Become a Salesforce Consultant | Advance Your Salesforce Career
Are you looking for the next step in your Salesforce career? Well, perhaps you should consider working in Salesforce as a consultant. Consulting may be the next step you should take to level your Salesforce career!
In this blog post, we'll explore why working in Salesforce consulting can be the best way to advance your Salesforce career, how consulting differs to working in-house and how you can break into Salesforce consulting.
What is Salesforce Consulting?
Let's start with the basics - what exactly is Salesforce consulting? Salesforce consulting companies are organizations that specialize in helping businesses implement and optimize their Salesforce solutions. Think of Datacom, PwC, and Merkle. There’s also a whole host of smaller, boutique consultancies that specialize only in Salesforce too, often for local businesses.
These companies employ experts in Salesforce who have experience with the platform and can provide guidance on best practices for implementation, customization, and ongoing support. A consultant’s job is work with these clients for a set amount of time to build, implement or set up a Salesforce Org, before jumping onto the next client. Sometimes, it’ll involve teaching end-users and the wider Salesforce team some of your Salesforce tricks and secrets!
Pros of Working in Salesforce Consulting
Salary
One of the biggest advantages of progressing down the Salesforce consulting path is the salary. Salesforce consulting salary can be quite competitive, with many companies offering six-figure salaries for experienced consultants. This is due to the high demand for Salesforce expertise and the specialized knowledge required to be successful in this field.
The reason why Salesforce consulting companies are able to pay so well is simple: the consulting company charges a high fee to the client per project. Most of this revenue goes towards the payroll of the consultants they employ, as that is the biggest cost for a consulting company.
For a comprehensive breakdown of Salesforce salaries across a range of careers and markets, check out our 2023 Salesforce Salaries Guide.
Diversity of Experience
Salesforce consulting is not just about the money - working in Salesforce consulting can also be incredibly rewarding. As a consultant, you have the opportunity to work with a variety of clients across different industries, which can provide valuable exposure to new business processes and challenges.
In a year, you could work with a healthcare company developing the latest medical devices, a government agency, and a retail conglomerate. This experience can help you develop a more well-rounded understanding of Salesforce and make you a more valuable asset to future employers. In a way, you can think of consulting as the Olympics for Salesforce careers, and you’re participating in every sport! Think about all the skills and experience you’ll be able to learn…
Extensive Career Growth Opportunities
Another advantage of working in Salesforce consulting is the potential for career growth. As you gain experience and expertise, you can take on more complex projects and eventually move into leadership roles. Some Salesforce consulting companies even have formal career development programs to help employees advance their careers and reach their goals.
The Salesforce consulting pathway has been walked by many eager Salesforce professionals before you, so consulting companies big and small will have great career development programs in place. It’s like a “choose your own adventure” video game:
- Do you want to progress down the management track and become a partner?
- Or how about stay as an individual contributor and be the most in-demand and respected Salesforce consultant?
- What industry do you want to specialize in?
Making this decision will come to down factors such as what you personally want to achieve in your career, what Salesforce consulting salary goals you have and how much time you want to invest.
The Hustle and Bustle Consulting Life
I’ll admit it - working in Salesforce consulting can also be a lot of fun! You get to work with a team of like-minded individuals who are passionate about Salesforce and helping clients succeed. And because every project is unique, you never know what new challenges and opportunities will come your way.
I like to think of consultants as the type who thrive in a hustle and bustle style environment. Things are moving fast, but you’re keeping on top of them. Every week, you learn something new and you’re progressing your Salesforce career faster than you could have imagined. Each time you start working with a new client, you have a new set of stakeholders to deal with, meaning more opportunities for relationships to be formed.
Salesforce Consulting vs In-House
Ok, these perks all sound great. But, it does sound a bit different to the Salesforce Admin or Developer, who works from home and slowly gets through their tickets each day.
Yup, there are definitely some key differences between working as a Salesforce consultant vs as an in-house Admin.
Salesforce consultants are generally busier and under a bit more pressure, since they’re working to tight deadlines and have clients (who, if you remember, are paying enormous sums for your services) to deliver to.
However, what you get in return is a high salary, faster learning, and a diversity of experience that you just wouldn’t get as an in-house Admin going through the motions.
If you’re someone who works well under pressure, are looking for a challenge, and want to accelerate your learning as a Salesforce Admin, then consulting could be a wise choice. Besides, there’s always the opportunity to hop off the Salesforce consulting path and go down the in-house track again (and imagine what your employability would look like with all this additional consulting experience!).
How Do I Break Into Salesforce Consulting?
Network, network, network
Consulting circles can be small and localized, so get out there and meet some new faces!
Attend your local Salesforce related events and show your face. Introduce yourself to people in the world of consulting. That’s the best way you can get an internal referral and expedite the hiring process!
Make sure to take advantage of LinkedIn and hit up recruiters and hiring managers for coffee. Don’t come in too strong and ask for a job straight away - take the time to build a relationship, so that when a recruiter has a role to fill, you’re the first to come to their mind.
Go Out On Your Own
This one is a bit more unconventional, but if you’ve always dreamed of being your own boss and taking back control of your working day, then going out on your own as a freelance Salesforce consultant could be the right move.
Keep in mind you’ll need to hunt around for your own clients, and manage your own finances a bit more closely if you’re self-employed. However, these additional overheads give you complete freedom in your work. And, not to mention a pretty healthy paycheck!
Conclusion
So, if you're looking for a way to advance your Salesforce career, working in Salesforce consulting could be the perfect solution. With competitive salaries, rewarding work, and opportunities for career growth, it's no wonder why so many people choose to pursue this career path. If you're ready to take the next step, start researching Salesforce consulting companies in your area and see what opportunities are available. Good luck!