Dreamforce 2025: A Staffing Pro’s Survival Guide

Michael Stapp
Oct 1, 2025
3 min read

It’s almost that time of year again: Dreamforce.

Tens of thousands of Salesforce users, partners and customers descend on San Francisco for three days of keynotes, product launches and more steps than your Apple Watch will know what to do with.

If you’re in staffing and it’s your first time attending, it can feel overwhelming. Honestly, even if it’s your fifth, it can feel overwhelming. That’s why I wanted to put together this quick guide, staffing specific, no fluff and written by someone who has absolutely learned a few of these lessons the hard way.

1. Think of Dreamforce like a marathon, not a sprint

You will walk. A lot.

Dreamforce isn’t the kind of conference where you float from one hotel ballroom to another. It’s more like a city-wide scavenger hunt where the prize is getting into the room before it fills up.

Plan your schedule with breathing room. Sessions can be spread across multiple buildings and lines form quickly. Give yourself time to get from A to B (and sneak in a coffee). And if you’re the type to “stack” back-to-back meetings across town—good luck to you and I need to hear your tips on how to pull that miracle off.

Pro tip: Build in buffer time for the inevitable “I just ran into someone I’ve been trying to meet for six months” conversation in the hallway. Those chats are often more valuable than the session you’re hustling to.

2. Comfort > style

Yes, you’ll see executives in hoodies and track suits. Jeans and sneakers are perfectly acceptable. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable.

Bring a backpack, a refillable water bottle and a portable charger. If you’re like me and have a quota of one vendor stuffed-animal per kid, that backpack is non-negotiable. (Last year I came home with enough plushies to open my own Build-A-Bear.)

This isn’t the place to break in new shoes. Save yourself the blisters.

3. Don’t skip the networking

Some of the most valuable Dreamforce moments aren’t in the sessions, they’re in hallways, at vendor booths, or, let’s be honest, at happy hours and after-hours events.

Staffing is still a people business, even at the tech world’s biggest event. Go with a mindset of making real connections, not just attending great sessions or collecting business cards.

If you’re not sure how to start a conversation, try: “So… what’s been the best swag you’ve found so far?” You’ll be surprised how many doors that opens.

4. Pick sessions strategically

Here’s the thing: a lot of sessions will be recorded and available later. You don’t need to run yourself ragged trying to sit through every single one.

Instead, prioritize:

Product roadmaps → These aren’t recorded, fill up fast and usually drop big news.
AI and Agentforce deep dives → The tools that could change staffing are being demoed here.
Staffing-specific sessions → We’ll share our full list of must-attend picks on Friday 👀
Hands-on workshops → Where you can actually ask the experts your burning “but how would this work for staffing?” questions.

Skip the sessions you know you’ll watch online later. Invest your in-person energy where it counts.

5. Safety + sanity tips

A few quick hits I wish someone had told me my first year:

Hotels within walking distance are gold. If you’re farther out, Salesforce runs shuttles. Trains are also a solid option.
Don’t wear your Dreamforce badge outside the venue. It’s the fastest way to be pegged as a tourist.
The event area is well-patrolled, but San Francisco will be busy. Stick to crowds and you’ll be fine.
Leave the laptop at the hotel unless you truly need it. You likely don’t want to lug it all day.

Why I’m writing this now

This is our first blog post in a while. Helpstone is recommitting to sharing regular, practical content for staffing firms navigating Salesforce, HR tech and staffing industry insights.

And what better way to kick things off than Dreamforce?

If you’re headed to San Francisco, I want you to get the most out of it. If you’re not, no worries, we’ll be recapping highlights and pointing out staffing-specific takeaways all week.