LDN TalentPath Stories: Momodu

It has now been two months since we launched our brand new initiative and Salesforce-focused TalentPath programme here at LDN Apprenticeships!

TalentPath graduate, Momodu, was part of the very first cohort! Having served for five and half years in the British army, Momodu has been introduced to the Salesforce Military Network which helps military veterans transition into the world of Salesforce!

We caught up with Momodu to find out about his experience graduating from the TalentPath programme as well as passing the Certified Salesforce Admin exam and working with LDN to find work within the Salesforce ecosystem.

What experience/knowledge did you have on Salesforce before starting TalentPath?

Before starting TalentPath with LDN, I only had very little knowledge of Salesforce. I am really excited about the opportunity to start a career in Salesforce! I feel motivated to adapt my financial analysis experience within the IT sector and learn and develop new skills to enhance my continuous improvement and employability.

With more than two years of financial analyst experience at Silverhill Consulting Ltd, I had the responsibility of analysing and refining centralised costs for wealth management and fortune 500 multinational organisations. From this experience, I was able to highlight trends, anomalies, weak procurement controls, expense abuse, and identify potential areas of cost savings. Thus, I felt the training has improved my skills/knowledge and enhanced my career prospect. 

What was your overall experience of TalentPath?

My overall experience of the TalentPath programme has been very productive and engaging, as well as challenging at times! During the programme, I have learned important skills such as effective listening, problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to communicate effectively in a group/team setting. I now feel more confident talking about the key features of Salesforce and the benefits to users and organisations. 

Going forward, I hope to advance my knowledge by taking on new challenges and Trailheads in order to expand and consolidate my learning. I aim to continue to keep the energy, drive, and enthusiasm to learn new skills and strive to continuously improve my performance at work. 

How did you feel about the level of training you received on the TalentPath course?

The training is well structured and detailed in line with the certification requirement. However, due to the intensity of the course (2 weeks), it can be challenging to juggle the course contents and preparing for the examination. 

On the other hand, with effective planning, time management, and organisational skills it is possible to meet all the required training criteria and ultimately pass the examination. Conversely, it is imperative to gain an in-depth understanding of the key duties carried out by an administrator and how to contribute effectively within your own organisation. 

Moving forward, I am keen to complete the Advanced Salesforce Administrator within the next six months. Overall, I was really happy with the quality of the lecture delivered by Simon Jones whom I found incredibly helpful and encouraging. 

Despite not passing the first time, what drove you to take the Salesforce Admin Exam again and pass the second time around?

Despite not passing my exam for the first time, I was still confident that I would be able to go through my notes and practice more in order to pass with ease. Eventually, my strategy paid off and I am excited to have passed my exam on the second attempt. One of my strengths is the ability not to give up easily - I used this to my advantage and enabled me to increase my chances of passing the second time. 

Subsequently, when revising for my resit I was able to go through the course materials thoroughly, gaining a deeper understanding of the content. I also used Focus on Force to my advantage, utilised my notes, and watched many YouTube videos which all helped to clarify my thoughts and cement my understanding.

How do you feel your knowledge of Salesforce has developed since your first day on TalentPath?

My knowledge of Salesforce has improved immensely since the first day I started TalentPath. During the apprenticeship, I’ve learned valuable skills such as data management, reports and dashboards, analytics and other Salesforce features. 

Moreover, due to the passion I have developed learning about Salesforce and how to adapt my financial accounting and finance knowledge in the IT sector, I have undertaken various Trailheads in order to gain more insights into different areas of interest such as Sales Cloud, Salesforce Billing Basics, Salesforce CPQ Basics, Salesforce CPQ Features, Product configuration for Salesforce billing and configurable bundles in salesforce CPQ modules/trailheads. These modules are more finance/accounting related, and I am confident adapting my accounting and finance background into these areas in order to expand my knowledge and leverage my transferable skills to solve business problems. 

Do you feel this is an opportunity for you that you wouldn’t have had without enrolling onto TalentPath?

I genuinely believe that if it was not for the TalentPath programme, I would not have been exposed to the Salesforce Administrator Certification. Therefore, I really appreciated the opportunity and support I have received so far to attain my Salesforce Administrator Certification within a month!

I have had the opportunity to network with Salesforce personnel and gained more insights into their motivations, drive, and challenges operating within the Salesforce ecosystem.

Having served for five and half years in the British army, I have also been introduced to the Salesforce Military Network which helps military veterans transition into the salesforce ecosystem and helps with the job search. I have registered my interest and set my goals, and I am working towards achieving my goals (E.g., Advance Salesforce Administration Certification, Salesforce Business Analysis Trailhead, and Sales Cloud Consultant Trailhead). 

What would be your advice to anyone thinking of joining the TalentPath programme?

I would recommend the TalentPath programme to anyone who is looking for a career change or looking to gain valuable IT skills to enhance their career development.

Aside from learning the key features of Salesforce, you also learn key interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, business analysis, working under pressure, and building new relationships/networking. These skills have helped to improve productivity in terms of learning and working under pressure.

I am excited for the progress I have made so far and am looking forward to being part of a dynamic organisation that shares my ethics and values.