Find out how Steeve turned a near-miss on a certification exam into a thriving Salesforce career — no four-year degree required.
Today, Steeve works as a Salesforce Data & Reporting Manager, using technology and data to support programs that help people navigate complex immigration-related challenges. But his path into tech did not follow a traditional route. Instead of relying on a four-year degree, Steeve built his expertise through hands-on learning, determination, and a commitment to mastering new skills.
While working full-time, Steeve enrolled in a Salesforce Administrator training bootcamp through Per Scholas. The intensive program challenged him to apply what he learned through real-world projects and problem-solving exercises. Although he narrowly missed passing the Salesforce certification exam after completing the program, he refused to let a test score define his capabilities. Confident in the skills he had developed, Steeve pursued opportunities that valued what candidates could do rather than the credentials they held. That confidence paid off when he landed a Salesforce Data & Reporting Manager role, becoming the first person in his cohort to secure a job after the program.
From day one, Steeve was trusted to tackle complex challenges with little formal onboarding. Drawing on the skills he built through practice, persistence, and continuous learning, he developed a Salesforce application to manage program data and created reporting systems that helped measure impact and outcomes. His story reflects the experience of millions of STARs, workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes, who gain valuable expertise through alternative pathways and prove their abilities every day. Steeve’s journey is a reminder that when employers focus on skills and potential, they unlock talent that is ready to contribute, innovate, and make a difference.
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