Become a Trailblazer: Everything you need to know about Salesforce's free learning platform Trailhead

Trailblazer

Trailblazers are described as trailblazers, pioneers, innovators and movers. They use digital technologies such as Salesforce to solve problems, transform their businesses and advance their careers. They are leaders who are building a better world and driving the future of technology, digital transformation and positive change in the world.

The learning platform for Trailblazers is Trailhead, a free online learning platform from Salesforce where anyone can deepen and expand their technological and business skills.

At Salesforce, anyone can become a Trailblazer. You too! All you have to do is join the Trailblazer Community, collaborate with Trailblazers online and continue your education on Trailhead.

According to Salesforce, Trailblazers are ‘the heart of Salesforce’ because ‘we are committed to paving the way for career opportunities for all and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.’

Trailblazers come from all kinds of professions. Discover Salesforce for yourself and earn certifications. There's even a Trailblazer blog where you can connect with other Trailblazers. Here you'll also find practical guides, valuable reports and inspiring stories from other Trailblazers.

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Trailhead

Trailhead is a public and free e-learning platform from Salesforce. It is mainly used to impart important Salesforce knowledge. So you can also take a look there if you want to deepen your knowledge of Salesforce. Click here to go to Trailhead.

The platform includes learning content on Salesforce products, Salesforce values, and application courses on Salesforce skills and technical fundamentals for cloud services, which can also be led by Salesforce experts. You can also find current IT topics on Trailhead. Thanks to constant updates, the content is always up to date. The relatively short content allows you to consume it independently of time and place, enabling you to acquire new skills in Salesforce.

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Trailhead is therefore a training tool designed to provide qualified personnel for the Salesforce user job market. With Trailhead, you can also network with other Trailblazers and exchange ideas with them while you learn. You can even earn certificates. As you can see, it's a platform with lots of possibilities. And it's completely free!

What makes Trailhead special is that it combines different types of content and learning approaches to suit all learning styles. For example, there are videos, code examples, images, tables, diagrams and step-by-step instructions.

What is a trail, a badge, a module and a project?

Trails are the building blocks of Trailhead. A trail can be an organised group of modules or projects that provides a guided learning path for learning a new skill, product or role. There are already over 200 trails covering a wide range of topics.

There are badges for modules and badges for projects. A module covers a specific topic, such as a product, skill, feature or role. Trails allow you to learn content from an entire subject area. However, you can also combine badges freely. For example, you can select the badges that fill your knowledge gaps.

Modules are divided into units. Each unit covers a subtopic within a module, which you complete with a practical task or quiz. If you pass the quiz or task, points are credited to your Trailhead account. When you successfully complete all units in a module, you earn a new badge.

A project is a series of practical steps that allow you to learn Salesforce skills by putting them into practice. In a practical task, you are given a set of requirements that you must fulfil. In a project, however, you are first given instructions to follow, and then you are tested to see if you have done everything correctly.

By collecting points and badges, you then advance to higher ranks. Achievable ranks include Scout, Hiker, Expeditioner and Ranger. The more points you collect, the more badges you earn and the faster you advance to higher ranks.

Trailhead offers a wide range of learning content organised in different ways. This allows you to create a trail mix (similar to a mixtape) and share it with other users. To do this, click on any module, trail, project or super badge to add it to your trail mix. Group together different badges that you find interesting and want to learn about.

You can collaborate with Trailblazers around the world and discuss a specific area of interest. Explore other topics that are organised by product, role or solution and that interest you. When you view a topic, related learning content and badges are displayed.

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Credentials in Trailhead

There are two types of credentials: Salesforce certifications and Superbadges.

Salesforce certifications, which you earn after passing a proctored exam, are the gold standard for proving your ability to work with Salesforce technologies.

If you are already certified, you must earn badges in Trailhead to maintain your certification, which ensures that you are up to date on the latest Salesforce features.

Trailhead also provides more information about the different types of Salesforce certifications, exam information, and links to register for instructor-led training.

To earn a Super Badge, you work in a Trailhead Playground (a test environment), just like you would with a module or project. However, Super Badges help you build knowledge across an entire feature area by providing a real-world business scenario that you must solve. Super Badges are organised into Super Sets to help you prepare for specific certifications.

If this article has piqued your interest, why not sign up for Trailhead and become a new Trailblazer?

Do you have questions about a cloud CRM solution such as Salesforce or need help with implementation? Then contact us directly and we at cloudworx will be happy to help you.