Salesforce Education

Why Every Trailblazer Should Get The Salesforce UX Designer Certification

July 13, 2021 by 10K Leave a Comment

Some of what makes Salesforce so special is its propensity for change and creating new opportunities so the ecosystem’s experts can grow.

After Salesforce announced its newest career path, Salesforce Designer, and the Salesforce User Experience (UX) Designer Certification, we surveyed the 10K Expert community for their initial thoughts about the certification:

More than 25% of respondents consider the certification a “must-get”
13% don’t see the value
Almost 7% don’t have an opinion
And more than 50% hadn’t heard of it yet

We realized this was an excellent opportunity to help clarify what Salesforce design is (and isn’t), the role design plays in making every Salesforce solution sing, and how the UX designer certification is intended to help advance every type of Salesforce career in the ecosystem.

The rise of Salesforce design

Design, in its broadest definition, is an intentional, iterative, human-centric approach to innovation and problem-solving that puts people first. So whether you’re an administrator, architect, marketer, or any role in between, every type of Salesforce expert at every experience level stands to gain an edge by sharpening their design knowledge.

Across the Salesforce ecosystem, design skills are also more in-demand than ever before.

From Design Strategy to User Experience, Salesforce Designers, despite not having a defined Salesforce career path until recently, have been working in different forms and capacities over the years throughout the ecosystem.

Let’s put the rise of the user experience (UX) designer into perspective. Ten years ago, Salesforce had about 2,500 employees with only a handful of User Experience designers. Fast forward to today, after a series of strategic acquisitions and major organic growth, and Salesforce now has a significant design footprint in both capacity and design role specializations, including design operations, inclusive design, conversation design, and design strategy to name a few.

A common misconception is that design is just about making things look pretty.

Across the Salesforce ecosystem, design skills are also more in-demand than ever before. According to data from Burning Glass Technologies, in 2019, Salesforce job posts requiring at least one design skill included:

Salesforce Administrators, 15% of job postings
Salesforce Developers, 41% of job postings
Salesforce Architects, 37% of job postings
Salesforce Consultants, 27% of job postings

Every Salesforce expert already practices design thinking

A common misconception is that design is just about making things look pretty. That’s absolutely part of the equation, but it’s also about making things work quickly, efficiently, and effectively to enhance the user experience, build loyalty, elevate trust, and increase adoption.

Every Salesforce expert in the ecosystem providing a service practices aspects of design-thinking. If you’re an administrator that edits Salesforce page layouts or a developer that builds new Lightning components, then you’re using elements of the design process to make things happen. The Salesforce UX Designer certification can help expand the skills that are essential to building customizations that lead to better usability, increased user adoption, and happier users.

The Salesforce Designer role is for anyone who aspires to design human-centered experiences on the Salesforce platform.

The Salesforce Designer role is for anyone who aspires to design human-centered experiences on the Salesforce platform. It’s also an opportunity for more Salesforce experts to co-create solutions that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable — the three primary components of Salesforce Relationship Design.

Why the Salesforce Designer deserves its own career path

Since its inception, user-centered design practices have been essential to creating success on the Salesforce platform. But it wasn’t until 2019 that Salesforce recognized the necessity of giving Salesforce Designers a defined career path while skilling up all roles on design with the Trailhead platform of solutions.

Salesforce now has a crystal clear view of what good design should look like.

Adam Doti is VP and Principal Design Architect for Salesforce Design which sits at the intersection of product, design strategy, services, and creative. He was the driving force behind making the new Salesforce Designer role a reality. Adam recognized the timing was just right for defining this new role, and with the support of partners like IBM, Salesforce now has a crystal clear view of what good design should look like.

“I felt this was our [Salesforce’s] responsibility. Considering the sheer growth of the ecosystem, the amount, and the speed of new tech we’re innovating, the role of design is super important. It will help upskill our ecosystem’s experts while providing a platform to be successful as a professional Designer. Having good design and being driven by a design-minded approach will help experts co-create better solutions with their communities. Then you’re in a better position than just building tech for technology’s sake.”

Defining and celebrating the Salesforce Designer role will enable more experts to level up their careers, deepen their design practices, and create better outcomes for customers.

How to level up your Salesforce career with the User Experience (UX) Designer certification

Defining and celebrating the Salesforce Designer role will enable more experts to level up their careers, deepen their design practices, and create better outcomes for customers.

You can learn more about the UX Designer certification here.

Check out these Trailmixes to help you become one of the first in the ecosystem to get certified UX design and expand your Salesforce design skills:

Build your Designer Career on Salesforce

Prepare for your UX Designer Credential

Bite-Size Ways to Incorporate Salesforce Ongoing Learning Into a Busy Schedule

November 19, 2020 by Mike Martin, Chief Customer Officer Leave a Comment

Whether you’re wrangling kids while trying to WFH, chasing down client payments, searching for new gigs, or juggling the demands of a significant other while also trying to take care of yourself, chances are you land among the many who agree this year has been one big balancing act and time warp wrapped into one. This is why, frankly, we’re happy you’re making time for this blog. Time is a precious commodity, and the unique circumstances of 2020 have made that abundantly clear.

Earlier this year, as part of our “Ask the Expert” webinar series, we explored the importance of why every Salesforce expert should incorporate ongoing education into their schedule. And, with our recently released 2020 Salesforce Talent Ecosystem report, our Salesforce independent consultant survey found some interesting trends. 96% of respondents said they rely on Trailhead to keep their skills sharp and up-to-date, yet 30% of survey respondents also cited that making time to learn new skills is a top challenge of being independent in the ecosystem.

Given the collective challenge we all seem to have in finding enough hours in the day to do it all, here are three quick ways to continue your Salesforce learning, no matter what the day may throw your way:

TrailheadGO: We cannot overemphasize the convenience of this new mobile app. No matter where you find yourself–in line at the DMV, in a waiting room, or on a long car ride (should we ever return to regular travel)–TrailheadGO makes it easy to continue your learning on Trailhead without being tethered to a laptop or desk. Best of all, it’s now available on both iOS and Android.

Trailhead community and user groups: One silver lining we’re taking away from 2020 and the universal pandemic we are all living through, is the normalization of virtual networking and learning opportunities. As you may recall, not so long ago, Trailhead community and user groups used to be limited by their region, with many groups choosing to meet physically. With in-person meetings on hold, many are now publishing when they are meeting and the topics they are discussing, making them accessible without geographical restraints.

Prioritize and set goals: There are upwards of 34 certifications in Salesforce and Trailhead can help you prepare for nearly all of them. If you have your eyes set on an exam in the near future, we recommend setting small, attainable goals for yourself that can help maintain your motivation as you reach each one. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by putting high expectations on ourselves about getting x number of badges in a given week or wondering where to go next. Take a step back, break it down into a study plan, and celebrate the small wins while you set yourself up for the big ones.

If you’re interested in learning more about what’s trending in the Salesforce expert ecosystem, or you’re just curious about how your peers are feeling going into 2021, you can download our Salesforce Talent Ecosystem Report here.

Fresh Off the Exam: Service Cloud Certification Advice From a Salesforce Expert

October 12, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

Q&A With 10K Expert, Jackie Teravainen

That Trailblazer attitude is also part of what makes the Salesforce ecosystem so special. Its community members are committed to driving the ecosystem forward through ongoing education and innovation.

That said, despite the trying circumstances of the pandemic, some of the 10K Expert Community is in the process of completing certification exams and are eager to share their insight. For first-hand advice from our experts fresh off the exam, stay tuned to our blog.

Q: Which tools or resources did you use to prepare for your certification exam and would you recommend them?

I almost exclusively used the Focus On Force study guide and practice exams to fill my knowledge gaps in areas where I was less familiar. I’d also recommend the Service Cloud Specialist Superbadge on Trailhead, as it offers hands-on learning modules and practical use cases. I retain information much better by actually “doing” versus memorizing, so I would recommend both of these resources to adequately prepare.

Q: Why Service Cloud? Was there a specific reason you chose this certification?

I had done a number of Service Cloud implementations, so it felt like a natural step forward to fill any knowledge gaps within that service offering and then make it official with a certification. I also think that Service Cloud is packed with ROI for the customer and I’ve noticed it gaining more traction in recent years.

Q: Was the Service Cloud exam what you envisioned it would be or were there any curveballs?

I had taken the practice exams to the point where I was getting 100%, so I was feeling good. But in the real exam, it seemed like 50% of the questions were curveballs. I was confident that I knew the material but then was shocked by how confusing some of the answer choices were. Having hands-on experience prior to taking the exam helped with this but nothing can really prepare you for trick questions. It just shows how important it is to thoroughly know the technicalities.

Q: If you’ve completed a certification exam before, did you notice or feel COVID had any impact on the process?

If anything, it made it a lot easier to take the online proctored exam. They loosened the technical requirements, such as needing to use an external webcam, which was helpful. I personally prefer the traditional in-person exam to minimize distractors, however, I didn’t want to sit for an exam with a mask on or be wondering if someone around me was sick. The online exam was very convenient so having the option was nice.

Q: Do you have any plans in-store with your new certification?

I have several customers using Service Cloud, so knowing more of the advanced service offerings gives me more confidence to make recommendations and design solutions that can take them to the next level. I look forward to more Service Cloud projects where I can apply my knowledge and watch the product’s capabilities to transform customer service centers.

Looking for more resources to elevate your Salesforce learning and development? Check out our “Ask The Expert” webinar with Trailhead SVP Amy Regan Morehouse.

Fresh Off the Exam: Community Cloud Certification Advice From a Salesforce Expert

September 10, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

Q&A With 10K Expert, Rita Leverett

Part of what makes Salesforce so special is its community members and their commitment to driving the ecosystem forward through ongoing education and innovation. With the pandemic, however, we know unique circumstances may have made it more challenging to achieve new certifications.

That said, since the start of COVID, we’ve been so genuinely impressed by our experts’ enduring engagement and ability to adapt. That Trailblazer drive and commitment to learning is what inspired us to create our first Certification Scholarship Program at the beginning of the year.

Promoting a culture of learning is a priority for 10K. Not only is ongoing education a core pillar of successful COEs, it’s also essential in getting the most out of Salesforce. Upskilling with new certifications, especially in high-demand areas, can advance a Salesforce expert’s career and provide a competitive edge. For our scholarship program, 10K Experts were able to apply for one of the following high-demand certifications: Configure Price Quote (CPQ), Community Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Mulesoft, or Field Service Lightning.

Despite the trying circumstances of the pandemic, our certification scholarship recipients are in the process of completing their exams and eager to share their insight. For first-hand advice from our experts fresh off the exam, stay tuned to our blog.

Q: Which tools or resources did you use to prepare for your certification exam and would you recommend them?

I used a combination of Trailhead and the FocusOnForce Community Cloud study guide. I found these to be incredibly helpful and would recommend them for anyone studying for this particular exam.

Q: Why Community Cloud? Was there a specific reason you chose this certification?

Community Cloud wasn’t my first choice because I was already studying for the Platform Developer II certification, so I would have chosen that if it had been offered through the scholarship program. I have the most work experience in Community Cloud and I was confident I could pass the exam on the first attempt.

Q: Was the Community Cloud exam what you envisioned it would be or were there any curveballs?

I felt that the answer to some of the questions should have been “None of the above.” For example, there was a reference to Files Connect, and my studies referenced Salesforce Connect so I wasn’t sure if that was the same thing or not. Salesforce Connect was never listed as an answer, so that threw me off a bit. This made me a bit nervous during the exam but it worked out okay in the end.

Q: If you’ve completed a certification exam before, did you notice or feel COVID had any impact on the process?

I was planning to wait until after COVID to take any more exams, but with the scholarship program, I figured why not! I had the option of taking the exam online without an external webcam. I didn’t take advantage of this because the testing center was open and I was allowed to use scratch paper. I must have my scratch paper! Also, going in person we, of course, had to wear a mask and sit socially distanced (although that’s not too far from the norm for these exams). The atmosphere definitely felt a bit different, but I was glad to be able to take it in person.

Q: Do you have any plans in-store with your new certification?

I currently have six active certifications and one retired one, so with Community Cloud, I’m hoping to be more marketable. I also have a bit of work experience with Community Cloud already, so I look forward to opportunities that will allow me to work more with it.

Looking for more resources to elevate your Salesforce learning and development? Check out our “Ask The Expert” webinar with Trailhead SVP Amy Regan Morehouse.

“Ask The Expert” Webinar Series: Always Be Learning, The Need For Ongoing Education

July 28, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

Investing in Salesforce is like giving your organization a gift that keeps on giving. With tri-annual releases and a vibrant user community comes non-stop innovation and new capabilities. At 10K, it’s our mission to make sure every Salesforce customer is getting the most out of Salesforce, so this may not be the first time you’ve seen us promoting the benefits of ongoing education.

In our latest “Ask The Expert” webinar, 10K CEO Nick Hamm sat down with Trailhead SVP, Amy Regan Morehouse, to explore the seemingly endless ways organizations can use ongoing education to get more out of Salesforce. As Amy notes in this webinar, the most effective way to make ongoing education a habit (much like committing to a new workout plan) is by simply getting started today.

Click here to watch the full discussion or read on below for highlights.

Who is Amy Regan Morehouse?

Amy is currently the Senior Vice President of Trailhead Academy and Trailhead Go-To-Market and has been at Salesforce for nearly 13 years. With more than half of her Salesforce career dedicated to educating its users, Amy is an admin gone Salesforce superfan with a penchant for advancing every Trailblazer’s career.

Why Education is a Pillar for Excellent Salesforce Programs

At the beginning of the webinar, Nick explains that while ongoing education is one of the five pillars for long-term, successful Salesforce programs, he’s rarely seen customers implement education programs or goals. Given our new normal and the need to adapt quickly, Amy agrees that it’s now more important than ever to lean on ongoing education to reskill your teams.

The pandemic has also created an opportunity for every organization to provide new pathways for its members. Ongoing education is an excellent way to empower employees during uncertain times by giving them the tools and knowledge they need to enrich their careers.

Not Investing in Education is Actually Bad for Business

By not taking advantage of Salesforce’s rapid innovation, it’s kind of like buying your dream car but not getting your license to drive it. To drive this point home, Amy shares three striking statistics from Salesforce’s own CSG organization that show how companies that don’t invest in learning are seeing:

80% lower feature adoption
64% greater employee turnover
60% greater time to proficiency

The Framework Any Organization Can Adopt

Recognizing that it’s everyone’s goal to create a fast-track to proficiency, Amy outlines how to build a common language and framework that works organically for your organization’s unique culture and goals.

Prioritize: Be an Advocate

To drive awareness, Amy encourages taking ownership and leading by example. To most effectively vocalize the benefits and hold your teams accountable, this message needs to come from the very top of every organization. That means every leader should be practicing ongoing education themselves and promoting it company-wide.

She also encourages setting bold goals. Amy notes she’s been pleasantly surprised and thrilled to see some of their largest customers that run Centers of Excellence leading by example and becoming Rangers themselves.

You’ll also need to give your learners time and permission, may that be a lunch-and-learn or dedicating a day or week to a specific educational challenge.

Customize: Put Learners First

Consider the goals of both your organization and its learners. By syncing the two, you can curate learning journeys that will promote action.

Amy describes two camps of learners. Those who need the skills to, for example, effectively complete a project, and those who want the skills to advance their career to the next level. This is why we should put learners first through goal-oriented customization. Amy recommends checking out myTrailhead to provide the ultimate customized experience for your learners.

Engage & Reward: Create a Learning Culture

While financial rewards might be part of the equation for your organization, you should also ask what will best engage your learners so it becomes a natural part of your culture.

Amy describes an S&P type Salesforce customer that’s prioritized ongoing education via their hiring and promoting process. By asking candidates about their ongoing education and encouraging certifications, they’re able to identify the individuals who invest in themselves, and ultimately, would provide a great return for their company.

How to Skill Up With Trailhead Starting Today

Amy’s most recommended tool, of course, is Trailhead, Salesforce’s free learning platform that provides everyone with democratized access to education.

For those who are unfamiliar but ready to get started ASAP, Amy recognizes that Trailhead’s vast array of tools can be somewhat daunting, but she doesn’t want that to deter you from getting started. In fact, she confirms it’s absolutely not necessary to create a formal, sweeping education strategy.

For recommended content (Trails) catered to at-home learning, and even strategies for marketing ongoing education to your organization, check out Trailhead In A Box. Here are some of the assets you can take advantage of to launch a culture of learning:

Virtual Collaboration Module
Succeed From Home During COVID-19 Trail
Playbook For Driving Virtual Engagement
Trailhead Marketing Assets

Introducing a Trailhead challenge to your organization, per Amy’s experience, is one of the easiest strategies for customers to drive. With easily trackable results via Trail Tracker (found on the AppExchange) it’s a breeze to give ongoing education challenges to your learners. Try one of these common challenge templates, such as “Who can earn the most badges and points in 6 weeks?” or “Who can achieve the Ranger Rank by the end of the year?”

And when the challenge is complete, Amy recommends a few different rewards and modes of recognition. Examples include giving recognition via Chatter, email, or meetings, gifting a Trailblazer hoodie (or other swag), and donating to the winner’s charity of choice.

Salesforce is a powerful platform, but if you’re not using it to solve your business needs, or skilling up your employees to use it for your business needs, you’re absolutely missing out. Check out the rest of the webinar and a final Q&A with Amy and Nick below.

Salesforce Announces Fast Path To Free Certifications

July 24, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

You can always count on a new Salesforce release to remind you of how important it is to practice ongoing education. Thanks to tri-annual releases and constant innovation by those using the platform, Salesforce is always challenging us to get more value from our investment.

So with the launch of the Summer ‘20 release last week and rapidly growing Trailhead user trends, it may be a good time for you to explore the abundant educational resources Salesforce has to offer.

Partner Learning Camp

Last week we outlined our four recommended ongoing educational resources that independent experts and partners alike can benefit from. Interestingly enough, this past week Salesforce also promoted that if you’re a Salesforce Partner, you have access to Fast Path – a curated, certification-specific learning program that was designed to fast-track those who are preparing to take a certification exam with key exam topics, deep-dive resources, and exam tips. While there’s a growing list of Fast Paths available in the Partner Learning Camp, Trailhead made an effort to highlight the following in-demand certifications (some of which you may recognize from our own 2020 Certification Scholarship Program):

Community Cloud
Marketing Cloud Developer
CPQ
Field Service (coming soon)
Marketing Cloud Consultant (coming soon)
Service Cloud (coming soon)

Why Use Fast Path?

Just this week, Trailhead for Partners announced a new incentive to roll up your sleeves and commit to the certification you’ve been working toward. The deal is if you complete any Fast Path curricula in Partner Learning Camp, you’ll receive a free voucher for the certification exam (a $200 value). Not only do we think this a solid offer from Salesforce, but at 10K, we’re always excited to see the promotion of ongoing education to help drive the ecosystem forward.

Check Out Our Ongoing Education Webinar With Trailhead SVP, Amy Regan Morehouse

We have yet another way you can expand your Salesforce learning best practices. Check out our latest “Ask The Expert” webinar featuring Trailhead SVP Amy Regan Morehouse.