From Pandemic Layoff to $100k+ | A Salesforce Success Story |EP 297c
Episode 297
Episode Guide
Episode Summary:
Episode Timestamps
ChooseFI Episode Show Notes
Episode Title: Transform Your Career with Salesforce – Anita's Inspiring Journey
Episode Summary:
Harnessing the power of community and proactive learning has transformed countless lives, exemplified by Anita's journey from a hospitality professional to a successful Salesforce career. After being furloughed during the pandemic, Anita discovered the Talent Stacker program that equipped her with the skills needed to transition her career, ultimately landing a six-figure job in just months. This episode emphasizes the potential of community-driven resources and learning platforms in achieving financial independence and career resilience, especially during uncertain times.
Key Topics and Takeaways:
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Introduction of the Community and Learning Power
- "Transform your life and fortune in just weeks or months!" - The importance of taking action to change your life.
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Anita's Journey
- Transition from hospitality to Salesforce after being furloughed.
- Engaged in online courses like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning before discovering Salesforce.
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The Role of Talent Stacker
- Explained as a vital program for skill acquisition in the Salesforce ecosystem for career transitions.
- Many participants have successfully found jobs after completing the program.
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Salesforce Skills Are Universal
- "Salesforce skills are applicable across various industries!" - These skills open diverse career opportunities.
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The Importance of Learning
- "Embrace learning to unlock new career opportunities!" - Highlighting the power of continuous learning.
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Seizing Opportunity
- "Don't wait—seize your future now to maximize earnings!" - Encouragement to take proactive steps.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Utilize online learning platforms like Salesforce's Trailhead to build valuable skills.
- Participate in community-driven programs like Talent Stacker for enhanced career opportunities.
- Engage in proactive learning and networking to better position yourself for job opportunities.
Related Resources:
FAQs:
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What is the Talent Stacker program?
- A career development initiative designed to help individuals gain skills for the Salesforce ecosystem.
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How can I get started with Salesforce training?
- Join the free five-day challenge at choosefi.com/salesforce.
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Is this program suitable for someone without a tech background?
- Yes! It's designed to accommodate individuals from all backgrounds.
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What job opportunities are available after completing training?
- Roles in sales, customer service, and project management across various industries, typically with high salaries.
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How quickly can I expect to get a job after starting the program?
- Many have secured jobs within a few months post-program completion.
Speaker Highlights:
- Brad Barrett: Co-host and advocate for financial independence, emphasizing community and learning.
- Jonathan Mendonsa: Co-host driving the message of leveraging new career opportunities.
- Anita: Success story of transitioning to a six-figure Salesforce career post-pandemic.
Discussion Questions:
- What motivates individuals to change their careers mid-way through their professional journey?
- How can community support enhance career transitions?
- What are the most valuable skills to develop for today's job market?
Episode Links: Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Podcast Intro:
"You're listening to ChooseFI, the blueprint for financial independence lives here…"
Podcast Extro:
"You've been listening to ChooseFI Podcast, where we help middle-class America build wealth one life hack at a time."
Transform Your Career with Salesforce: A Path to Financial Independence
The pursuit of financial independence can take many forms, and one of the most transformative paths is through career transition fueled by proactive learning. This article draws inspiration from the remarkable journey of Anita, who transitioned from a struggling hospitality career to a lucrative position in the Salesforce ecosystem, showcasing how taking action, leveraging community resources, and embracing online learning can redefine your professional trajectory.
The Power of Proactive Learning
Don't Wait for Opportunity—Create It
When faced with uncertainty, especially during turbulent times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, waiting for the perfect moment to act can lead to missed opportunities. Instead, you should approach your career with a proactive mindset. As Anita learned, ignoring the comfort of her previous job and seeking educational opportunities can radically transform life outcomes.
Transform your life and fortune in just weeks or months!
Enthusiastic individuals willing to seek out resources and learn new skills can find themselves on a new career path within months rather than years. By utilizing online platforms, you can gain valuable capabilities relevant to today’s job market.
The Salesforce Opportunity
Why Salesforce?
Salesforce is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform that remains essential across various industries. Regardless of your previous experience, mastering Salesforce skills can open numerous job offers that often come with substantial earning potential—typically ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 or more annually.
No Tech Background? No Problem!
Many pursuing a career in Salesforce come from non-technical backgrounds. The Talent Stacker program, highlighted in Anita's journey, is a perfect example of a community-driven initiative that equips individuals with skills that transcend their past professions. A significant takeaway is that:
Salesforce skills are applicable across various industries!
Get Started with the Free Five-Day Challenge
One of the best first steps for those interested in Sales Force is to participate in the free five-day challenge offered through Talent Stacker. This program introduces basic concepts, guiding you through the Salesforce ecosystem:
- Daily commitment: Spend 30 minutes a day learning about Salesforce.
- Hands-on training: Get accustomed to the Salesforce Trailhead, the platform containing free resources to delve deeper into Salesforce functionalities.
- Supportive community: Engage with others taking the challenge to build a support network.
Engaging with Community Resources
The Importance of Community Support
An integral part of Anita's success was the community support that stemmed from the ChooseFI audience. When embarking on a new career path, connecting with like-minded individuals can provide encouragement, insight, and answer critical questions that arise during transitions.
- Participate in forums: Join online groups related to Salesforce and career transitions. Interact with those who have successfully navigated similar paths, and share experiences and advice.
- Leverage mentorship opportunities: Seek out mentors within these communities who can guide you, just as Anita found guidance from the ChooseFI hosts and other resources.
Utilizing Platforms Like Talent Stacker
The Talent Stacker program specifically focuses on developing Salesforce skills and offers several benefits:
- Structured learning path: Follow a roadmap designed to take you from novice to job-ready in a matter of months.
- Networking events: Tap into virtual networking events that can connect you with potential employers and industry insiders.
Embrace learning to unlock new career opportunities!
Taking Action is Key
The Path Is Not Always Easy, but Worthwhile
Embracing a learning mindset and actively seeking opportunities is crucial in achieving success. As Anita illustrated through her journey, it begins with taking the first step—diligently participating in educational programs, applying for positions, and continuously expanding skill sets.
Taking action is what leads to success!
Actively Seek Job Opportunities
Anita's proactive approach enabled her to land a six-figure job within just a few months of committing to the Salesforce training:
- Pursue certifications: Completing Salesforce certifications enhances your job applications and demonstrates your competence to potential employers.
- Leverage volunteer opportunities: Many organizations look for volunteers to help with CRM tasks; this practical experience adds to your resume.
Conclusion: The Journey to Financial Independence
Anita's story is an inspiring example of how embracing online learning, community resources, and active participation can alter your career trajectory dramatically. Today, more than ever, it's essential to utilize platforms, learn applicable skills, and push beyond previous comfort zones to thrive in a new career—all while working towards financial independence.
Remember, with determination and the right support, you can transform your career and life in just a few short months. The world needs skilled professionals in Salesforce, and you could be next to seize this exciting opportunity.
Explore more about transitioning to a Salesforce career by signing up for the free challenge at choosefi.com/salesforce, and join the ranks of those successfully leveraging their learning for financial independence.
By listening to the podcast, Anita heard about Jonathan starting up the Talent Stacker podcast and the program he put together with Bradley Rice on Salesforce career development. Anita gave the free Talent Stacker Salesforce 5-Day Challenge a shot, signed up for a follow-up job placement program, and her results blew Jonathan and Bradley’s minds.
https://youtu.be/agD9y6WRy90[elementor-template id="143609"]
Access the same free course that Anita did to get started on her path to success, take the Talent Stacker Salesforce 5-Day Challenge.
Key Takeaways
If you are willing to look outside your comfort zone, grab good information, and take action on it, you can change your life in a matter of weeks or months.
One of the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic has been hospitality. Working in that industry, Anita looked down a long dark tunnel before stumbling upon the FI community.
When Anita found ChooseFI in August, she jumped right in, taking action and interacting with Brad through the FI Weekly and submitting her frugal wins of the week.
The results Anita has had are not an outlier. It’s what others are also seeing every single week.
Back in the spring of 2019, Bradley was on the show to talk about Salesforce and living a life by design. After Bradley discussed earning $200K a year working 15-20 hours a week, the listening audience really responded.
Based on that interest, a Salesforce group was started for the community and people began landing Salesforce jobs. In just two years, the group grew to 5,000 members learning from each other.
A year ago, Anita worked as a revenue manager for a hotel connected to a convention center. At that time, the pandemic was accelerating, and group after group began canceling their events. As a result, she was furloughed in March.
Understanding that hospitality wasn’t going to recover anytime soon, Anita decided to be proactive, began learning, and figured out her next move.
In addition to taking classes online, Anita researched Fortune’s top places to work. The first time she heard of Salesforce was from that list but was turned off at the thought of sales. After a bit of research, she discovered sales isn’t what they do.
She signed up for Trailhead, Salesforces’s online learning account, and did it for one day before concluding it was awesome. But she wondered it was real and if it was as easy as it seemed.
After receiving more bad news from her employer, Anita was motivated to learn more. She found ChooseFI and binge listened to over a hundred episodes when she heard about Talent Stacker, Salesforce (again), and the Free 5-day Challenge.
She ended up in the paid program, and because she had been laid off, she used her time to learn everything she could like it was her full-time job.
One month after starting the program, she took the first admin certification program and passed. After that, she used all of the tips from the program and landed a good-paying job in January.
Before the pandemic, Anita was in a financially stable place. She had no debt other than a car payment, although she was forced to move in with her boyfriend after being laid off.
She says in her previous hospitality job, she was on a path to get to the kind of pay she is earning now; it just would have taken a lot longer.
Bradley says what Anita has done is possible because cloud-based technology is less-impacted by things like the pandemic because they are skilled positions, can be done remotely, and without a lot of change management.
There aren’t enough skilled Salesforce professionals to fill all the available positions. To help fill the gaps, Salesforce developed Trailhead, a free online training app, which removed some of the barriers to entry.
Studying online for a few months and then landing a $60-80K per year job sounded too good to be true. But this is one of those rare occasions when something that sounds too good to be true - really is true.
If you don’t have basic computer skills, a Salesforce career may not be for you. However, if you like the thought of helping companies generate new leads and support new customers, it might be a good fit.
There’s so much information on Salesforce that it can seem overwhelming. Anita explains that she is reorganizing the business to help companies become more efficient.
A Salesforce professional helps a company use the software to find more customers, sell to those customers, retain the customers, and secure the customer’s data.
The majority of individuals can come away from training earning $60-80K a year. Anita surpassed that when her first offer was six figures, and she doubled her previous salary.
Bradley says the career trajectory quickly increases from there. Even someone who isn’t leaning in will likely reach six figures after three years and top out around $130K with $20-30K bonuses.
The more entrepreneurial-minded can strike out and become independent consultants and earn even more. Bradley makes $200K a year working just 20 hours a week.
Based on his return on investment, Jonathan wouldn’t go to college if this program was available to him. He spent eight years in school and came away with $168K in debt, rather than six months of training for a couple of thousand dollars. His net worth would be two to three times higher if he had.
That doesn’t imply ChooseFI is anti-college. Rather, the takeaway is to think differently, look at the world for how it is, and see opportunities. The traditional path may not be for you.
Taking a hybrid approach can be a benefit. Go ahead and go to college, but spend a summer in a Salesforce career development program. It helps you understand what Salesforce is, gets you halfway through a program, and helps you to decide if it’s right for you.
You can do this for free. Training is available on Trailhead. What the free 5 Day Challenge does is show you how to get started in Trailhead and show you a clear path, and help you decide if Salesforce is for you in just 30 minutes a day.
Anita chose to go through the paid portion of the course because of the clear path it offered.