Taking a break from your career, whether due to personal, familial, health, or other reasons, is often a necessary and healthy decision. However, returning to the workforce after a gap can feel daunting, especially in fast-paced industries where technology and practices evolve rapidly. For those seeking to restart their careers in technology or even pivot into a tech-based role after a break, Salesforce offers a unique and highly rewarding pathway. As a powerful cloud-based platform that dominates the customer relationship management (CRM) landscape, Salesforce provides a range of tools, skills, and certifications that are accessible to newcomers and those returning from career breaks.
In this article, we’ll explore how Salesforce can help you restart your career, and the resources available to ease your transition through Salesforce. Whether you’re considering upskilling, reskilling, or simply building confidence, this guide will help you understand why Salesforce could be your springboard back into the professional world.
Why Choose Salesforce?
Salesforce is an industry leader in CRM software, powering organizations globally by helping them manage their relationships with customers, streamline their operations, and automate sales and marketing processes. It offers a diverse set of roles, ranging from administration, development, and consulting, to business analysis and marketing. Here are several reasons why Salesforce is an excellent choice for individuals restarting their careers:
High Demand for Salesforce Professionals
Salesforce is one of the fastest-growing software ecosystems, with millions of businesses relying on it to manage their customer interactions. As a result, Salesforce skills are highly sought after, with demand for professionals far outpacing supply.
Roles such as Salesforce administrators, developers, architects, and consultants are in high demand, offering job security and opportunities for career progression. For individuals returning to the workforce, this is promising as employers are actively searching for skilled professionals.
Diverse Job Opportunities Across Industries and Job Flexibility
The Salesforce ecosystem provides a wide range of career opportunities, making it an ideal choice for individuals looking to restart their careers. Salesforce is used across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, education, retail, and more, allowing professionals to leverage their previous experience while transitioning into a new role. Additionally, Salesforce roles often offer remote or hybrid work settings, promoting a healthy work-life balance, which is particularly valuable for those returning to the workforce with responsibilities like caregiving. This flexibility, combined with the high demand for Salesforce talent, ensures a smoother and more rewarding career transition.
Check all Salesforce Career Options.
Inclusive Community and Resources
One of Salesforce’s biggest strengths is its supportive and inclusive community. The Trailblazer Community is a vast network of Salesforce users, professionals, and learners who collaborate to help each other grow. For those returning to the workforce after a break, connecting with this community provides access to mentors, resources, and peer support. Additionally, initiatives like Salesforce Women in Tech focus on empowering women to pursue technology careers, making Salesforce a welcoming environment for career re-starters.
How Salesforce Eases Your Transition After a Career Break
Restarting your career can be overwhelming, but Salesforce has created resources and pathways that simplify the process of upskilling and transitioning back into a professional role. Below are the key steps and resources that can guide you:
1. Free Learning with Trailhead
One of the standout features of Salesforce is Trailhead, its free online learning platform. Trailhead offers modules, trails, and hands-on projects that allow users to learn at their own pace. Whether you’re a beginner with no technical background or an experienced professional brushing up on new features, Trailhead offers personalized learning paths that cater to all levels.
Trailhead’s gamified approach to learning rewards users with badges and points, making it an engaging experience. Importantly, this platform allows you to build a portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge and commitment to prospective employers, even if you’ve been out of the workforce for an extended period.
Key trails for career returnees include:
- Salesforce Admin Beginner: Aimed at those looking to break into Salesforce administration.
- Apex Specialist: A trail for aspiring Salesforce developers.
- Project Management: Great for professionals wanting to explore business analysis or project management roles.
2. Earning Salesforce Certifications
Salesforce certifications are industry-recognized credentials that validate your knowledge and expertise in Salesforce. Certifications range from foundational roles like Salesforce Administrator to more advanced roles such as Salesforce Architect or Marketing Cloud Consultant.
For those restarting their careers, earning certifications can be a game-changer. Certifications signal to employers that you have updated your skills and are equipped to contribute effectively to their organization.
Some popular certifications that are beneficial for career re-starters include:
- Salesforce Certified Administrator: This is an entry-level certification for managing a Salesforce instance and automating business processes.
- Salesforce Platform Developer (PD1 And PD2): Ideal for individuals looking to enter the development side of Salesforce.
- Salesforce Certified Consultant: If you have experience in consulting or business analysis, this certification is tailored to individuals guiding organizations in implementing Salesforce.
Other key certifications provided by Salesforce include:
| Certification | Role | Purpose of the Certification |
| Salesforce Administrator | Administrators | Validates the skills needed to configure and manage Salesforce environments. Focuses on managing users, data, and security. |
| Salesforce Advanced Administrator | Senior Administrators | For experienced administrators to validate their advanced configuration skills in Salesforce. Focus on automation and user experience. |
| Salesforce Platform App Builder | App Developers/Business Analysts | For those building apps on Salesforce’s low-code platform. Covers custom apps, data modelling, and business logic. |
| Salesforce Platform Developer I | Developers | For developers with fundamental programming knowledge on the Salesforce platform using Apex and Lightning Components. |
| Salesforce Platform Developer II | Advanced Developers | Validates the ability to design, develop, and deploy complex business logic, including writing Apex code, creating Lightning components, and integrating external systems with Salesforce. It also covers advanced topics like asynchronous programming and testing frameworks. |
| Salesforce Architect (Various levels) | Architects | Multiple levels like Application Architect, System Architect, and Technical Architect; validates expertise in designing and implementing scalable Salesforce solutions. |
| Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email Specialist | Marketing Professionals | Validates knowledge in configuring and managing email campaigns in Marketing Cloud, including personalization and automation. |
| Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant | Consultants | For professionals who design and implement Sales Cloud solutions to optimize sales processes and improve efficiency. |
| Salesforce CPQ Specialist | Consultants/Sales Engineers | For those who implement Salesforce CPQ solutions, focusing on product configuration, pricing, and quoting processes. |
| Salesforce Pardot Specialist | Marketing Professionals | Focuses on skills for implementing and managing Pardot, Salesforce’s B2B marketing automation solution. |
| Salesforce Tableau CRM & Einstein Discovery Consultant | Data Analysts/Consultants | Validates expertise in designing and implementing data-driven solutions with Salesforce Analytics and AI tools like Tableau CRM and Einstein. |
| Salesforce Field Service Consultant | Field Service Professionals | For those implementing Field Service solutions, focusing on mobile workforce management, resource optimization, and automation. |
| Salesforce Experience Cloud Consultant | Consultants | For professionals implementing Experience Cloud (formerly Community Cloud), focusing on building online communities and portals. |
| Salesforce UX Designer | UX/UI Designers | Design user-centric experiences within Salesforce apps, focusing on user research, wireframing, and prototyping. |
| Salesforce B2C Commerce Developer | E-commerce Developers | Focuses on developing and managing B2C Commerce Cloud solutions, including digital storefronts and e-commerce strategies. |
| Heroku Architect | Architects | Develop and deploy scalable apps using Heroku and Salesforce integration for custom app experiences. |
By investing in certifications, you increase your chances of standing out in job applications, even if you’ve had a gap in your career. Check the list of all Salesforce Certification.
3. Returnship Programs
Salesforce offers a returnship program called “Return to Work” which is designed specifically for individuals who have taken a career break and want to return to the workforce. This initiative aims to provide support, training, and mentorship to help professionals reintegrate into the job market.
Key aspects of the Salesforce Return to Work program include:
- Training and Upskilling: Participants get access to Salesforce’s extensive learning resources, including Trailhead, and can work on certifications to enhance their skills.
- Mentorship: Individuals are paired with mentors to guide them through the process of re-entering the workforce and acclimating to the Salesforce ecosystem.
- Hands-on Experience: The program often includes opportunities to work on real-world Salesforce projects, allowing participants to gain valuable experience and confidence.
The Salesforce Talent Alliance is another initiative that connects underrepresented groups, including career-break returnees, with opportunities to work in the Salesforce ecosystem. This program helps individuals gain certifications, join communities, and find employment opportunities.
Salesforce has collaborated with various organizations to offer such programs, which provide mentorship, training, and on-the-job experience. Programs like Path Forward and PepUp Tech aim to bridge the gap for those who have taken career breaks, especially women. These programs allow participants to work on real Salesforce projects, gain hands-on experience, and build a professional network, giving them the confidence to transition back into full-time roles.
4. Remote and Freelance Opportunities
For individuals who want to re-enter the workforce without committing to a full-time office role immediately, Salesforce provides ample opportunities for remote and freelance work. Several platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal have a steady demand for Salesforce consultants, administrators, and developers. Freelancing allows you to work on short-term projects, gradually easing you back into the workforce while maintaining flexibility. For full-time on-site/remote jobs, prefer online job search platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, Unstop, etc where Salesforce-certified professionals are in high demand.
5. Leveraging Past Experience
One of the key advantages of Salesforce is that it doesn’t require you to start from scratch, especially if you have experience in fields like customer service, sales, or project management. Skills such as communication, organization, problem-solving, and business analysis are highly transferable to Salesforce roles. For instance, if you worked as a project manager, you can pivot into a Salesforce consultant or business analyst role, helping organizations streamline processes using Salesforce.
Steps to Restart Your Career with/through Salesforce
To summarize, here’s a roadmap for restarting your career with Salesforce:
- Learn the basics through Trailhead: Start with introductory trails to familiarize yourself with Salesforce’s capabilities.
- Get certified: Choose a certification that aligns with your skills and goals.
- Build a portfolio: Complete projects on Trailhead and work on real-life case studies to showcase your skills.
- Join the community: Engage with the Salesforce community to expand your network and get mentorship.
- Consider returnship programs: Apply to returnship programs or internships to gain hands-on experience.
- Leverage freelance platforms: Start with remote or freelance roles to ease your way back into the workforce.
Conclusion
Restarting your career after a break can be challenging, but Salesforce offers a path that is not
only accessible but also rewarding. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone looking to build on prior experience, the Salesforce ecosystem provides ample resources, support, and opportunities for you to make a successful comeback. By leveraging Salesforce’s vast learning resources, earning certifications, and engaging with its supportive community, you can rebuild your career, regain your confidence, and achieve long-term success in the tech world.
