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Welcome to the Salesforce Hiring Edge, hosted by Josh Matthews and co-host Josh LeQuire. In this powerful episode, we break down exactly what it takes to hire the right Salesforce SI (System Integrator) partner — and why making the wrong choice could cost you your career.

From uncovering the #1 factor in Salesforce implementation success (spoiler: it’s client engagement), to red flags in partner pitches, to protecting your investment through smart, small-bite projects — this conversation is a goldmine for any leader navigating the Salesforce ecosystem.

👉 Whether you’re running a Fortune 100 or a 5-person startup, this is required listening before you sign another consulting contract.

💼 Links & Resources:

🔗 Ccurrents.com – Proven Salesforce SI partner delivering enterprise results with startup hustle.
🔗 TheSalesforceRecruiter.com – Your source for Salesforce recruiting and talent acquisition across the ecosystem.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Client Engagement Trumps Everything
01:00 – Navigating the 2,000+ SI Partners on AppExchange
03:00 – What Salesforce AEs Won’t Tell You
07:00 – Why Most Implementations Fail
10:00 – How to Vet Partners (Questions That Matter)
14:00 – The Power of Weekly Status Reports
18:00 – Root Causes of Technical Debt
21:00 – Bite-Sized Projects to De-Risk Big Decisions
23:00 – Final Thoughts: Protect Your Career First

Listen in, take notes, and remember: a good partner tells their story. A great one tells yours. Subscribe now to never miss a brutally honest take on hiring within the Salesforce ecosystem.

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This episode is WILD.

We sit down with Mike Mroczka—author, ex-Googler, ex-Salesforce employee, and interview coach—to talk about the growing epidemic of AI-assisted cheating in technical interviews. We're not talking theory—this is what’s actually happening in the trenches.

Mike breaks down:

• Why AI makes it easier than ever to fake your way into a six-figure job
• How companies can design smarter, cheat-proof interview systems
• What red flags recruiters should NEVER ignore
• Why some coaching is helpful—and when it crosses into gray zones

💡 If you’re hiring in tech or interviewing for a tech role, this conversation is non-negotiable. It’s time to outsmart the system—without compromising integrity.

📕 Get Mike’s book: bctci.co/amazon
🌐 Learn more: mikemroczka.com

🎧 Thanks for listening to Hiring Edge — formerly the Salesforce Career Show.

For the full visual - check out JoshForce on YT!

What does it really take to scale a Salesforce team from 10 to 200—without chaos? In this episode of Salesforce Hiring Edge, Josh Matthews and Josh LeQuire are joined by David Kestenberg: former CIO, Salesforce transformation leader, and 5-time Dreamforce speaker. David shares hard-won lessons on hiring for trajectory, building leadership layers, and maintaining clarity and accountability—even when you're growing at warp speed. From ‘sniper’ developers to culture-building rituals, you’ll learn how to balance technical needs with human dynamics, set your managers up for success, and create systems that scale. Packed with real-world advice for tech leaders, consulting partners, and hiring managers who want to build high-performing teams the smart way.

takeaways

• The vibe check is essential for ensuring team fit.
• Experience plays a crucial role in assessing candidates.
• Trusting managers is key to finding the right talent.
• Technical skills must align with team dynamics.
• The overall team vibe influences hiring decisions.
• Expectations should be clear during the interview process.
• A good vibe check can lead to better team cohesion.
• Understanding the 'true North' is vital for alignment.
• Hiring is not just about skills, but also about culture.
• Effective leadership involves balancing various perspectives.

Sound Bites

• "The right expectations and all of that"
• "It's about the vibe of the overall team"
• "I trust the managers that work under me"

interview process, vibe check, team dynamics, technical skills, hiring, management, leadership, organizational culture