I was recently laid off from my job as a marketing manager for an international accounting firm. My previous job allowed me the flexibility to work from home with flexible hours, which allowed me to spend more time with my 2-year-old daughter. I have been using my time wisely, considering my next career move, and kept coming back to CRM. We implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 at my previous company, and I was part of the rollout/training team. Throughout the years, I became a power user – running reports, training new users, and working with developers to identify best practices. While my main duties focused around marketing efforts and event planning, I always found myself gravitating towards any CRM-related projects, and thought – hey, why not make a career out of it? 

My research led me to Salesforce, and I’ve been hooked on Trailhead ever since. While I do not have a background in IT, I’m confident I would excel at being a Salesforce Admin. My challenge has been that, while Trailhead has taught me many of the basics, I need real-world experience. I have been applying to various nonprofits to assist with data cleanup/migration to gain some experience, but no luck yet. I have searched high and low for an in-person or virtual training session that is affordable, but they are either very expensive, or only offered to current employees that are sponsored by their various companies. How I wish I had found your site sooner and been able to apply for the Salesforce Bootcamp before the deadline!

Being laid off was a huge blow to my confidence and my financial stability. It did, however, afford me time to pause and think about my future. I now look back on it not with bitterness, but as an opportunity to redirect my strengths and passion. I have taken the time to work on myself, assess my strengths and what I have to offer, and have honed in on a career I feel I would love.  Now I just need to build my skills!