How to Help Your Students Launch a Career in the Salesforce Economy
Now more than ever, new models for “skilling up” are emerging to futureproof the workforce, including more flexible offerings through higher education institutions, employers, and online course providers. Amid the angst about drops in higher ed enrollment, many predominantly online institutions saw enrollment climb — in some cases by quite a lot.
At Salesforce, our global impact is much bigger than our technology and our company. Together with our partners and customers, we’re creating millions of Salesforce jobs around the world. This is what research firm IDC has coined the “Salesforce Economy,” which will add 4.2 million new jobs through 2024. That’s the equivalent of Thailand’s and Belgium’s GDP combined, or the population of New Zealand all getting new jobs.
The Salesforce ecosystem is expected to create 4.2 million jobs worldwide through 2024, adding $1.2 trillion in new business revenues to local economies. –IDC
In addition to our technology designed to drive digital transformation across the education journey, we’re also committed to supporting your learners by creating a pathway to a career in the Salesforce ecosystem. Now, more than ever, higher education leaders are looking for ways to ensure students have the skills needed to thrive post-graduation in today’s digital economy. We want to help your learners become a part of this economy, as well.
From learning in the classroom to campus recruiting and careers in the ecosystem, here’s how we’re committed to helping your students become a part of the Salesforce economy.
Teaching Salesforce at Your Institution
Schools across the globe are using a customizable curriculum available on our free online learning platform: Trailhead. Many institutions are going the extra mile by taking data skills to the next level by teaching and using Tableau in the classroom. These resources are a great way to prepare students for meaningful careers in the Salesforce ecosystem, including roles in marketing, business, sales, and more.
For Sondra Green, a recent college graduate, this approach activated previously acquired academic knowledge by providing a practical skill set.
“I developed a passion for research and analytics while obtaining my bachelor’s degree in psychology,” Green said. While her undergraduate program at the University of Guelph helped her learn how to effectively interpret data, she realized that she lacked the programming experience to apply her research abilities in a business setting. “Georgian College’s Big Data Analytics Graduate Certificate program allowed me to merge my academic knowledge with a technical and practical skill set.”
Sondra now works as a data analyst at Dig Insights, a leader in the market research industry. “That two-semester program was a short investment that helped me secure a career in the industry,” she said.
Workforce Development & Recruiting Programs
From student programs to dedicated university recruiting, there are multiple opportunities for students to intern or work within the Salesforce ecosystem.
Salesforce’s Pathfinder Training Program is a workforce development initiative designed to train individuals with the technical and business skills necessary to pursue a career in the Salesforce ecosystem. Launched in 2018 in collaboration with Deloitte, Pathfinder began with a commitment to train the next generation of Trailblazers.
Sarah Isen, a Pathfinder alumna, is now a business analyst with Appirio, leading Salesforce implementations on the Express Team. “After being out of the workforce for almost eight years, I was ready for a change and knew I wanted to get back into technology,” Isen said. The Pathfinder program offered me a unique chance to learn a new skill that was in high demand and gave me the boost I needed to reinvent my career.”
The Futureforce Recruiting program is dedicated to attracting, retaining, and cultivating the next generation of talent. Futureforce interns and new graduates work on real projects that affect how our business runs, giving them the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of Salesforce. Futureforce hosts career days on campuses as well as recruitment fairs and others for students to engage with.
With Vetforce, Trailhead Military connects members to free training, certifications, and career opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem. The program is available to active duty, reserve, guard, veterans, and military spouses.
“Transitioning out of the military and into the civilian workforce is exciting, but can be challenging for service members,” said Franklin Aldridge, an Army veteran and Vetforce alum who’s now a Salesforce configuration designer at Accenture Federal Services in San Antonio. “In addition to providing technical training, the Vetforce program offers mentorship opportunities and employment preparation to help veterans translate their leadership, teamwork, and project management abilities into the skills valued by potential employers.”
Mentorship & Career Opportunities
Connecting students with mentors is critical to their success. Our Trailblazer community is engaged in various mentoring opportunities to help prepare students for interviews, provide career advice, and more. Salesforce supports in the following ways.
The Trailblazer Mentorship empowers mentees to connect to opportunities to land their dream job in the Salesforce ecosystem. Mentees receive resume writing and interview tips, access to networking opportunities, and more.
Career Events provides hundreds of career events and webinars for students — from soft skills and personal branding to career panels, top tips for Salesforce admins, and more — all available via Trailblazer Connect.
Salesforce Talent Alliance connects partners to Salesforce candidates and brings new talent into the ecosystem, emphasizing the need to build a diverse workforce that reflects society around the globe. Among others, Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, and PwC are some of Salesforce’s founding Talent Alliance Members.
Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce, has said: “As we build the economy of the future, we must bring along the workforce of today. Salesforce is committed to empowering people from every background with the skills they need to build careers and thrive in the digital economy.”
As your partner in education, we’re committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce. And, like you, we want all learners to be prepared for tomorrow.
Join us at the Education Summit on June 16 to learn more about new learning models, reskilling for the digital economy, and using Trailhead at your institution.
About the Author
Razan Roberts, senior director for strategic engagement and communications at Salesforce.org, has been a leader in education technology for the past 18 years. She engages with higher education executives to help solve their challenges with technology. Prior to joining Salesforce six years ago, Razan led educator and academic programs at Microsoft.
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