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Bartender to Salesforce #Dreamjob!

July 5, 2015

David’s note: What an incredible career turnaround in just six short months! I hope readers on the fence will get that extra push from your story – in another year you’re going to be a superstar! I can tell you’re very wise too because you realized learning the admin side first is key to becoming a good developer. Keep us updated on what happens next!

Hello David,

I don’t know if this is another SFDC99 success story yet or not (David: it is!). But I’d like to think it’s an SFDC success story in the making, inspired by your work on SFDC99.

I don’t have a business background, and I don’t have a degree. I am a humble bartender, or at least I was until a couple friends of mine decided to push me into the world of Salesforce via Apex. They are both Principal consultants of a prestigious firm and have been touting the virtues of being an Apex developer to me for a couple years now.

In October 2014, I finally decided to dive in and see what their fuss as all about. I immediately fell in love with the Salesforce platform! My primary goal at the time was learning Apex. I found your website, I bought the Head First Java book, and started building triggers and test classes (many were not useful or successful on the first build).

After coding for a while I realized I didn’t actually know how to be a good administrator, I hadn’t truly delved into the platform’s declarative potential. So I reset my developer expectations and started working through all the Developerforce.com workbooks and the Trailhead modules, and any other tutorial I could get my mitts on.

A few weeks ago, I obtained my 201 and 401 certifications. Step 1 complete.

As luck would have it, there is a new Salesforce HQ located a few miles from my home. As even luckier would have it, I have a couple customers/friends who actually work there and have experienced my learning saga every step of the way. One of them referred me for a Tier II Support position, to which I gladly applied (no expectations). And after some rather grueling interviews, this lowly bartender has been offered an SFDC #dreamjob! This is only Step 2. Becoming a developer is now a natural progression so long as I keep my sights on that goal.

I am sharing this with you because your website and enthusiasm has empowered me to think outside of myself and realize that we all have the potential to achieve our dreams. I look forward to your next set of tutorials and to keep you updated as I realize my goal of becoming a true Salesforce Developer. I mean to persevere!

Thank you so much David, you are an inspiration and a guiding beacon to anyone looking to expand their future with Salesforce. I only hope that if you share this story it will inspire others to look past their doubts and realize that anyone can change their future if they have the desire. Luck may have got my toe in the door, but my desire kicked the door off its hinges.

Best Regards, and Thanks again!

Joshua Gates

Want to tell the world your story too?
Email it to sfdc99.mailbag@gmail.com and your story could be heard around the world!

14 Comments
Anonymous
July 11, 2015 @ 7:49 am

CONGRATULATIONS Joshua!! Your story is sooo inspiring that i just showed it to someone at our “Salesforce Saturday’s” in Austin, TX! Our focus right now is working through David’s “Anyone Can Code” program. She asked me, “but can you really get a job doing this without some kind of computer background or computer science degree??” I pulled this page up and she is now alot less apprehensive!! Thank you for paving the way for those non-technical folks that are unsure of themselves! Good LUCK!!

Reply
    Gates
    July 18, 2015 @ 12:05 am

    Thanks so much!
    Don’t let anyone believe for a second that this is not something they can achieve. I’m thrilled that I could inspire more “regular” folks to think about stepping outside their perceived boundary and change their path for the better. I see another success story in the making here!

    Reply
Gates
July 11, 2015 @ 1:14 am

Thanks everyone! I hope to have so much more to share as I continue to learn what it means to be a true SFDC developer!

Reply
Alexander
July 10, 2015 @ 1:54 pm

Hi David,

I have more than 8 years experience as a developer here in India – initially developing using ASP 3.0 and then using C# & ASP.NET.

Of recent my company shifted me to SF project where I got exposure for hands-on Apex coding.
I started enjoying this Apex work and started learning slowly using your site and some other videos searched from YouTube.

Today suddenly I got news from an internal source that my company might be losing its client – and hence I might be in need to look for a job all of a sudden anytime after next 2-3 months.
After reading few inspirational certification stories and of recent this one, I am now motivating myself also to go for these certifications. Can you please help by guiding on my below queries.

1. Do you think someone with ASP 3.0 and C# experience can achieve at least 2 or 3 of the certifications in next 1-2 months?

2. What is your opinion about possibility of help in my job search after SF certifications?

3. What path (and books or tutorials) you advice me to follow – to gain good knowledge at pace and still be learning proficient enough to get few certifications and hopefully crack the interview?

Please advice and also pray to lord to help me in this difficult phase.

– Alex

Reply
    David Liu
    July 13, 2015 @ 3:49 pm

    You gotta see this post!
    https://www.sfdc99.com/2015/03/10/adam-also-gets-5-certifications-in-6-weeks/

    Also, definitely check out the career info section here:
    https://www.sfdc99.com/how-to-get-a-salesforce-developer-job/

    The industry is hot enough that anyone with the motivation can get a job – make sure you hang in there Alex!

    Reply
Mr.green
July 10, 2015 @ 5:01 am

hi Joshua Gates ,

Same here ” realized learning the admin side ” first and got salesforce consultant job in india .and with the help of salesforce community and of-course with the help of Mr.blue (David).

regards,

Mr.green
ex-google vendor (safe browsing team)
india

Reply
Matt
July 7, 2015 @ 3:07 pm

Way to go Joshua, very inspiring for sure!

Reply
Enrico Murru (@Enreeco)
July 6, 2015 @ 6:51 am

Awesome story, this is the spirit of Salesforce Community!

Reply
    David Liu
    July 6, 2015 @ 8:08 am

    Amen to that!

    Reply
Candy
July 6, 2015 @ 5:38 am

Thank you for sharing Joshua! That was very inspiring to me and I am sure to a whole lot of readers of this blog. Congratulations and good luck to your “developing” path :)

Reply
Aron Schor
July 6, 2015 @ 5:08 am

Nice work Joshua!

Reply
Francis
July 6, 2015 @ 3:47 am

Congrats Joshua

Reply
Srilatha
July 5, 2015 @ 9:00 pm

Congrats Joshua!! You worked hard for your dream.your truly an inspiration!!

Reply
    Anonymous
    July 6, 2015 @ 4:52 am

    Congrats Joshua .. very Inspiring !

    Reply

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