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Data analyst or SalesForce Platform Developer?

How can I effectively transition into a data analyst role with my master's degree in IT and Tableau Desktop certification? What specific skills or experiences should I focus on developing to strengthen my application? Additionally, I’m contemplating whether pursuing a career as a Salesforce developer might be a better fit. Which field is likely to offer faster job opportunities, and what are the key differences between these two paths in terms of career growth and alignment with my background and goals?

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Thank you comment icon I would recommend taking a strategic approach to your questions. First, I would perform job searches in your area to see what the most demanding jobs are. Then, I would look at job description minimum qualifications to determine if you meet them or if there is a skill gap. Are you leaning towards public or private industries? I would recommend researching salaries on Glassdoor.com and check out the feedback provided. You may want to reach out to your college’s career coach for additional support or even reach out to Thunderbird Global Campus to see if their facility could offer additional perspective. Wishing you success in your career journey.⭐️ Jessica Ortiz, PHR, MBA, MPA
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IBM’s Answer

Salesforce usage is widespread, but it is still a single technology. Some of the learnings from being a platform developer will translate to other platforms but others will not.

Data analyst, on the other hand, can be a stepping stone to data science, which is in high demand, especially if you either have background or interest in statistics. Plus data is everywhere. Learning how to turn data into information is a powerful skill.

Think of data as raw and information as data with intrinsic value.
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Michele’s Answer

As an insider at Salesforce, I can assure you that both the roles of a Salesforce developer and a data analyst are greatly sought after! To determine which role suits you best, consider conducting a self-evaluation. Ask yourself - do you find the technical intricacies of coding exciting (as a Salesforce developer would) or do you derive satisfaction from dissecting and illustrating data through reports and analytics?

Both roles demand a certain level of technical expertise. However, a developer primarily concentrates on backend development and usually collaborates with business analysts to collect client requirements. On the other hand, data analysts interact more directly with clients to comprehend their business needs and accordingly, develop reports/analytics. If you prefer working behind the scenes, the developer role might be more suitable for you. But if you enjoy engaging with people, particularly clients, then you might find the data analyst role more fulfilling.

Another point to consider is that the data analyst role often overlaps with the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a sector that is predicted to grow exponentially. This is an important factor to consider when choosing your career path.

Salesforce offers numerous training modules for both these career paths. I recommend enhancing your knowledge by taking some of these courses. This could also assist you in determining which path resonates more with you. All you need to do is set up a free trailhead account to get started. Then, you can explore more about roles such as Salesforce Developer, Salesforce Designer, Salesforce Consultant, or Business Analyst on the Data Side. Here is a link to get you started: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/career-path

Wishing you all the best in whichever path you choose!
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Colleen’s Answer

I can't speak to the Salesforce developer piece, but I can definitely speak to the data analyst role. I transitioned into data analysis from education and library science. Your master's degree in IT and Tableau Desktop certification are excellent. Learning how to write complex SQL queries would be an excellent skill to add. The roles I have been in have not required me to write stored procedures or load tables into a database using SQL, but I have definitely had to write complex SQL queries, troubleshoot existing ones, and modify existing queries to pull different datasets. My current role is requiring me to learn a lot of Microsoft Power Platform tools, including Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Apps. Power BI and Tableau have a lot of similarities so learning one makes learning the other easier. I would recommend you look for some good online courses in SQL for Data Analysis and Power Platform as your next steps. There are so many great free and low cost courses out there. All of us regularly use YouTube videos and Google searches to figure out how to do things that we don't know as well. Data analysts need to be tenacious, have strong collaboration and communication skills, and be willing to learn new things. As far as data analyst job opportunities, I have not had any issues finding employment and I have been in this field for about 5 years.
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Nitasha’s Answer

The true answer depends on what you are most likely going to enjoy as your career. Data analyst gives you broader pool of talent which can enable you to work in any domain like finance, banking, product engineering, marketing & many more. Any vertical domain needs data analyst to analyze impact of their business, product, go to market etc. However Salesforce developer will limit you to become an engineer who is great in CRM tools, and no doubt many companies would need Salesforce developer too but those are specific jobs with much competition vs generic data analyst could open plethora of opportunities for you to work, learn & grow in endless companies. Since you are Tableau expert already I would suggest getting your hands on experience in SQL & other BI tools as well. Hope this helps
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Katherine’s Answer

Hey Abdul,

Maybe reading Ken Coleman's book The Proximity Principle would help you make your decisions.
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