What Worked For Me in Getting Salesforce.com Certified

Like I promised, here goes my post about how I studied for the Salesforce.com Certified Force.com Developer certification. I’ll enumerate the resources that really helped me in answering those questions. I think what I have is credible enough, because I passed the exam the first time I took it. I actually was hesitant to take it because when I search the net, many people have taken it like thrice to pass it. Good thing I read those, which made me study a lot, $200 is a lot of money to waste. On the list are –

1. Salesforce.com Documentation – http://wiki.developerforce.com/index.php/Documentation

a. Help & Training – you see this on your app setup, which is also available in a compiled PDF version; login to your org, and you will see a link to download the PDF version – you should know this if you are really into SFDC – you’ll just have to dig every detail;
b. Force.com Fundamentals – http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/fundamentals/index.htm
c. Force.com Workbook – http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/workbook/workbook.pdf

2.  iTunes SFDC Training & Cert – this is fun; Chris, the instructor, really does a good job. His discussions will make it easier to remember and helps you not get bored over the material. His students has these really crazy questions, but in the end, you’ll realize, it helps a lot.


Some notes that might also be helpful –

1. Practice answering mocks under time pressure. It’s 60 Q’s in 90 mins, that’s 1.5 mins per question. Questions may not be as hard as you’d expect them to be, but it will eat up your time understanding the requirements/constraints presented in each situation. Maybe only 10-15 out of 60 Q’s are enumeration/identification type of questions.
2. Develop a complete application. It’s easy if you’d come across the situations given, but if not, thinking about the design implications will eat up your time. Having everything visual in your head makes it really easy.
3. Make sure you know everything that can be done in your App/Security menu.
4. When studying, you should differentiate if it’s ADMIN or DEV stuff.
5. There are key words i.e. time-based workflow for reminder/follow-up mails, validation rules for check before write to DB;


This is just from my point of view, you may have an easier time studying for it, but this is what I think worked for me. Hope this would help people out there.

Usapang Raket

I’ve started to become an enthusiast of photography out of frustration on my photos before. I loved to take photos way back, but I never mind the quality until I got hold of the real thing. Indeed, SLR’s give taking photos a whole new meaning, and a lot of effort. I just said to myself, no matter what, I’ll get myself one – and I did. Months after I quit my stint at a contact center, I received my back pay. The moment that amount of money laid on my hands, I knew right away where I’m going to spend it.



Now, its been more than I year already since I had my D5000. It’s and entry-level camera, but with enough skills, you’ll be able to snap good shots too. I’m far from pro, but I was able to get a bit of cash out of my hobby already. Been out there twice now. First one was early this year. Took photos for a school website. On top is one of the shoots I took then, that’s 23rd of March this year. Hopefully, I get even better and have more photo ops. Extra raket! Eventually, I’ll be able to complete and upgrade my gear. Yeah!

Salesforce.com Certified Force.com Developer

It’s been ages now, I know. Hahaha! Been busy. Wednesday was actually a big day for me. I took salesforce.com DEV401 certification in Makati testing center – and it freaked me out a lot. I’m pretty confident that I studied enough, but the possibility that something would come up that I didn’t came across is just nerve racking. The paranoia just almost killed me. It reminds me of those times in college. I would walk into an exam, very relaxed, walk out the exam room, devastated.

I started writing this entry the day before the exam, but my blogging service is blocked in the office, so I almost forgot how much I wanted to post this, but then, here goes. I’m completely overwhelmed by how much things happened, but all I know is I have a handful to thank. But I would just like to bring that spot to Jackie, my manager.  It was really her that inspired me in getting certified in this technology. A lot of people might have misunderstood her, but if they only know how good her intentions are in every thing she does or say, you’ll hate yourself for doubting her a minute. I just know for a fact that I will go places with my faith on her alone.
I want to end this post with a snippet of what I originally wrote three days back – “If I pass the exam, I’ll post stuff that I studied for it, hopefully get more hits to my site, haha! And I promise myself, I’ll spend more time to my photography and publishing them here as well. For now, good luck to me! Hope everything ends well.”

Adios!