If you have already thrown your hat into the ring and are striving towards a Salesforce job, this episode is for you.   Anita and Brad move on to listener questions to help people who have started working on their Salesforce certifications, applying for jobs, and lining up their first interviews.   For the specific questions we address in today's episode, check out the Handy Timestamps below.     Handy Timestamps:   2:30: If I used Salesforce as an end user previously, can I put that down as hands-on experience? 8:30: What do I do if I'm told I don't have enough experience during Salesforce job interviews? 13:00: I've applied for hundreds of jobs with little traction. Are you sure they're still hiring? 17:05: All of the job postings say 2-3 years job experience or college degree are needed. Some even ask for multiple certifications. How do I handle this? 23:45: I failed the administration exam, so what do I do now? Should I give up?   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

We had so many questions in the last episode from people considering pivoting into a Salesforce career that we just had to do one more to help new people figure out their next steps.   For the specific questions we address in today's episode, check out the Handy Timestamps below.     Don't worry, the Q&As for people already started on their Salesforce journey, or who already have Salesforce jobs and are considering their next steps (like, more pay, or switching into freelancing) are coming!   Handy Timestamps:   2:50: With so many individuals entering the Salesforce job space, won't the market becomes saturated? 6:45: Are entry-level Salesforce jobs remote, and do they come with benefits? 9:20: For remote roles, are there pay differences based on a person's location. 15:35: Can I land a job even without a Salesforce certification? 18:50: What are the titles of some of the most common entry level roles? 22:15: What does a typical day look like as an entry level Salesforce professional?   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In the first of our Q&A series, Anita and Brad take questions from listeners who are still trying to figure out if a Salesforce career is for them.   For the specific questions we address in today's episode, check out the Handy Timestamps below.     In the following episodes, we will answer questions from listeners who are further along their own Salesforce journey!    Handy Timestamps:   2:35: What are the basic compatible gear and computer systems I'll need to start pursuing a Salesforce career? 5:15: How many hours should I study every day to pass the Salesforce Administrator exam? 7:45: Do I need to take notes while I'm studying. 10:30: I don't have a tech background or specialized college degree. Can this work for me? 12:20: How do I vet the companies I will be interviewing for? 16:50: Are Salesforce positions full-time, or are they just contract roles? 22:55: I hear so much about the Salesforce Administrator Certification. But is that the job I would actually be applying for? 24:24: I've heard that Salesforce Administrator jobs are going away? Is that true, and should I become a Salesforce Developer instead? 30:15: What are some of the stealthy steps I can take so that my boss or co-coworkers don't see all the profile and branding changes I am making on LinkedIn?   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

What do you do when the career you have loved for 14 years stops loving you back, at the very moment you are needed even more by your family?   You make the leap and trade it in for another career. One that will give you control over your time while paying a lot more.   That's precisely what Carly Myers did when she said goodbye to her career and identity as a physical therapist assistant.   In today's episode, find out why she took the hard step of hanging up her scrubs to kick off a new career as a Salesforce admin. Handy Timestamps:   02:37: Why Carly wrestled with the idea of giving up her identity as a physical therapist assistant. 05:20: What made her consider a radically different career path. 06:54: Discover the surprise that made Carly kick her committment to a Salesforce admin career into high gear. 13:03: Why the Hidden Job Market continues to be so powerful for new job seekers. 18:19: What are some of the transferable skills people with an existing career can bring with them into a new Salesforce role? 20:49: Carly breaks down how her new job has benefited her family's financial outlook. Spoiler alert: the bonuses aren't just parties and swag! 26:01: Carly reflects on why she wakes up looking forward to working with her new team.    Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page To ask questions: Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

For decades, the most common advice given to most high schoolers was to either enter the trades, or go to college.   We love the trades, and there is ample evidence why that is such a valid path for many people, with a high return on investment of your time and money.   But college? That is less clear cut in a reality with ultra high college expenses.   What if there was a better alternative to college, one that would lead to a high paying $60,000 - $70,000 career in tech without sacrificing the time and money that most people have to endure?   In today's episode, Nicholas Wenzel shares with Bradly and Anita how joining Talent Stacker during college helped him land a new Salesforce career in just a few months. His success even prompted him to quit college and begin his own path towards Financial Independence!   Handy Timestamps:   01:56: How Nicholas got his start in Salesforce. 03:27: Why he quit not just college, but also high school. 04:48: How his parents felt about his unconventional path. 07:55: Why he feels that college for most people is nothing but a big scam. 09:57: What Nicholas felt was the biggest risk of pursuing a full time high-paying career in Salesforce versus taking the college track. 11:48: How has his new career changed his financial outlook. 13:05: What is the return on investment on college, versus pursuing an alternative? Hint: It's at least a couple of years and more than $50,000!! 14:15: How any one still in college can take a low-risk way to try out if a Salesforce career might be right for them (and why parents should encourage them!). 18:25: Can people in their late teens and early 20s really get hired into these high-paying Salesforce jobs? (Spoiler alert, the answer is yes - here's why). 21:38: What about people who are mid-career, looking to pivot out of a career or profession that no longer lights them up? Do they to go back to college? 24:59: So what are the scenarios where it makes sense to go to college? 32:19: Preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

What would it be like to more than double your income, pay off all your debt, move to a lower cost of living location to be closer to loved ones, AND be treated with the respect for the specialized skills you possess?   In today's episode, Heather Rhoden shares with Bradly and Anita how joining Talent Stacker helped her land her new Salesforce career in just 3 1/2 months.   Better yet, the ability to earn more and save more has allowed her to win back her Financial Independence! Handy Timestamps: 2:10: How listening to two inspirational stories - and taking action - changed Heather Rhoden's life helped her win back her financial independence. 4:00: How Heather paid off her credit card debt and earned herself a fresh start. 7:30: How the Financial Independence community is so similar to the Talent Stacker and Salesforce communities in helping to lift you up and keep you on task. 11:00: How Heather eventually got her first Salesforce job in just 3 1/2 months, with double the pay and quadruple the respect. 13:00: First time decisions that come with financial strength: max out employer-sponsored 401 K retirement account, or get into house-hacking with real estate? 15:45: A higher paycheck flips the Financial Independence equation of earn more, spend less, and invest the difference. Here's how. 19:50: How a 100% remote Salesforce career sets you up for geo-arbitrage: earning a high income and moving to a low cost of living region while being closer to family. 27:45: How a Salesforce career and FI allows you to take your life on the road, Personal Time Off days be damned! 29:20: By exceeding expectations in their Salesforce roles, most people will earn the respect of their co-workers and get $10-$20k raises within a year of getting started. 34:30: Preview of the next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

Congratulations! You've done everything right, such as: getting your first Salesforce certification (episode 003) polishing up your personal branding and network engagement on LinkedIn (episode 004) getting some solid hands-on experience so stand out from the competition (episode 005) preparing your story so you ace your interview (episode 006) finding the opportunities to apply for, including cracking the Hidden Job Market.  Now you've been selected as the top candidate and presented an offer. Do you take it? Or do you ask for more?   Anita and Bradley walk you through some essential things you need to consider in this stage of becoming a Salesforce professional.   Handy Timestamps:   3:03: So you got the offer! Here's what's next. 6:43: Here are some reasons to take the offer with minimal negotiation, including the strong likelihood of getting $10k or more within half a year. 11:18: But if you are coming from a place of strength, here are some reasons for negotiating. Sure, more money is great, but here are some non-monetary things to ask for too. 17:28: Thinking of holding out for an extra additional $5,000? If you are coming from a position of relative weakness, you need to listen to how Anita and Brad break it down. 27:12: If this is your first Salesforce job, take the offer and buckle up for the supercharged trajectory that is the Salesforce professional's paycheck within 6 months. 34:57: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode, Anita and Brad bust another major misconception: that there are no Salesforce jobs available.    There is a major disconnect here, especially when recruiters and employers are consistently lamenting the fact they can't seem to hire Salesforce professionals quickly enough.   Tune in to find out how Talent Stackers can crack the code and plug the job search gap!    Handy Timestamps:     2:16: Here's why so many people mistakenly think that there are no Salesforce jobs available. 4:31: Don't let cut-and-paste job descriptions deter you from applying. These are often wishlists that the hiring company will not be able to fill due to the demand for Salesforce professionals. 8:30: Many companies are still learning that their unrealistic job descriptions aren't cutting it in today's job market. In the meantime, here's how to stay on their radar until reality bites their futile hiring efforts. 13:04: Here's another myth we need to bust. People think that getting a certification entitles them to a job. On the contrary, that's just the price of admission! 18:08: Imposter syndrome: we all feel it sometime. Here's how to dispell yours when looking for a Salesforce job. 21:51: Another tip: don't just look for opportunities in your city or state! Cast a wider net! 24:48: Find out how many job applications is too many. 27:05: If you are in a niche industry, you have an extra edge landing your first Salesforce job. 29:37: Not every job vacancy is going to be posted - 1 out of 3 people get recruited within The Hidden Job Market. Here's how to optimize for that. 37:26: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode, we are joined by another special guest, Justin Dux, to help you level up your first set of Salesforce job interviews.   Justin is the real deal - he has helped over a hundred Talent Stackers crush their Salesforce job interviews - even when they were completely new to the eco-system.   This is one episode you don't want to miss, especially if you have an interview on the books!   Handy Timestamps:   3:45: How to set yourself apart from all the other people being interviewed for your role. 6:06: The world is powered by stories, so you need yours ready to ace the interview.  10:09: Some surefire tips to present yourself in the best light (sometimes literally) and impress the interviewers. 15:45: Why being your most authentic self is also the most effective - but only if you prepare your story. 19:16: We've all heard those "tell me your weakness" type of questions. Here's how to turn that into a competitive advantage. 25:32: What do you do if you are asked a question you don't have the answer to?  28:01: Why follow ups are so important, even if you don't get the job. 34:57: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode, we bring on Alex Warneke, our OG Talent Stacker to help us crack that age-old Catch-22 dilemma, where employers want people with experience, but how do you get experience if you are completely new?   The answer: getting some solid hands-on experience under your belt to help you stand out when it's time for your job interview! Handy Timestamps:   2:55: Why hands-on experience is so important if you want to break into the Salesforce ecosystem. 5:22: What is an "Org" in the Salesforce context? We break it down. 8:34: Why having hands-on experience enriches your job interviews. 13:00: Some pitfalls to watch out for when working on a volunteer project. 16:34: How to find your own projects to get valuable hands-on experience. 20:18: If you are new and are thinking of skipping these projects, think again. Here's why. 27:33: You've decided to volunteer with a non-profit for hands-on experience. Great! Here's what next. 31:55: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode, hosts Bradley Rice and Anita Smith destroy a trite job-hunting advice that does more harm than good.   Then they discuss: how you can use personal branding to get Salesforce job recruiters to come to you, how LinkedIn is the best platform for recruiters to discover you, some proven actionable items to you get to #JobLanded in less time and with less angst. Handy Timestamps: 2:31: Why Personal Branding is the secret sauce for landing a new Salesforce job from Day Zero. 4:55: How to use LinkedIn to remake your Personal Brand, and draw recruiters in. 7:18: If you aren't on LinkedIn, you're turning your back on your next Salesforce Job. 10:12: Tips you can use now make your LinkedIn profile pop and shout #HireMe 19:55: How LinkedIn is also your source for connecting with the people who will help you succeed. 28:01: Why taking a proven path will get you the job in less time and with less angst. 33:48: Next level actionable LinkedIn tips to get recruiters to reach out. 39:58: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode of the show, hosts Bradley Rice and Anita Smith take you on the next logical step in the journey to a new Salesforce job: Getting your first Salesforce certification.    This is a significant step, one that will boost your chance of getting to #JobLanded by more than 85%, and you'll find out how to earn your certification in the fastest and simplest way possible!    Handy Timestamps: 1:50: Why Certification is the gateway to a new Salesforce Career. 4:13: How to use Trailhead to study for your Certification 7:39: Find Trailhead too overwhelming? Here's a fix for that. 12:36: How long would it actually take to go through Trailhead and earn your first Salesforce Certification? 14:45: 2 advanced tips to stack the odds of getting Certified. 17:12: Congrats! You got certified! Now what? 21:09: What is the Hidden Job Market, and how do you unlock that? 22:45: What else do you need to do to get to #JobLanded?   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start Trailhead Start Page TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

In this episode, hosts Bradley Rice and Anita Smith map out, step-by-step, why the demand for Salesforce professionals is so hot, there is an ongoing talent war to snap up even those with just a few months of experience under their belt.   They then make the case for why that demand will continue to remain red-hot well into the end of the decade, and share examples of the hundreds of people who have pivoted into a new Salesforce job, all without any tech experience or a big college bill.   Handy Timestamps:   1:41: Why is there such a huge opportunity in Salesforce even if you're starting from Day Zero? 5:00: Some numbers on the Salesforce job market from recruiting firm Mason Frank. 6:50: Why Salesforce professionals are the beneficiaries of a talent war. 7:55: How the talent war is an opportunity for Salesforce professionals to live their best life NOW. 14:42: Introducing Trailhead, Salesforce's free self-paced, on-demand university. 16:13: Why demand for Salesforce, and Salesforce professionals, will continue to be strong. 18:25: How to succeed at a new Salesforce career, even without college. 20:52: Awesome success stories of everyday people who have landed new Salesforce jobs. 28:34: A preview of next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group

Welcome to the first episode of the Salesforce For Everyone Podcast! Hosts Bradley Rice and Anita Smith discuss how a Salesforce career can be the launchpad to financial independence for most people, even if they do not have a college degree or tech experience. They show why they aren't kidding when they say Salesforce is for everyone!    Handy Timestamps: 3:11: How Salesforce let Bradley have it all: be there for his new daughter, while earning a 6-figure income working 20 hours a week. 5:46: Wait … what the heck is Salesforce anyway? 8:49: Why Salesforce professionals get paid so much, even without college or tech experience. 11:16: The ridiculous salary rocket engine that every Salesforce pro enjoys. 12:36: Why Financial Independence and a new Salesforce career is the ultimate unlock to living your best life. 18:24: Why community is such an important piece of success with a Salesforce career. 21:39: Turning the best practices from the community into a replicable free resource for everyone. 24:39: Check out the cheat-sheet topics we'll cover in the next few episodes. 26:31: A preview of the next episode.   Links and Resources: TalentStacker.com/start ChooseFI.com/start TalentStacker LinkedIn Page Salesforce For Everyone Facebook Group