Salesforce is tougher. ...?

 Salesforce, according to the producing company’s website, is “the world’s #1 customer relationship management (CRM) platform.” Their software is designed to help businesses grow by helping them to better understand their customers’ needs, using cloud-based apps designed for marketing, sales, and service.

However, no two companies are the same, and consequently, their Salesforce needs will be different. When this happens, it’s smart to have a Salesforce developer handy, someone, who can customize the software development and offer tailor-made business solutions.

If that sounds like something you’d like to do, or if you are already working with Salesforce but would like to engage in some upskilling, then you need to read on.


What is a Salesforce Developer?

OK, so let’s start with basics by providing a definition. What’s a Salesforce developer? A Salesforce developer is a programmer who builds Salesforce applications across various PaaS (Platform as a Service) platforms. They don’t have to actually work for Salesforce, by the way.


What Does a Salesforce Developer Do? 

A Salesforce developer has an understanding of how Salesforce works, coupled with experience in the platform. The developer is hired by a customer/client for the purposes of customizing Salesforce to the specifications of the hiring party. Alternately, it could be an in-house programmer who happens to be skilled at working with Salesforce. These developers use tools such as Apex and Visualforce, as well as frameworks like Lightning Component in order to develop apps.


Roles and Responsibilities of a Salesforce Developer

You will notice that the roles and duties of a Salesforce developer are in fact similar to those of other professional developers, but for the purposes of clarity and completeness, let’s go over them in the context of Salesforce itself:


Analyze what the needs of the users are, then design, test, and develop software that meets those needs

Design Salesforce solutions and create effective project plans. Add value to the three stages of project work; definition, development, deployment

Suggest new software upgrades for the customers’ existing apps, programs, and systems

Act in advance of the changing business and technological landscapes of Salesforce and .Net/Java platforms, and adapt accordingly

Design every part of any needed application or a system, then plan how those parts will mesh togetherCreate and implement programs for use over the Internet as well as for in-house users over the company intranet.

Deal with possible inconsistencies in the quality of data and create processes that will overcome any potential system deficiencie

Take the lead with other programmers by creating a variety of models and diagrams (for example, flowcharts) that will instruct them how to write additional needed software cod

Make sure that a program will continue to function normally through routine software maintenance as well as testin

Document every part of the company’s entire inventory of applications and systems for future reference, especially in the context of upgrades and maintenanc

Collaborate with other computer specialists for the purposes of creating optimum softwar

It’s important for a Salesforce developer to establish a rapport with the client and ascertain what the latter’s expectations are for Salesforce implementation and operation. For starters, Salesforce developers need to understand how the client intends to use the software, identifying the needed core functionality


This means paying special attention to user requirements that go beyond the scope of the software in question, issues such as system performance and security matter


So as you can see, a Salesforce developer has a lot on their plate. It’s challenging work, but ultimately very rewarded

Salesforce Developers Salary

It stands to reason that a position with a lot of expectations will compensate you accordingly, that’s the case here. According to Glassdoor, a Salesforce developer in the United States earns an average of $87,000 a year. Apparently, there are also opportunities for extra bonuses and such, weighing in at about $8,000 as an annual average.


You could find a position that pays a maximum annual salary of $117,000, or as low as $62,000 a year. However, if you will check salesforce developer’s salary, you find a figure of over $130,000 a year being tossed around. Clearly, factors such as location and experience level can influence the annual figure. But regardless of the actual exact figure, the position is a potentially lucrative career choice.


How Does One Become a Salesforce Developer?

After such an exhaustive (and exhausting!) list of roles and duties, as well as the good news about fantastic compensation, the next point in the progression, should naturally be “So how does one prepare for such a challenging career?” Good question! Here’s how to become a Salesforce developer.


First thing’s first. Most software developers and this includes Salesforce developers, have a BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or some related field, and/or good computer programming skills and appropriate experience. It also helps to have knowledge and skills in the industry where those Salesforce skills will be put to best use. Furthermore, you should have an understanding of Object-Oriented Programming Principles, Model-View-Controller design pattern, .NET Programming, or Java.


Incidentally, if you intend to get into Salesforce development right out of college, it’s useful to have undergone an internship with software business. Such an arrangement gives you connections, experience, and needed skills. Once out of college, if you can’t immediately get into development, start off with a programmer position, and work your way up to the level of developer.


If your desire to become a Salesforce developer happens long after your college days ended, then consider taking an online salesforce developer training course that can teach you the needed skills and get your certification. Certification is important in this field because it confirms to prospective employers that you possess the needed skills to do the job they want you to do.



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