What Are Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamps?

If you’re looking for the fastest and most fun way to achieve a Salesforce certification then look no further – Trailblazer Bootcamps are for you. I was invited to join the London Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamp in May 2023 and jumped at the chance to get another certification under my belt – especially having been quite remiss in my certification efforts for the past year!

I was expecting a lot of study and cramming, but wasn’t prepared for the sense of friendship and camaraderie among the cohort or the overwhelming sense of gratitude I’d feel towards my instructor (and Salesforce) by the end of the week. In this article, I want to tell you all about Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamps as I share my diary from my best week of 2023 so far…

What Are Trailblazer Bootcamps?

Trailblazer Bootcamps are intensive five-day courses organized by Salesforce, with the opportunity to take not one, but two certifications! 

We all know how hard it can be to carve out dedicated study time and if you’re anything like me, it can take many months (or even years) to actually get around to taking certifications. A Trailblazer Bootcamp is the ideal way to achieve your goals and avoid procrastination, as you remove distractions and get your head down in order to take an exam at the end of the week! 

Whether you’re a beginner seeking to kickstart your Salesforce journey, or an experienced professional aiming to expand your skill set, Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamps are for you! You can choose from beginner, intermediate, and advanced tracks aligned with various certifications including Administrator, Platform App Builder, Platform Developer I, Architect, and more. 

Trailblazer Bootcamps feature a combination of instructor-led sessions, hands-on workshops, practical exercises, real-world case studies, and networking events. Industry experts and Salesforce professionals lead the sessions, sharing their insights, best practices, and real-life experiences.

Trailblazer Bootcamps do come at a cost which varies by location – you can find more details here. 

Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamp London 2023: A Diary

Prework

That’s right, you get some prework to complete before you arrive at bootcamp. Prework will be shared a few weeks in advance and will typically consist of some Trailhead modules. You also earn an exclusive Trailblazer Bootcamp Community Badge for completing this prework. 

You can call me a swot (I am!) but when I reviewed the prework, I discovered I had already done most of the modules on Trailhead. I took the time to complete any modules I hadn’t yet completed and also re-read the ones I had done before. There were some that I had completed as far back as 2017, so I was pretty hazy on the details. 

As I mentioned before, you actually get two certifications included in the cost of the bootcamp. You have the option to take an exam at home, prior to arrival, or on the first day of bootcamp. You then have the option to use the second certification code to take an exam on the final day of bootcamp, or you can use it at a later date at home.

I was slightly confused as to why you get two certification options when you elect to take a single track, but you can use them in various ways.

Option 1:

Use the first certification opportunity to take the exam for your chosen track and assess your readiness. If you fail, you’ll have a better idea of what areas you need to improve. If you pass, you have the option to swap to a different track as long as there is space. 

Someone on the bootcamp actually passed the certification for their track on Monday but continued to do the rest of the track as they felt they needed a better grasp on the material. 

Option 2:

Do a completely different certification! Maybe that one you’ve been putting off for ages? That’s what I chose to do. I used my first certification opportunity to take the Business Analyst cert, and then used the second certification opportunity to take the Data Architect (my chosen track). 

So, high off the success of exam number 1 (I passed Business Analyst!), I made my way from Bristol to London wondering how the week would play out… 

Day 1

Day 1 was a national holiday in England but instead of heading to the park or the pub with friends, I was on an uncomfortably hot train to London. After successfully navigating the London underground I made it to the hotel, the Park Plaza London Riverbank. I was fortunate to be staying in the same hotel where the bootcamp was taking place, which I highly recommend as it made everything so much easier! 

Event check-in and badge pickup were available from 4pm-8.30pm, so I grabbed my badge and made my way up to my room. 

You also have the option to use your first certification code on Day 1, taking the onsite exam at 6pm. Since I’d already taken my first exam, I spent a quiet evening revising for the week ahead.

Day 2

Tracks were in session from 9.00am, so following breakfast, I headed down to grab a coffee before we got started. The energy was palpable as I entered the conference center, with fellow Trailblazers buzzing in anticipation. 

There were multiple tracks, and I focused on the Data Architect certification. Each track was being held in a different room but we got to mingle during break times. 

We made our way to our rooms and got seated. I didn’t feel like I was late, and it hadn’t started yet, but everyone else seemed to have taken their seats already so I ended up sitting right at the front of the classroom. 

My track was being led by the amazing Steve Baines who put us all instantly at ease with his friendly and welcoming demeanor. Your instructor will help you get set up and go through what to expect from the bootcamp. Then you dive into learning!

Steve delivered our training using a combination of slides, live demos, use cases, and personal experience, while highlighting key takeaways. He had an incredible ability to make everything seem so straightforward and clear, filling me with confidence that I could pass this exam.

We had a short break mid-morning and broke for lunch at 12pm, where we were treated to a delicious buffet lunch with tons to choose from. 

From 1.30pm we were back in session and the topics gradually got tougher! We were all distinctly tired by our break around 3.30pm, and started wondering how long a person can legitimately focus. 

We couldn’t stay tired for long though! Once sessions were out for the day at 6pm, we only had an hour before the Trailblazer welcome reception started at 7pm. 

I ducked out of the session for an hour to appear on a panel for the Associate Day which was a great opportunity for aspiring Salesforce professionals to find out a bit more about Salesforce, the products, roles, and the community. 

Next up, I headed to the welcome reception where I caught up with plenty of familiar faces and met lots of new people. More food and drinks were provided, plus a DJ, so dancing ensued! We even managed to get a group photo!

Sufficiently exhausted, and wanting to wake up fresh for Day 2, I retired to my room at 10pm, although many people headed out to continue the fun! 

Day 3

Day 3 followed much the same routine as the previous day. Intense study sessions, gallons of coffee, and flipping between feeling confident in the material to feeling like we knew nothing! 

The advantage of being at a Trailblazer Bootcamp was the camaraderie with my fellow cohort. It was reassuring to know that other people felt the same and we were able to encourage each other. 

There was no networking event on Day 3 but there was study hall. During study hall, you self-study, revise material, and get hands-on practice, but your course instructor remains in the room so they are available for any questions or concerns. It was super useful to be able to ask Steve for guidance and get his real-world insights which helped to solidify the information in my mind. 

Day 4

It was the penultimate day and nerves were starting to show. We were all very aware of time running out. On the Data Architect track, we were just starting some of the most complex topics. 

Day 4 was made even more intense as it was decided that we would complete all of the teaching that day, instead of finishing the following day. 

In the UK, we have been experiencing rail strikes. Another strike was planned for the following day which meant that many people had to leave bootcamp early on Thursday night. We crammed in 1.5 days’ worth of content and study into a single day.

We did get a class picture though!

Day 5

The final day arrived and those of us who had not had to leave early settled down in our track room with Steve to do last-minute revision prior to our exam in the afternoon. 

The prospect of taking the exam was daunting but the exam room was packed with people determined to have a go and aim for success.

The exam itself was challenging, but Steve was a wonderful instructor and I was able to draw on the wealth of knowledge he had imparted. I went through the exam twice, reading every single question and answering carefully. Once I felt I could do no more, I hit “Submit” and waited for the result…

Finally, the screen displayed the words: “Congratulations! You have passed.” 

That’s a Wrap!

The Salesforce Trailblazer Bootcamp in London was an incredible experience that enriched my Salesforce journey in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The knowledge, skills, and connections I have gained are invaluable. I’m proud to have passed the Data Architect certification, which is a testament to Steve’s teaching, the support of my fellow students, and Salesforce’s organization of this event.

But beyond the certification, it’s the sense of belonging to a vibrant Trailblazer community that makes this experience truly special. Trailblazer Bootcamp provided a platform for networking, collaborating, and building lasting relationships with like-minded individuals who are passionate about Salesforce.

Following my week at bootcamp, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination to leverage my newfound skills, plus the inspiration and courage to take on more certifications in the near future.

A week after the bootcamp I passed the Sales Representative certification, making me 10x certified. I’m also going to tackle the Sharing and Visibility Architect cert in the near future. 

Until next time…

Christine

Good to Know

• The cost of travel and accommodation is not included.
• Lunch, snacks, and drinks are provided daily (there is also food at the networking reception).
• Computers are not provided so you will need to bring your own.
• You should configure your computer in advance to make sure it’s exam-ready.
• Exams are optional – if you do not wish to take the exam during the course you will be given a voucher to use after the event.
• The dress code is “business casual” and I would recommend you pack for all eventualities – on some days the air con worked and we were freezing, and on other days it didn’t work and we were boiling hot!

Resources

• Trailblazer Bootcamp: Build Expertise and Accelerate Your Team’s Certification Path
• Guide to Trailblazer Bootcamp