24 Salesforce Technical Interview Questions Every Recruiter Needs

Organizations actively use Salesforce to manage their customer data and interactions. However, the trouble with Salesforce is that it offers a wide range of products and services, including Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Marketing Cloud.

This makes it difficult for recruiters to understand the specific skills required for the role they are hiring and tailor questions accordingly.

Additionally, conducting Salesforce technical interviews can leave recruiters to tackle other crippling challenges, such as the inability to:

• Screen job-fit candidates for the job vacancy
• Drive an efficient screening process and technical evaluation
• Access a pool of consistently engaging candidates
• Measure the technical competencies of candidates
• Evaluate the technical skills through live coding/programming interview assessment

To make things easier, we have listed 24 Salesforce technical interview questions recruiters can use and make their own.

Hiring managers can also look up iMocha's ready-to-use Salesforce skills test to hire qualified candidates in half the time (and effort).

Key Technical Skills Required for Salesforce Developers

A. Understanding of Salesforce Architecture and Functionality

Salesforce developers should have a strong understanding of the Salesforce architecture and functionality, as it forms the foundation of their work.

Here are some key technical skills they should have expertise in (and what recruiters must look for):

1. Apex Programming is a proprietary programming language used by Salesforce for developing custom applications and triggers.

Look for: A strong command of Apex programming language and its syntax

2. Visualforce is a web development framework used by developers to create user interfaces for mobile as well as desktop apps.

Look for: Proficiency in creating Visualforce pages and components

3. Lightning Components are a modern web component framework used by Salesforce developers to build responsive and dynamic applications.

Look for: Ability to create custom components, leverage built-in components, and work with Lightning Design System

4. Salesforce APIs provide a programmatic way to access and manipulate Salesforce data.

Look for: Familiarity with Salesforce REST and SOAP APIs, and the ability to use them for data integration, automation, and external application development

5. Data Modeling is an essential part of any application development.

Look for: Ability to design and implement custom data models, create relationships between objects, and manage data security and access

6. Integration with external systems and applications, including third-party tools and services.

Look for: Knowledge of integration patterns, such as point-to-point, middleware, and API-led

7. Security and access features, including user management, roles and permissions, profiles, and sharing rules.

Look for: Ability to configure and manage security settings to ensure data protection and compliance

8. Performance optimization, including designing efficient data models, reducing data access times, and minimizing Apex code execution time.

Look for: Ability to use tools like Apex Profiler and Query Plan to diagnose performance issues and optimize code

B. Integration and Deployment Experience

The right technical skills allow developers to design, develop, and maintain Salesforce applications successfully.

In addition to programming skills, knowledge of Salesforce-specific tools, and experience with the Salesforce platform, integration and deployment experience are crucial skills for Salesforce developers:

Other Key Technical Skills for Salesforce Developers:

• Proficiency in Apex and Visualforce, the primary programming languages used in the Salesforce platform
• Knowledge of the latest web development standards, such as Lightning Web Components, to create scalable, modern web applications
• Deep understanding of Salesforce's database structure, data modeling, and SOQL/SOSL
• Skilled in troubleshooting issues related to Salesforce applications, including debugging and resolving errors
• Understanding of Salesforce's security features and best practices, including data security, user management, and access control

Wondering how to create customized assessments that help you hire skill-fit candidates? Browse through iMocha's Salesforce administrator skills assessment test.

Salesforce Technical Interview Questions to Ask

A. Apex and Visualforce Questions:

Q1. What is the idea behind maps in Apex?

In Apex, maps are utilized to store data as key-value pairs. A single value is mapped to each distinct key.

Q2. What does an Apex transaction mean?

Apex is an object-oriented programming language that enables developers to carry out transaction and flow statements. They run on servers for Salesforce.

Apex expands the Salesforce platform by allowing developers to create their own business logic.

Q3. Describe how to use the Apex email service.

The content, headers, and attachments of incoming emails are processed using the Apex email service. Based on the contact-related information in the emails, the Apex email service aids in the creation of contact records.

Q4. Describe the various kinds of collections in Apex.

Apex collections come in three different categories:

• List collection, which is arranged in an ordered list and is identified by indices.
• Map collection, which are key-value pairs where each distinct key is mapped to a distinct value.
• Set collection, which is made up of SObject or unordered primitive items.
  

B. Integration and Deployment Questions:

Q5. What is a Salesforce API, and how is it used in integrations?

The Salesforce API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols and tools that developers use to integrate Salesforce with other systems.

It provides access to the Salesforce data and functionality, allowing developers to build custom integrations and automate business processes.

Q6. How do you deploy changes in Salesforce from a sandbox to a production environment?

The deployment process in Salesforce involves moving changes from one environment to another, such as from a sandbox to a production environment.

The recommended way to deploy changes is by using the Metadata API, which allows you to package and deploy changes in a structured manner.

Q7. What is a connected app in Salesforce, and how is it used in integrations?

A connected app is a custom application that is registered in Salesforce and can access data from Salesforce using the Salesforce APIs.

Connected apps are used to integrate Salesforce with external systems, allowing users to authenticate and authorize access to their Salesforce data.

Q8. How do you test integrations in Salesforce, and what tools do you use?

Testing integrations in Salesforce involves verifying that the integration works as expected and that data is correctly transferred between systems.

To test integrations, you can use various tools, such as Salesforce API Explorer, Postman, or Workbench.

Advanced Salesforce Technical Interview Questions 

A. Behavioral Questions

Q9. Tell me about a time when you faced a challenging project in Salesforce. What steps did you take to overcome it?

Helps recruiters understand how the candidate approaches and solves complex problems in Salesforce

Q10. How do you handle conflicts with your team members or stakeholders during a Salesforce project?

Helps recruiters assess the candidate's communication and conflict resolution skills, which are crucial in a team-based environment

Q11. Describe a time when you had to learn a new Salesforce skill or technology. How did you go about it?

Helps recruiters understand how quickly the candidate can adapt to new Salesforce technologies and upskill themselves

Q12. Tell me about a time when you took the initiative to improve a Salesforce process or system. What was the result?

Helps recruiters assess the candidate's ability to innovate and continuously improve Salesforce processes and systems

Q13. Describe a situation when you had to balance competing priorities in a Salesforce project. How did you manage it?

Helps recruiters evaluate the candidate's prioritization and time management skills

Q14. Tell me about a time when you had to deliver a Salesforce project under a tight deadline. How did you manage it?

Helps recruiters assess the candidate's ability to work efficiently under pressure and deliver quality work on time

Q15. Describe a situation when you had to persuade a team member or stakeholder to adopt a new Salesforce process or system. How did you approach it?

Helps recruiters assess the candidate's persuasion and influencing skills, which are important in a Salesforce project

B. Questions on Prior Experience

Q16. Can you describe your previous experience with Salesforce? What were your key responsibilities?

Helps recruiters understand the candidate's level of experience with Salesforce and the specific skills and responsibilities they had in their previous roles

Q17. What Salesforce certifications do you currently hold? How have they helped you in your previous roles?

Helps recruiters assess the candidate's technical expertise in Salesforce and their commitment to professional development

Q18. What Salesforce integrations have you worked on in your previous roles? How did you approach them?

Helps recruiters understand the candidate's experience in integrating Salesforce with other systems and their technical skills in doing so

Q19. Have you worked with any Salesforce partners or third-party apps in your previous roles? What was your experience like?

Helps recruiters evaluate the candidate's experience in working with external vendors and their ability to manage such relationships

C. Situation-based Questions

Q20. Can you walk me through a scenario where you had to integrate Salesforce with another system?

Why it helps: It helps assess the candidate's ability to work with external systems and APIs.

Integration is a crucial aspect of Salesforce development, and a candidate who has experience in integrating Salesforce with other systems will likely have strong technical skills and an understanding of the importance of data integrity.

Q21. Can you describe a situation where you had to optimize the performance of a Salesforce application?

Why it helps: Performance optimization is a critical skill for any Salesforce developer. The candidate's response will:

• Provide insights into their understanding of Salesforce's architecture, database design, and coding best practices
• Help diagnose their ability to implement solutions to improve application performance

Q22. Can you walk me through a project where you had to handle complex business requirements?

Why it helps: This question helps assess the candidate's ability to:

• Work with complex business requirements and understand the client's needs
• Demonstrate communication skills
• Identify potential issues early in the development process
• Proactively suggest alternative solutions

Q23. Can you describe a situation where you had to handle a data migration project? 

Why it helps: Data migration is a crucial aspect of Salesforce development. This question will help assess the candidate's:

• Understanding of Salesforce data models, data loading tools, and data quality best practices
• Ability to work with large data sets and troubleshoot data migration issues

Q24. Can you walk me through a situation where you had to work on a project with a tight deadline?

Why it helps: This question will help assess the candidate's ability to:

• Work under pressure and manage time effectively
• Prioritize tasks and communicate effectively with stakeholders
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills and handle unexpected issues quickly

7 Tips for Interviewing Salesforce Developers

When interviewing a Salesforce Developer, here are some tips to help recruiters assess their qualifications:

1. Technical Skills: Recruiters should start by asking technical questions that evaluate the candidate's experience with Apex, Visualforce, Lightning components, and other Salesforce development tools. Plus, they should make sure the candidate is familiar with Salesforce's data model and can implement it correctly.

2. Knowledge of Salesforce Best Practices: A good Salesforce Developer should have a deep understanding of Salesforce best practices for coding, testing, and deployment. Hiring managers must ask questions that test their knowledge of unit testing, version control, and deployment methodologies.

3. Experience with Salesforce Integrations: Recruiters must also ask the candidate about their experience integrating Salesforce with other systems, such as ERP or CRM systems. The idea is to determine if they have experience with third-party APIs, such as REST and SOAP.

4. Communication Skills: A great Salesforce Developer must have excellent communication skills to work with stakeholders and collaborate with other developers. They should ask about their experience working in a team environment and how they communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

5. Problem-Solving Ability: The candidate should have experience troubleshooting and resolving issues in Salesforce. Recruiters must ask about a time when the candidate faced a challenging problem and how they went about solving it.

6. Salesforce Certifications: Salesforce offers a variety of certifications that demonstrate a developer's knowledge and expertise. Recruiters must ask the candidate if they hold any Salesforce certifications.

7. Cultural Fit: The candidate should have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle ambiguity, and be a team player. Hiring managers must ask about their experience working in an Agile environment and how they handled tight deadlines.

By asking these questions, recruiters can assess the candidate's experience, knowledge, and cultural fit and determine if they are the right fit for the organization's needs.

Use iMocha to Hire Quality Candidates Quickly

Whether recruiters want to hire a Salesforce developer or hire for related job roles, iMocha is a powerful online assessment platform to use.

The tool can help assess the technical skills of a Salesforce developer by offering:

• One-click access to pre-built assessments: iMocha offers a range of pre-built assessments for Salesforce developers that cover various topics such as Apex, Visualforce, Lightning, and Salesforce Administration. These assessments can be customized to suit the recruiter's specific needs. Alternatively, hiring managers can create their own assessments.
• Skill-based assessments: The platform's assessments are designed to evaluate a candidate's skills and not just their knowledge. This means that the assessments include practical questions that test a candidate's ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. Here are some of the best skills assessment tools to hire the best candidates around the globe.
• Remote assessments: With iMocha, recruiters can assess candidates remotely. This is particularly useful if they are hiring a Salesforce developer for a remote position or if the candidate is located in a different location.
• Analytics and reporting: iMocha also provides detailed analytics and reporting, which can help recruiters evaluate a candidate's performance and identify areas where they need to improve.

All in all, iMocha can help hiring managers assess the technical skills of a Salesforce developer quickly, efficiently, and accurately. It can also save their valuable time and resources while ensuring that they hire the right candidate for the job.

Take a look at iMocha's pre-employment Salesforce skills assessment tests and hire job-ready candidates.

FAQs

1. What kind of questions are asked in a Salesforce technical interview?

Salesforce technical interviews usually cover a wide range of topics related to the Salesforce platform, including technical skills, development methodologies, and best practices.

Here are some example Salesforce technical interview questions recruiters can ask:

• Can you describe the difference between a Salesforce Object and a Salesforce Record?
• How do you handle large data sets in Salesforce?
• What is Apex? Can you describe how it is used in Salesforce development?
• How do you create a custom object in Salesforce?
• What is a trigger in Salesforce? How do you write one?
• How do you integrate Salesforce with external systems?
• Can you describe the difference between SOQL and SOSL?
• How do you write test classes for Apex code?
• Can you explain the difference between a Sandbox and a Production environment in Salesforce?

These are just a few examples. The exact questions hiring managers can ask will depend on the specific role and level of the position they are interviewing for.

2. What are the technical skills required for a salesforce developer?

Salesforce developers require a combination of technical skills, programming knowledge, and experience working with the Salesforce platform.

Some of the technical skills required for a Salesforce developer include:

• Salesforce Development: A Salesforce developer should be proficient in the development of custom applications on the Salesforce platform using Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Components.
• Apex Programming: A Salesforce developer should be proficient in Apex programming, which includes working with classes, triggers, controllers, and batch processes.
• Visualforce: Salesforce developers should have knowledge of Visualforce, which is a markup language used to create custom user interfaces for Salesforce applications.
• Lightning Components: A Salesforce developer should be familiar with Lightning Components, which is a modern UI framework for building dynamic web applications on the Salesforce platform.
• Salesforce Integration: Salesforce developers should have experience in integrating Salesforce with other systems and applications using APIs, web services, and middleware.
• Data Management: Salesforce developers should be familiar with data management techniques such as data modeling, data migration, and data cleansing.
• Security: Salesforce developers should have knowledge of security concepts and best practices for securing Salesforce applications and data.
• Troubleshooting: Salesforce developers should have strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve issues in Salesforce applications.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Salesforce developers should have experience in using CI/CD tools and processes for building, testing, and deploying Salesforce applications.
• Agile Development: Salesforce developers should be familiar with Agile development methodologies and practices such as Scrum and Kanban.

3. How to assess the technical skills of a Salesforce developer?

Assessing the technical skills of a Salesforce developer requires a thorough understanding of the Salesforce platform and its associated technologies.

Here are some steps you can take to evaluate the technical skills of a Salesforce developer:

• Review their resume and work experience: Look for relevant certifications and experience working with the Salesforce platform. Consider their experience with Apex programming language, Visualforce, and Lightning web components.
• Ask technical questions during the interview: Ask specific technical questions related to Salesforce development. These may include questions about data modeling, Apex coding, integrations, and security.
• Request code samples and review their GitHub repository: Ask the candidate to provide code samples and review their GitHub repository to evaluate their coding style, documentation, and approach to problem-solving.
• Conduct a technical assessment: Administer a technical assessment to evaluate the candidate's ability to solve real-world problems using Salesforce technologies. There are a number of online platforms available that offer Salesforce technical assessments.
• Check references: Talk to the candidate's references to learn more about their technical skills and work ethic.

By following these steps, recruiters can get a better sense of the candidate's technical abilities and determine if they have the skills necessary to be a successful Salesforce developer. Read on to this blog to know top 25 tips for hiring tech talent.