August 13, 2014
If you’ve watched any of the #Apex4Admins webinars you know that I always say:
“Every good developer must be a good admin as well!”
Don’t know the admin side of things well yet?
Here’s a list of the best resources I’ve accumulated over the years to learn it:
- Salesforce Trailhead (NEW!) – Just announced at Dreamforce 2014, the Salesforce team has released an interactive learning path to teach you the basics of the platform! There are a ton of modules here and even challenges and points for you to test yourself!
- Admin fundamentals workbook – I’ve personally done this entire workbook and it’s the best you’ll ever find. It covers all the most important admin topics like custom objects, workflows, formulas, sharing, permissions, etc etc. Also a great study guide for DEV 401.
- Free Udacity class on learning Salesforce point-and-click – I helped develop this course with Udacity so I highly recommend it! There’s also an interview with me there where I look ridiculously excited about Salesforce.
- The Salesforce Reporting and Dashboards Bible – everything you ever needed to know about reports and dashboards is here, seriously. It goes into great depth and some very clear and specific examples. If it’s not in this doc you can’t do it in Salesforce!
- Admin Hero – this site is basically SFDC99 for admins. It covers everything including basic admin skills, advanced admin topics, industry trends, and even how to deal with the business!
Nothing is more important to your success as a developer than learning the admin side of things well! In fact, most developer interviews spend 30% – 50% of their time on admin related questions!
Already a strong admin?
Congratulations, you’re in the best position possible to become a great developer! Not only do you understand the business side of Salesforce, you also have a good grasp of its fundamentals.
Master the admin and developer side of Salesforce and you’ll be able to solve any problem on the platform… and reach the lucrative status of Salesforce Jedi!
Darth Vader has both Admin and Advanced Admin certifications!!
Salesforce coding lessons for the 99%
Sita Ram ki kaun thi
Hi David,
I am. a new bee in this Salesforce world and would like to know can one go for developer certification directly or one has to learn admin 1st and then development?
Admin first!
Hi David,
Is the above link for – “The Salesforce Reporting and Dashboards Bible” no longer exists ? Or do you want me to use Salesforce Documentation for Reports and Dashboards?
Thanks,
Neeta
Updated the link =)
FYI David – The Salesforce Reporting and Dashboards Bible – everything you ever needed to know about reports and dashboards is here, seriously. It goes into great depth and some very clear and specific examples. If it’s not in this doc you can’t do it in Salesforce!
Workbook Retired
This workbook is retired. Fear not, we’ve got even better content in Trailhead that covers material from this workbook and more.
For starters, check out these Reports & Dashboards modules in Trailhead. Don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
• Salesforce Classic Reports & Dashboards
• Lightning Experience Reports & Dashboards
Might want to update this page, not trying to be difficult but helpful to those new to the process.
Thanks for the note – updated!
Hi David,
I am new to Salesforce and preparing for Admin certification. But i couldnt find tutorial for admin ( like you have for developer ) at this site.
Please suggest.
My next course is on the admin side of things!
when is it coming?
I’m trying to work through the Admin Fundamentals workbook and I’ve gotten to the part where it asks to create new users with the “Standard Employee” profile, which is a profile that was created earlier in the lesson. It works find to create the fictional CEO, Cynthia Capobiano, but doesn’t work to create new users. The “Standard Employee” profile does not appear in the dropdown list. I’ve even tried Profiles> Standard Employee> View Users> New User and the only profile available is “Chatter External User.”
It seems like the rest of the steps in the Admin Fundamentals are dependent on creating these users with the correct profiles, so I’m stuck. Any help would be appreciated.
(I tried searching this and also posted this question in forums.)
Make sure they have a Salesforce license. I believe if you run out it defaults to some free license that has severely limited permissions.
can you please share Admin fundamentals workbook ; IS it same as FORCE.com platform fundamentals?
Same thing!
plzz helpp me i paid more bucks on learning salesforce but m not getting
Everyone learns differently, so don’t feel bad if you didn’t learn from a paid course.
Some people learn by classroom, some by video, some by books, etc etc. Some people learn by sheer hard work.
What type of learner are you? Figure that out and find tutorials there!
HI David.
Can you please suggest some useful links for Development course 501.
Will do this one day, for now use Google!
Hi David,
First of all thanks for the wonderful website and all of the resources.
I have completed Admin fundamentals workbook and in process to complete the udacity course.
I want to appear for admin 201 certification, however at many websites it is mentioned that it is “ridiculously important” (Yes ridiculously important ;) ) to attend premier course of salesforce “administration essentials for new admins”.
But to be frank $4250, its a hefty sum and I dont have so many bucks to spare.
Is it really necessary to attend the above mentioned course? If not,are the materials described in this blog above are sufficient to clear the admin cert.
Waiting for your answer.Thanks in advance.
Ankur.
You definitely need to read this post =)
https://www.sfdc99.com/2014/10/02/guide-to-passing-all-salesforce-certifications/
It has answers to all your questions and then some! Your specific question is answered in the FAQs on the bottom!
Oh!!!! How did I missed that.
thanks a ton for the prompt reply brother.. :) :)
Thanks David, you are officially my Salesforce Guru.
I am a certified 401 Developer looking for some hand on training.
Hi David,
I have the beginning Admin Cert. Wonder what your thoughts are on what I should go for next? I am new to the whole ecosystem, working as a Salesforce Admin now. What do most people go for next?
Thanks!
John
Dev 401 =)
Then, in order:
Adv. Admin
Sales Consultant
Service Cloud
Advanced Dev
TA
great post Dave, thanks!
Hi David,
Am I find this site late. OMG, all useful stuff at one place.
Thank yo so much david :)
Priya.
woot!
I clicked on the udacity link you have in this post. It wants you to sign up with a credit card.
Go for the free version, it has all the same content just no homework!
Another great post Dave, thanks!
Hi David,
Thanks for the above share, it should really help me in clearing the 401 certification.
Also you are a true inspiration!!! My SalesForce Guru :)
Regards,
Amit
My pleasure Amit. =)