Young professionals have been on an exciting Salesforce learning journey, enrolling in paid training programs at the Youngblood Academy. With the guidance of Salesforce CRM consultant Menno van Keulen, these young professionals would receive all the support, guidance and coaching needed to become successful Salesforce specialists. In this article,
we take a closer look at each of their stories.
Eline Oomen, Salesforce Trainee at Norsk Hydro
In late August 2021, Eline interviewed for the position of Salesforce Trainee at the Youngblood Academy.
“From my research, this seemed like a wonderful opportunity! The interview went well, and later that day I received the wonderful news that they saw potential in me,” says Eline.
Eline was hired before embarking on an intense training programme for the first two months. She would go on to complete the Admin Beginner Trail and earn seven Trailhead Superbadges.
“With the support of our amazing teacher Menno Van Keulen, I was slowly becoming more familiar with Salesforce and its wide range of functionalities,” she adds.
After the second month, Eline was presented with an opportunity to put her new skills to the test with Norsk Hydro, a leading aluminium and renewable energy company based in Norway.
“It’s a wonderfully supportive environment, and gaining hands-on experience is truly priceless. I want to give a special thank-you to Hans Stolk, Nhung Pham, and my other colleagues at Norsk Hydro for the support so far!”
Eline continues to spend time at the Youngblood Academy to expand her knowledge and share her experiences with fellow trainees.
Yannick van Schaik, Salesforce Trainee at Renewi
Yannick showed determination as soon as he enrolled in the academy. After one month of intense training in April 2021, he completed the Administrator Basic course and gained five Trailhead Superbadges.
With these achievements under his belt, Yannick was presented with a new, exciting opportunity with leading European waste management company Renewi in May 2021.
“This was a chance to put my newfound knowledge into practice, and I couldn’t wait to get started,” says Yannick.
He now splits his time with Renewi and Youngblood Academy, where he continues to learn and build his experience with Salesforce.
“Besides Salesforce knowledge, me and the other trainees gain practical knowledge about agile working, presentation skills, communication, and feedback,” he adds.
Yannick has gone on to achieve an additional two Superbadges as he continues his journey at the academy.
Ilias Merini, Salesforce Trainee at Menzis
lias entered the Salesforce ecosystem as a Developer through the Youngblood Academy.
“At that time, I didn’t have my Administrator certificate yet but was determined to get it. During the first month, I focused on the theoretical aspects of the exam,” he says.
With the bit between their teeth, Ilias would gain the certificate with the help of mentors Peter de Jong, Bart van Steenbergen and Menno van Keulen. He would also achieve a total of five Trailhead Superbadges during this period.
The second month of the traineeship saw Ilias start a new role with Menzis, one of the largest health insurers in the Netherlands, where his learning continues.
“Throughout the months, I have learned so much about the development and the structure of a healthcare insurance company. Big thanks to all my colleagues at Menzis for the warm welcome and support so far,” he adds.
Ilias’s next step is to attain a platform app builder certificate as he works to be an experienced developer.
“My big goal for the future is to be a technical architect. One day, I’m sure that ambition will become a reality.”
Volkan Yener, Salesforce Trainee at YoungBlood Academy
It was a good friend who piqued Volkan’s curiosity about a Salesforce career.
“My Salesforce journey started after a casual chat,” says Volkan. “My friend spoke very passionately about his career and that Salesforce is really something special.
It didn’t take long for Volkan to apply for the Youngblood academy. In September 2021, he started his training program and quickly made progress with the support of Menno Van Keulen. Volkan achieved the Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Salescloud certification in his first month at the academy.
“During this time, I finished six Trailhead Superbadges – it was hard work, but worth it in the end,” he says.
Volkan was then offered the chance to participate in two projects within Youngblood, where he could put his new knowledge and skills into practice.
“I was proud of myself, everything I learned was paying off. Me and others around me could clearly see that,” he adds.
“I would like to thank everyone at Youngblood for their support and patience during my learning phase. Very special thanks to Tom Nicoletti, Peter de Jong, Jeroen Coopman and Bart van Steenbergen.”
Looking to get a foot in the Salesforce ecosystem?
Sign up for Salesforce Fundamentals to start your path to earning your first credential. It’s a free, virtual three-week program, where you’ll learn:
- What Salesforce, Trailhead, and the partner ecosystem offers
- Why Salesforce skills are essential for the future
- How to build resume-worthy credentials
- How to network with Salesforce professionals and community members globally
