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Has anyone here hired for any of the following roles in the USA?
- Data Analytics
- Salesforce Administration
- Project Management
I'm looking to better understand how you've sourced and evaluate candidates for any of the above roles!
I can only tell you from an applicants perspective -- understand the skillset you need. Talk to the stakeholders who would be interacting with the hires. Figure out what gaps are on the team and hone in on those skills. Too many times I get an email about a role that matches a previous title but the recruiter doesn't even read my skillset, let alone understands it.
For SF admin, certification is important. But it's a very broad role, so figure out what needs to be accomplished within the org. Also, I suggest working with organizations like ACP/Vets2Industry, Mervis and Hiring Our Heroes, Vetforce - who have programs supporting transitioning military and train them for the exams.
For project management, focus on the tools your teams use. For example, is it all about JIRA/Confluence or MS Project? How purely Agile is the environment, and how important is a PMI certification or Scrum? In my experience, it's more important to understand disposition, organization and communication skills. I've seen way too many PM's who look great on paper, but suck in terms of communication and organization. Or they are hyper-focused on logging every little thing, creating "analysis paralysis."
Just my 2-cents as I've worked with all three roles, and consider myself a data analyst.
Well-spoken, highly communicative, team-building PMP who knows which tools and techniques to apply in a given situation here trying not to be offended by the offhand way you've referred to what we do. My degree, thousands of hours of experience, hours of required training, PDUs, and three hours of challenging examination to be certified trumps that generalization. Probably don't speak for us, my Data Analyst friend. It sounds like you've experienced those who aren't particularly skilled, but they don't represent the role at large. Agree with the rest of what you said.
I'm sorry my PM friend that you were offended by what I said, and seem to have a chip on your shoulder about the value of your degrees. But these are the skills I've seen successful PM's have. Your degree has value, but not all organizations value it. Many are interested in what methodologies you've used to manage past projects, the industries or types of projects you've managed and your success metrics. They also want to make sure you are a good fit, because a PM is one of the few roles that engages with so many different stakeholders.
I assure you, in that I've worked with some very highly skilled PM's. Some have had degrees, have certifications or were just trained very well. Project management is IMHO such an important role that frankly your disposition and communication skills really matter. Because when your project fails, no one is going to care about the thousands hours of experience.
Also, I just want to clarify something, I consider myself an analyst because of what I managed. However, I'm actually an executive level product manager and have to work with and have hired PM's and BA's.
I've been a program manager and a COO...and, so? The first and second response you've given don't seem to align. One is dismissive and the other praises. I'm glad you value that discipline, if that's actually the case. I think too often PMs are dismissed by others when the skill sets of those of us who are trained are broad and deep. As for me? I consider myself a leader. No chip here.