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Platform Developer 1 is a required step in either of those journeys. If you’re already planning your next steps in the SFDC ecosystem then you may have looked at career paths like Application or System Architect (checkout the Salesforce Architect overview that breaks these paths down). Path to Application Architect and more.This is by no means required, just something to keep in mind.
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In the tech world it’s of course helpful to be able to talk the talk, even so in the Salesforce world. One thing I’ve loved about starting down this path is the ability to plan and run projects with technically driven goals.
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My technical journey has been ongoing for a number of years and kicked off with a coding bootcamp way back in 2018. Enable communication with those more technical than myself.One of my favorite topics has been learning to use APIs, and http/s callouts that can be used to tie SFDC with an external system like an ERP. In my quest to obtain more knowledge I knew the programmatic side was a key way to up my capabilities and proficiency. There is A LOT powering the Salesforce platform. Increase platform knowledge and challenge myself personally/professionally.Don’t let this overwhelm you at all, it sounds like a lot, but take it slow and start learning Flow! If you need to process an unknown amount of records under certain conditions, then you’ll likely be using a For Loop. Also consider For Loops (and other types of loops) your new best friend.
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Additionally, you’ll start thinking in a very logic oriented fashion, i.e. Software development fundamentals can indeed help fill gaps on the declarative side like working with variables, global resources, using dot notation, error handling, and plenty of other areas. For many of us, learning automation tools like Flow can be challenging. knowledge of working with Apex, Lightning Web Components, and additional platform languages. The job market has seen an increase in demand from employers for not just Admins, but those that have some degree of additional technical knowledge, i.e. Tied to point #1, the knowledge and skills related to PD1 will open you up to more opportunities. You will learn modern best practices for developing in multiple languages on the Salesforce platform (Apex, LWC, HTML, CSS, JavaScript), DevOps, and more.
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