{"id":96,"date":"2023-02-01T15:32:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T15:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=96"},"modified":"2023-12-18T16:02:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:02:32","slug":"microcredentials-what-they-are-and-how-they-benefit-your-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ca\/blog\/microcredentials-what-they-are-and-how-they-benefit-your-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Microcredentials: What They Are and How They Benefit Your Sales Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The average salesperson is measured by their effort and pipeline \u2014 outbound calls, leads generated, engaged leads, and so on \u2014 and results, in the form of sales closed and revenue driven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exceptional salespeople, on the other hand, set themselves apart with skills that highlight their competitive advantage over other sales reps. Some even formally obtain microcredentials to further their education<\/a> and validate their special skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasingly, sales leaders are encouraging their sales reps to level up their expertise with these bite-sized continuing education programs<\/a> focused on specific competencies and skills. And when even a handful of reps gain new knowledge, sales leaders level up their entire team while driving efficient growth and preparing for the future of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we explore how microcredentials raise the standard for sales professionals, ways they benefit salespeople, and popular program options for sales reps to explore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Raising the Standard for Sales Professionals<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These days, there\u2019s more to sales than just connections, charisma, and persistence. Plus, increasingly sophisticated buyers expect sales professionals to be efficient, empathetic, and value-driven with their pitches. Natural selling ability alone can kickstart a person\u2019s sales career, but ongoing training can help supercharge it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where microcredentials come in. While they\u2019re offered across different industries, microcredentials help sales reps specifically by further developing their hard and soft skills so they can better leverage technology, strategically influence their prospects, and increase their sales performance. Since microcredentials are accessible and flexible \u2014 and popular, with 76 per cent<\/a> of Canadian post-secondary institutions offering online courses for microcredentials in 2019 \u2014 more sales professionals are leaning into these additional learning opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, many programs are affordable or even free. More often than not, they are offered online, allowing employees the flexibility to skill up when it works for their schedules. This convenience makes it easier than ever to proactively build skills while balancing a day job and personal life. Take Trailhead, for example. Salesforce’s innovative, free, online training program offers microcredentials in a variety of roles \u2014 from Sales to Marketing, Developer, Architect, and even Design \u2014 that help reimagine the educational experience by removing a dependence on costly degrees and tailoring learning to individual workplace needs and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon completing a new microcredential program, sales professionals can earn formal certifications, which offers them another way to enhance their resume and up their chances for career growth. In short, microcredentials are a win-win-win for the sales rep, sales team, and company as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Benefits of Microcredentials for Salespeople<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To encourage salespeople to pursue microcredentials, it\u2019s helpful for leaders to outline the different ways this type of upskilling will benefit them. Below are some of the most notable advantages of stacking microcredentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n