The Truth About Salesforce Certifications: Why They Matter (And When They Don’t)

The Truth About Salesforce Certifications: Why They Matter (And When They Don’t)

The Truth About Salesforce Certifications: Why They Matter (And When They Don’t)

21 Oct 2024

A group of people working on a project
A group of people working on a project

You don’t need certifications… until you do!

Let me explain. Have you ever felt nervous visiting a new doctor, only to wonder if they even studied medicine? Or taken your car for service, only to discover the wrong engine oil was used? Sure, it still runs… but for how long?

In the Salesforce industry, it’s easy to improvise solutions. We all figure things out on the fly—it’s part of the job! But how often do you have the time to revisit custom-built solutions once you’ve learned the proper way to do things?

I’m not just talking about using a custom field when a standard one would suffice or—heaven forbid—creating a custom Opportunity object! I’m talking about deeper issues:

• Building custom APIs to create records instead of using Salesforce’s standard APIs.

• Creating custom sharing models for community portals instead of leveraging standard sharing options.

• Designing workarounds to avoid paying for licences, only to face complications later.

This list could go on. Every day, I discover new “creative” solutions during customer interviews that leave me both amazed and concerned.

Now, imagine the anxiety your customers feel when they find out about these deviations. Multiply that by the size of your team and compound it over the years. The result? A tangled mess that could require an expensive Salesforce reimplementation—costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds, or more.

So, what’s the point I’m making here?

Why Certifications Matter?

Having certifications doesn’t just mean you passed an exam. It means you understand the platform deeply, including its limitations, upcoming releases, and deprecated features. Certifications signal that you’ve done the work to stay on top of the platform—even if you haven’t yet implemented every feature in the wild.

Picture the ideal Salesforce professional:

• They know exactly how to find the best solution for any challenge.

• They understand platform limitations and know what’s coming in future releases.

• They have experience overcoming similar challenges—and are comfortable working in uncharted territory.

Wouldn’t you want someone like that on your team? The good news is that you can become that person.

The Three Types of Knowledge

1. The Knowledge You Get Through Experience:

This comes from hands-on work—trial, error, and repetition. However, experience depends on the opportunities available to you, the projects you work on, and the people you collaborate with. You can’t control every aspect, but you can choose to make the most of what’s in front of you.

2. The Knowledge You Gain from Others:

Whether it’s through mentorship, collaboration, or observing how others solve problems, learning from others accelerates your growth. Find people who inspire you and challenge you to improve.

3. The Knowledge You Gain from Self-Study:

This is the area where you have the most control. You can choose when and how you study, improve your time management, and focus on areas that will have the greatest impact on your career.

One of my mentors once told me something that has stuck with me ever since:

“You can’t rush experience, but you can rush knowledge.”

Your experience is shaped by the roles you take on and the people you work with, but your knowledge? That’s entirely up to you.

Choosing the Right Certifications for You

So, where do you begin? Should you pursue certifications in areas you already know well, or dive into something completely new? Should you aim for specialist roles—like a CPQ or Integration Architect—or follow the CTA (Certified Technical Architect) path?

The answer depends on your interests and goals. Start with certifications that align with your current work. Focus on areas you encounter daily but haven’t fully mastered yet. From there, expand into new areas to build a well-rounded skill set.

And don’t fear failing exams—it’s part of the process. Exploring new topics will push you out of your comfort zone, but it will also make you a stronger professional. In time, you’ll become the person that others look up to—the one everyone wants on their team.

A Few Final Thoughts

Certifications are just one part of the journey. What really matters is your commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Whether you aim to become a Salesforce architect, a specialist, or a trusted advisor, the path is yours to take—and there’s no wrong way to move forward.

Most importantly, respect your peers, stay curious, and leave the world a little better than you found it.

Good luck on your Salesforce journey!

Faithfully yours,

Vasile Fana

Founder & CEO, ArchCloud Digital