Mailbag: Is getting certified enough?

Dear David,

Your site came highly recommended and I can see why.

I’m just now beginning to study Salesforce and I have absolutely no background in the tech field.

The emphasis everywhere seems to be on getting certified, which I understand from a credentials point of view.

My question is this: With no prior background, will studying to pass the exams and passing them, give me enough working knowledge to go out and get a job and be of value to a company?

I might pass the exam, but do I really know and understand enough to be consultant or work somewhere?

Sincerely,
Seeker of Truth

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Dear Seeker of Truth,

First off, congratulations on choosing one of the most lucrative industries in the world right now!

The short answer is, NO, simply getting certifications will NOT give you the knowledge to be an effective admin or consultant in today’s environment. That kind of knowledge is impossible to write a test for.

The crazy thing is however, that getting certified is the best thing you can do to put yourself in a position be that effective admin or consultant, and this is why:

• The most important factor in becoming a strong Salesforce professional is actual experience
• The only way to get experience is to get a Salesforce job (or do volunteer work)
• Certifications are one of the few objective criteria in evaluating Salesforce job candidates
• It’s extremely difficult to get your first Salesforce job without any certifications
• Everyone is certified nowadays, so it’s almost a red flag if you’re not!

Certifications cover topics on a very high level, so my recommendation for you is to prioritize certifications, and use the topics covered as a guide on what you need to study deeply. The certifications will get your resume noticed, and the further study will get you through the interviews for your first job or volunteer gig!

By the way I highly recommend checking out the Career Info page for more help on this topic!

Hope this helps!
David

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