground up if you’re willing to put in the work.”
Toya knows this firsthand, having studied engineering in college and even entertaining the possibility of becoming an anesthesiologist.
After having her first experience with Salesforce while working for a venture capital firm, Toya was hooked, but she soon wanted to move beyond her initial role as a Salesforce Administrator. “I decided to take an additional leap in becoming a consultant, which was sort of uncharted territory for me,” Toya explains. “But I thought it was important for my own professional growth.”
Lots of flexibility… and “flavors”
Growth is a common theme in the Salesforce ecosystem. Reports indicate that by 2022, 3.3M Salesforce jobs will be created, with 300K jobs opening this year alone. Within that ecosystem, consultant roles — which pay an average U.S. salary of $95,000 — are in high demand, and thousands more jobs are being posted each year.
Another perk of being a Salesforce Consultant is they are often able to pick and choose just how — and where — they work.
“I have the flexibility to work at the client site, I can work from home, I can work anywhere that I have a decent internet connection and a phone,” Toya explains.
“If I have to take care of family business or other things that come up, I have the flexibility to do that.”
And consulting jobs come in many different “flavors,” as Toya puts it — from independent consultants working for themselves and selecting the projects they want, to those working with smaller non-profit boutique firms, to those with roles at big-number firms such as Deloitte and Accenture.
As a result, consultants can get experience working on a wide range of projects. Toya says,
“I could be working for a Fortune 500 company today and next month I could be working for a small startup in a completely different industry.”
She explains, “I think that it’s a valuable experience to sort of jump around and learn these new things, and you can take skills from one project and bring them into a different one and just adapt them.”
Sharing a “Passion for the Platform”
While consultants have the ability to choose projects that best suit their individual interests and work styles, they’re also able to join the Trailblazer Community and participate in role or location dedicated Trailblazer Community Groups.
As Toya explains, getting support is key. “My number one rule is to find a Trailblazer Community Group to join… You will find people who have a range of experience, from the novices all the way up to people who have years and years of experience, and you’ll be able to find volunteer opportunities.”
And, as always, Trailhead — with its curated learning paths especially focused on careers — is always a great resource to tap into. Toya recommends,
“Sign up for a free Trailhead Playground or Developer account and just dig in… You can filter at the top about what you’re wanting to learn and what your skill level is, start there just to see what Salesforce can offer you… And it’s not just the hard technical skills, but also some of the soft ones… There’s always some new content that’s been added, so go there first.”
“It is a little bit hard to explain the affinity that Salesforce professionals have because it’s not just work, it’s all community-driven,” Toya says. “These are people who have a passion for the platform and a passion for introducing it to other people.”
Toya has demonstrated her own passion for the platform by working with PepUp Tech, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing careers in the Salesforce ecosystem to underrepresented groups in tech.
“The success of that organization has been amazing to see — the work that’s been done, the lives that have been changed… [It’s] one of the most rewarding things that I’ve done professionally in my entire life. And I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Finally, Toya encourages aspiring consultants to push through any intimidation they might feel and fall back on the Trailblazer Community. “There are so many resources that are available to you. So many people who are able and willing and happy to help… Don’t be scared about asking questions.”
The payoff won’t just be professional, she reveals.
“The same time you’re building your career, you’re also forming these bonds and these friendships that span across time zones and countries. And it’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I think that’s why people enjoy it. At least that’s why I do.”
Ready to start your Salesforce Consultant career?
Listen to Toya’s episode on the Trailblazing Guide to Careers podcast to find out more about her career path as a consultant.
Then, start following your own path by completing the Build Your Consulting Career on Salesforce trailmix, or explore the Salesforce Consultant resume-worthy superbadges and certifications you can earn to make you stand out from the rest.
