Midwest Dreamin’ and WITness Success 2022: A Recap

Written by Senior Consultant, Kaitlyn Wilde

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending my first Salesforce conference(s), Midwest Dreamin’ and WITness Success, with my colleague Hannah Miller! At these conferences, I was finally able to meet individuals in person that I have met virtually over the last year and a half and meet plenty of new faces as well.

Midwest Dreamin’ packed the third floor of Hyatt Regency with sponsors and attendees at all levels of Salesforce experience. We had a crazy two days of meeting Salesforce professionals and talking with them about their career goals, as well as who we are at Hireforce. One of the things that stuck out to me at this conference was meeting all the people newer to the Salesforce Ecosystem and offering them advice on how to expand their experience and get their foot in the door!

Along with meeting some awesome Salesforce professionals, we were in close proximity with some awesome product companies, shout out to Bryce Benveniste and Nora Gardner for being our sponsor neighbors and giving Hannah and I some Spekit swag! We were also able to get to know the Mogli team; I loved how they brought their #NetZero mission to the conference to help offset the footprint of everyone’s trip! 

MWD had some excellent sessions; Hannah and I were able to attend a few of them including Advanced Reporting Tips and Tricks for New Admins with Aaron Crear and Justin Maguire’s opening keynote on bridging business strategy with design!

Fast forward to WITness Success, WOW! What an awesome two days to get to know some incredibly strong women in the ecosystem; this conference was not what I expected (in the best way possible!). Big shout out to the 10k team for hosting the Allies Dinner, especially Nick Hamm, who did an awesome job moderating the event. It was eye-opening (to say the least) to hear the women’s stories; the attendees were also even given the opportunity to speak up on topics they felt compelled to speak on. An influential salesforce professional we loved seeing on the panel was Jeanne Moeller. Both Hannah and I got to know Jeanne better throughout both conferences and hear about her journey in the Salesforce Ecosystem.

WITness also had some great sessions; Hannah and I were able to attend Katie Kodes’ session Words Just CAN Express How Qualified You Are which was super interactive! We also went to Fully Known: The Journey from Worker Bee to Strategic Resource with Becky Willis; this was an insightful session because she walked the audience through how to feel more fulfilled in your role and If you aren’t feeling fulfilled, where do you go from there. She instilled in the audience the value of knowing your worth and incorporating it into all aspects of your life.

My new puppies Tank and Tito would also like to thank Breadwinner for their collapsible water bowls (even though they haven’t grasped it’s for them to drink water out of yet), shout out from Maggie to Spekit for her octopus and lastly, Levi would also like to thank Cirrus Insight for his unicorn, he takes it everywhere! 🐶

Get to know Hireforce! Meet Alex, Salesforce Consultant

Q: What’s the best part of your job/Hireforce?

A:  The best part of the job is working with new people every day and getting a placement is the best feeling, finding someone a new job is a fantastic feeling.

Q: What’s the best way you start the day?

A: The best way to start my day is to get up and go to the gym, come home, and have a cup of coffee and spend some time outside before starting the day.

Q: What do you wish you knew more about?

A: I wish I knew more about the financial world and cryptocurrency

Q: Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?

A:  I have been very fortunate to travel a decent amount, but I would say Greece is one of the most interesting places I have ever been.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Salesforce?

A: My favorite thing about Salesforce is how encompassing the platform is for each business big or small.

Q: What’s your favorite AppExchange app or expert?

A: DocuSign, it has helped with so many people during covid to sign docs securely and officially

Q: What is your favorite Salesforce blog or MVP?

A: David Liu, we work with him closely at Google, but I have watched his YouTube videos on the basics of Salesforce and it’s a great tool to learn Salesforce.

Q: Favorite trailhead character?

A: Codey the Bear.

Get to know Hireforce! Meet Erica, Salesforce Consultant

Q: What’s the best part of your job/Hireforce?

A: The best part of my job is definitely being surrounded by really collaborative and positive colleagues! They champion everyone’s success, and it’s great to be part of a truly awesome group of people.

Q: What’s the best way you start the day?

A: Snuggling with my very large dog, Moose, and drinking a matcha!

Q: What do you wish you knew more about?

A: Everything! I love trivia, and it’s my ultimate goal to know a little bit about everything. I listen to the Stuff You Should Know podcast and that gives me in-depth knowledge on topics I wouldn’t think to dive into on my own.

Q: Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?

A: Mongolia! It is my native country and not a lot of people know about it or think to visit it as a travel destination. It’s such a beautiful country with so much untouched nature. I think everyone should learn about its history or visit at one point!

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Salesforce?

A: Its versatility! Companies from a variety of industries and backgrounds can utilize it for their benefit. It’s inspiring to see each organization’s way of adopting and adapting their specifics to the platform.

Q: What’s your favorite AppExchange app or expert?

A: Einstein Bots or any automated chatbots. They use natural language processing, and I studied linguistics in undegrad; so it’s exciting to see that process in action!

Q: What is your favorite Salesforce blog or MVP?

A: I was put on to SalesforceBen.com when I first joined Hireforce, and it’s been an abundant resource as I learn more about the ecosystem!

Q: Favorite trailhead character?

A: Koa the Dog is the chief love officer which is just the best title. Who doesn’t love love?

What Platforms Are Most Used For Job Searching?

With Salesforce predicting to add 9.3 million new jobs to the ecosystem by 2026, there is no doubt that the market can be a bit overwhelming. People are finding new, innovative ways to post and search for these many open positions. Whether you are a job seeker, recruiter, or hiring manager, it is important to be aware of these platforms to figure out which works best for you. So, what are these platforms and how are people using them?

According to surveyed job seekers, there are four main resources: the ever popular LinkedIn, a partnership with a trusted recruiter, the good old-fashioned way of networking, and the various other job searching platforms. 

LinkedIn
According to a July 2022 Workforce Report, over 186 million workers in the United States have LinkedIn profiles and over 97,000 United States companies use this platform to recruit new candidates. A quick job search would show that there are almost 120,000 open roles in Salesforce Ecosystem that are posted right now. This gives both job seekers and job posters literally thousands of options to consider. With the many filters LinkedIn provides such as specific job skills, industry, available benefits, and salary range, it can undoubtedly create a tailored search to meet very specific needs. However, if a job description does not provide those details, certain opportunities might not appear in a candidate’s search. Working with a recruiter can give a candidate access to those details that they most likely would have missed out on otherwise.

Once an interview is scheduled, LinkedIn also provides both the interviewer and interviewee the opportunity to get to know their counterpart. Available information such as the college they attended, an interesting project they worked on, or additional hobbies they may enjoy can provide someone with an opportunity to prepare specific talking points or questions that they otherwise might not have considered. Humans innately seek personal connections, and that just may be the edge that either party needs in order to make the interview more meaningful and memorable. Again, similar to less descriptive job postings, not everyone is so forthcoming with information on their LinkedIn profiles. Just another reason why working with a recruiter, who speaks directly with hiring managers, can give a candidate an edge!

Working With a Recruiter

Working with a recruiter can be very beneficial for both job seekers and posters because it cuts out a lot of additional legwork. Think of a recruiter as a travel agent. Much like job hunting, planning a vacation can be overwhelming, time consuming, and tedious. There are so many options - how are you supposed to analyze them all to determine a good fit for you? Wouldn’t it be great if you could partner with someone to do all that extra work for you? You provide them with your criteria and requirements, and they get to work researching, planning, and scheduling an arrangement that feels tailor-made for you. While we are on the subject of comparing recruiters to travel agents, think of Hireforce recruiters as Disney travel agents. If you plan to travel to Disney specifically, wouldn’t you rather choose an agent who specializes only in Disney vacations? They spend their entire day consumed with the exact knowledge and expertise you need. Much like them, Hireforce recruiters are Salesforce-specific recruiters; many are even Salesforce Certified Administrators themselves. How beneficial to work with someone who works and networks exclusively in the ecosystem in which you are job seeking?

The benefits on the job poster’s side are similar when working with a recruiter. Filtering through the thousands of applicants can be overwhelming. A lot of time can be wasted on initial interviews with candidates who are just not the right fit. Recruiters help source for candidates, based on the specific criteria and requirements of the role, and screen them before even introducing them to the company’s hiring team. They ensure that a company’s hiring team is only meeting with quality candidates, which makes the hiring process run much more smoothly and efficiently.

Networking

A candidate’s resume can only say so much, and some people prefer face-to-face interactions to build their networks and create new opportunities for themselves. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, opportunities to network in person have drastically dwindled. Luckily, some great events still took place this year, like Dreamin’ in Color, Midwest Dreamin’, and WITness Success. Mark your calendars for future events such as Tahoe Dreamin’, Florida Dreamin’, and of course Dreamforce.

Still not comfortable traveling to in-person events? There are plenty of opportunities to network virtually! You can ask questions, share ideas, and just simply interact with other professionals on Salesforce Success Community forums, blog posts, and social media. 

Other Platforms

Other platforms such as Monster, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed are still very popular sites for posting and applying for new jobs. These sites make it easy for companies to post new opportunities for large audiences. Many even offer mobile apps for easier and more frequent access. Candidates can create a profile and upload their resume to their account, so they can quickly apply to a new job is posted. While many people have found success using these types of platforms, there are several drawbacks to keep in mind as well. Thousands of applications could be submitted for a single role, making it hard for candidates to stand out. Also, while many of these sites are free to use, you might find that the paid features give you a more options, advantages, and visibility. 

The best way to tackle the overwhelming job market in today’s climate is to know and utilize your options. Keep in mind that Hireforce has built a reputation over nearly a decade of being a trusted and highly specialized recruitment firm in the Salesforce ecosystem. We are happy to take on this market with you and successfully connect you with your next opportunity! 

WITness Success and Midwest Dreamin', Meet Hannah Miller and Kaitlyn Wilde

Hireforce has sponsored WITness Success for many years and is extremely excited to sponsor Midwest Dreamin’ for the first time!

WITness Success is a one-day Salesforce community-led career development event with allies’ dinner the night before for Women in Tech (WIT) across the worldwide Salesforce ecosystem. There are opportunities to learn, network, grow, get inspired and set intentions, with the ultimate goal: to equip attendees to excel in their Salesforce careers, be role models, and mentor others.

While Midwest Dreamin’ is a new sponsorship opportunity for us, we are not new to the strength of the Salesforce Ecosystem in the Midwest. Midwest Dreamin’ is a community led, community ran event that is organized by regional User Group leaders who had a dream to bring a ‘Super User Group’ with marquee quality speakers to the Midwest for learning and networking.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to sponsor both events this year and cannot wait to meet everyone else attending. This year, you can find our very own Hannah Miller and Kaitlyn Wilde representing Hireforce. Find out a bit more about them before you go:

Meet Hannah Miller

• Is this your first time attending WITness Success and/or Midwest Dreamin’?

  • Yes, it is. I’m elated to get some face to face time with some really special people and growing my network. 

• What is your best piece of advice for a networking event?

  • Be open! You never know what conversations might lead you to new opportunities down the line.

• What are you most looking forward to at WITness Success?

  • I’m looking forward to attending the allies dinner and making deeper connections with other attendees. Not to mention, I love any excuse to get dressed up! 

• Which session or speaker at WITness are most excited to hear?

  • The session titled, “You're Amazing, and People Need to Know: How to Become Your Own Best Advocate” really caught my eye. I’m sure there’s a ton of great truths to be spoken in that one. 

• What are you most looking forward to at Midwest Dreamin’?

  • Definitely the stacked list of speakers. We’re going to be amongst some great ones! 

• Which session or speaker at Midwest are most excited to hear?

  • I’m really looking forward to “How to Train and Retain your Salesforce Talent” with Kari and Lydia. Maybe I’ll see you there?

• Have you ever been to Minneapolis, MN?

  • No, and I’m excited to check it off my list!

• What will you be doing on the plane to pass the time?

  • If you were to peek over my shoulder during the flight from Denver to Minneapolis, you’d find me checking emails or catching up on the latest episodes of Stranger Things.

Meet Kaitlyn Wilde

• Is this your first-time attending WITness Success and/or Midwest Dreamin’?

  • Yes, and I am SO excited to meet new people and make new connections in person!

• What is your best piece of advice for a networking event?

  • Don’t be afraid to start conversations and make new connections. I also think it’s helpful to talk to people prior to going to events so people will know you’ll be there; I am super excited to be meeting a few of my LinkedIn connections in person for the first time! 

• What are you most looking forward to at WITness Success?

  • I love that WITness Success started from a smaller meeting up of women and I am excited to see how that has expanded over the years to its own conference! I have met a few of the women (virtually) who have helped put this together and are speaking at the event as well, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them in action and meeting them in person! 

• Which session or speaker at WITness are most excited to hear?

  • At WITness Success I am looking forward to Communicate with Confidence and Authenticity and Words just CAN express how qualified you are! I am someone that really values professional development and I think these sessions could help me level up my candidate’s resumes and provide even better interview prep for them! 

• What are you most looking forward to at Midwest Dreamin’?

  • Midwest Dreamin’ has a lot of sessions that are Administrator focused so I am excited to attend some of them since I am preparing to take the Salesforce Administrator exam. I think listening to the speaker’s tips and tricks as well as real life scenarios they’ve faced will help tie it all together for me! 

• Which session or speaker are most excited to hear?

  • At Midwest Dreamin’ I am really looking forward to Advanced Reporting Tips And Tricks For New Admins since I am working on getting my Salesforce Administrator certification. 

• Have you ever been to Minneapolis, MN?

  • I have never been but am excited to get there and do some exploring!

• What will you be doing on the plane to pass the time?

  • Probably listening to music and maybe take a nap!