1. How to Earn Certifications Efficiently:
Michele McMahon 5.30.12

2. Agenda
• Certification Process
– Resources
• Training Options
– Premier Success
– Training Courses
– Training at Dreamforce ‘12
• Exam Options
– Testing Centers
– Dreamforce

3. Customer Success Manager:
Michele McMahon
“Bringing 20 Years Experience, including 8 Years
Salesforce.com Experience”
Multiple Client-Side
Industry-Expertise
Implementations Experience
Dreamforce & Cloudforce
MBA
Speaker: ‘07, ‘10, 11, ‘12

4. Preparing Efficiently
1. Get the Certification Guide – it tells you the weighting
of each topic
2. Training Plan
– Gives overview of Premier Training. Good for visual / audio learners
– Get two screens and watch the video while you have a demo org open and practice some of
the items if you also need to learn the org / haven’t had a lot of exposure
3. Practice Questions
– ”Like” Salesforce.com’s Facebook Page for Access
– Practicing questions gets you in the swing of things
– Don’t use unauthorized questions online – many are out of date
4. Review QuickSheets referenced in each Study Guide

5. Certification Prep Resources
Weighting Certification Guide
http://certification.salesforce.com/Implementation-Experts
Online Premier Support Training
https://help.salesforce.com/apex/HTTrainingCatalog
Facebook Fan Page: More Info & Practice Questions
https://www.facebook.com/#!/SalesforceCertification
Training Options
https://help.salesforce.com/apex/hthome Don’t use
unauthorized
websites. Don’t
Course Material (If you took the class) buy questions or
guides.

6. Certification Site
Certification.salesforce.com

7. Exam Outline

8. Premier Success: Training Resources

9. Premier Success: Online Training

10. Instructor-Lead Training

11. KEY DOCUMENTS:
ADMIN 201 & Service Cloud Examples

12. Admin201
• About the Exam
• 60 multiple-choice questions
• 90 minutes allotted to complete the exam
• 60% is the passing score
• Registration fee is USD 200
• No hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam
• No prerequisites; recommend taking Administration Essentials (ADM 201)
• For a full exam outline, click here for the
Study Guide
http://certification.salesforce.com/Administrators

13. Service Cloud Prep: Top Documents
Weighting Certification Guide
http://certification.salesforce.com/Implementation-Experts
Online Premier Support Training
https://help.salesforce.com/apex/HTTrainingCatalog
Course Material (If you took the course)
Facebook Fan Page: More Info & Practice Questions
https://www.facebook.com/#!/SalesforceCertification
Don’t use
unauthorized
websites. Don’t
LinkedIn Study Group (Approved) buy questions or
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4221013&trk=anet_ug_hm guides.

14. Service Cloud About the Exam
• 60 multiple-choice questions.
• 105 minutes allotted to complete the exam.
• 72% is the passing score
• No hard-copy or online materials may be
referenced during the exam
• Administrator201 Pre-requisite

15. Exam Options

16. Exam Options
• Testing Centers
• Dreamforce
• Online Proctored Exam

17. Taking the Exam: Do it Online and Save Time!
• Schedule it in advance – you need at least 48 hours in advance
• Get the right camera. Give yourself an hour to set it up the first time
• Start test within an hour of scheduled start time or you’re locked out
• You are monitored: computer screen, audio, keyboard
• Blank paper and writing utensils are allowed. No notes
• Take at least one online test.
• Release Certifications: Not proctored.
No advance scheduling
• Pass or Fail immediately.
No score or what you missed
• If you fail, review material and
take again quickly

18. GENERAL ADVICE

19. General Advice
• Don’t let fear of failing stop you. Go for it! If you fail, take it again!
• There are lots of resources designed to help you earn the certification
• Learn at your own pace with Premier Success
• Everyone learns differently – know how you learn (visual, audio, experiential)
• Print key documents, like the study guide
• Learn how to consume information faster
• Set a deadline and do it
• Set up multi-monitor workstations with large screens
• Order the Kryterion Camera (for online certification)
• Kill three birds with one stone:
– Earn certifications faster
– Understand Premier Success Resources Available to You
– Help your colleagues earn certifications faster

20. Remember….
• These resources are designed to help you pass
certifications – they hit all the key points
• Don’t create extra work for yourself!
• If you want to really learn the system at the same time as certifying,
hands-on experience is the only way. Get a demo org and practice
• You may want to practice more on Admin201 and Admin301 but not
Service Cloud or Sales Cloud. Example – you can’t practice setting
up a CTI integration or LiveChat
• When learning New Releases – be as hands-on as possible in your
demo org while watching the training

21. Preparing Efficiently
1. Get the Certification Guide – it tells you the weighting
of each topic
2. Online Training
– Gives overview of Premier Training. Good for visual / audio learners
– Get two screens and watch the video while you have a demo org open and practice some of
the items if you also need to learn the org / haven’t had a lot of exposure
3. Practice Questions
– ”Like” Salesforce.com’s Facebook Page for Access
– Practicing questions gets you in the swing of things
– Don’t use unauthorized questions online – many are out of date
4. Review QuickSheets referenced in each Study Guide

22. Taking the Exam
• Proctored Exam Testing Location
• Dreamforce ’12
– Discounted Fee. Sign up early – they book!
• Online Proctored (OLP) exam requirements:
www.webassessor.com/downloads

23. Test Taking Tips
• Budget your time and use it all - there is plenty but don’t let any
questions go unanswered. No extra points for finishing fast
• Answer the easy questions first – take a second pass through
• When reading the question, ask yourself what the answer is first
before jumping to the answer. You will be surprised what you know
• If time is up and you haven’t hit “submit”, the test will auto submit
• Mark anything your not sure of - you can review all questions before
submitting
• Rule out the wrong answers - decide between remaining choices
• Don’t second guess – your first answer is usually right. They aren’t
trying to trick you
• Some questions have 2 or 3 answers - No partial credit. Not sure -
don’t linger
• You don’t need 100% to pass. Ex: Admin201’s passing score is 60%
• Pay attention to what is weighted when you study and take the test

24. Consuming Information Faster
• Study/read early in the day
• Preview all of the material first – don’t read line by line
• Review materials quickly and take a second pass through
• Avoid highlighting – take notes
• Speed reading – consider it

25. Resources
• Certification Program Overview and Study Guides:
http://certification.salesforce.com/
• Online Training: Help & Training | Take Training | Online Training
https://help.salesforce.com/
• Exam registration, availability, transcripts: www.webassessor.com/salesforce
• Online Proctored (OLP) exam requirements: www.webassessor.com/downloads
• Facebook Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/SalesforceCertification

26. Questions: Feel Free To Reach Out!
404.229.8890
mmcmahon@salesforce.com
MicheleMcMahon123
Michele_McMahon
MicheleMcMahon123

27. Questions?