Due to the nature of our work, Talent Hub have hundreds of conversations each month with Salesforce talent in ANZ. We wanted to highlight some of the comments that we regularly hear, with a view to helping anyone who holds these common misconceptions or have questions themselves.
The more Salesforce Certifications I have, the higher salary/rate that I will get
Although Salesforce Certifications are highly sought after and valued by employers, they do not necessarily translate into a higher salary, all of the time.
We are aware that some Salesforce Partners do pay a bonus/salary increase when an employee hits certain certification numbers, however, most companies do not pay a candidate more than another just because of a certification. Salesforce Certified Technical Architects are the exception, as becoming a CTA will most definitely open up greater earning potential.
We definitely recommend having Salesforce certifications and have actually seen clients screen potential candidates based on who has/hasn’t got a certification, so they may give you an edge over a competing candidate for a role but won’t guarantee that you would be offered a higher salary. See them as a way to continue learning and opening up opportunities.
I have to stay in a role for at least a year
Fairly regularly we speak to Salesforce professionals who are unhappy in their current role but don’t want to leave until they have completed a year in the position. Often this is because they fear how leaving after a short period will appear to future employers.
Although we do not recommend consistently job hopping from one company to another, we see no harm in leaving a business if you are not learning, are not being given the opportunities you have been promised or are just generally unhappy in the role for another reason. There are too many good Salesforce opportunities out there in ANZ to be stagnating or unhappy and waiting that extra few months in the wrong role can put you behind others who are developing their skill set.
I need to work for a Salesforce Partner to get access to the most interesting projects
We are seeing more and more companies building in-house teams (both permanent and contract) and running projects in-house or alongside a Salesforce partner. There is definitely value in working for a Salesforce partner, but it is now not the only way to get access to some of the most interesting projects in the region. Salesforce projects are becoming more complex and lengthier which means joining an end user company is no longer just working in BAU and on enhancements.
I will have to travel regularly and work long hours if I work for a Salesforce Partner
We regularly hear from people who are interested in working in the consulting space but are put off by the idea that they will have to work long hours and travel across the region. In reality, travel is not as big a factor as many people think, especially as lots of the Salesforce partners have offices and teams in multiple states. As for working hours, yes projects can require some additional hours here and there but that is also true if working for an end user. Our advice is to be open to speaking with Salesforce partners and ask them directly about their expectations on travel and working hours.
The biggest companies have the best work
Currently, some of our most interesting Salesforce requirements are with companies who have less than 50 staff. These can be product companies or startups who have the finances in place to go hard and fast with the Salesforce platform. Of course there are some very interesting projects at Tier 1 companies in the finance, telco, retail space as well as government departments but our advice is to take each role on its merit and not be put off just because of a companies size.. who knows what you may get exposure to in a smaller team with big plans.
I should be earning the same as others with the same job title
We know that people talk and that sometimes you may hear that someone with the same job title as you is earning a higher salary than you are. Our advice here is to base your salary expectations on the experience you have and the advice you receive from specialist Salesforce Recruiters. Your peers may have deeper experience, broader exposure to the more in-demand skills in the Salesforce space etc. A job title only tells part of the story.
I won’t be able to find a job between late November and early February
Around this time of year we regularly hear this statement but in reality, some of Talent Hub’s busiest times have been around the Christmas period. If you have strong Salesforce skills, are realistic and flexible to a degree on salary, location etc then there will always be work out there for you if you are connected to the right people in the market.
Obviously, companies do have some down time over this period but don’t put your job search on hold just because you have heard the market will be quiet.
The Salesforce market is ever evolving so rest assured that Talent Hub will provide regular insights if and when we notice any new patterns emerging.