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The Ultimate Guide for Hiring Salesforce Developers
Salesforce is the world’s leading CRM platform. It helps businesses engage with more customers and make better decisions based on hard data. However, it can be a challenge to hire a Salesforce developer with the technical and business expertise to fully leverage all its tools. That forces hiring managers to sift through unqualified applicants, juggle incomplete projects, and overpay for talent.
Of the 2.2 million applications we screen each year, we hire only the top 1% of developers with proven Salesforce expertise. In this guide, we’ll cover the essential skills—like Apex development, Lightning components, and custom integrations—so you can confidently hire Salesforce developers that drive real business impact.
Before You Start Hiring
Niche Experience in Salesforce
Not every Salesforce developer is proficient in tools like Flow for automation, Visualforce for custom interfaces, and MuleSoft for integrations. Finding someone with deep Salesforce expertise can help your business benefit from all its features, so you can streamline your operations without running into frustrating roadblocks or delays.
Experience in Your Industry
Your team can customize Salesforce to fit just about any industry, but developers with experience in your sector can create much more effective solutions. Whether they’re integrating marketing automation for B2B or managing customer lifecycles in finance, a certified Salesforce developer who understands your industry can tailor Salesforce to meet the unique challenges you face.
Communication Skills (Include Documentation)
Your developers will tackle complex projects, often integrating tools like Marketing Cloud or Tableau. Clear communication keeps everyone aligned, from configuring custom objects in Salesforce Sales Cloud to setting up automation in Marketing Cloud. Developers who document key elements like Apex triggers, Flow automation, and integration points with third-party apps support smooth updates, prevent conflicts with future changes, and avoid costly misconfigurations that could disrupt your business processes.
Collaborative Mindset
Salesforce implementations often touch multiple departments, including sales, marketing, and customer service. Developers with a collaborative mindset work closely with each team to build custom solutions, from creating dashboards in Einstein Analytics to automating workflows in Pardot. This approach aligns the platform for the entire business, not just one department.
Portfolio and References/Testimonials
When you review a developer’s portfolio, look for Salesforce-specific projects like complex Salesforce Sales Cloud or Service Cloud implementations, custom app development with Heroku, or advanced reporting using Tableau CRM. Testimonials from past clients can also give you confidence that the developer has tackled similar challenges and delivered impactful results. A proven track record lets you hire Salesforce developers who can get the job done right.
20 Skills Every Salesforce Developer Should Have
Salesforce offers a wide range of tools, from automations to custom apps, but mastering them requires a specialized skill set. Developers with expertise in the skills below can customize the platform to fit your business’ needs.
When you hire Salesforce developers with the right skills, you’ll enjoy smoother projects, faster deployment, and better engagement, making your Salesforce implementation more efficient and impactful.
Technical Skills to Look for in Your Ideal Salesforce Developer
1. Apex Programming
Apex is Salesforce's core programming language, used to build custom business logic and automation. It’s crucial for Salesforce developers to know Apex because it allows them to create workflows, data manipulations, and custom integrations. With Apex, developers can optimize the platform to suit your specific business needs, making processes more efficient and scalable.
2. Visualforce
Visualforce is key for building custom user interfaces in Salesforce, going beyond standard layouts. Developers use Visualforce to create unique pages and apps that enhance user experience. This skill helps tailor Salesforce to your organization, making it more adaptable to your workflow. When you hire dedicated Salesforce developers with Visualforce expertise, your business gains custom solutions built to align with your specific needs.
3. Lightning Component Framework
The Lightning framework is used to build responsive, modern apps within Salesforce. Developers who are skilled in Lightning can create reusable components and dynamic UIs that work across devices. This results in faster, more user-friendly applications that improve productivity.
4. SOQL and SOSL
Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) and Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) allow developers to query data within the Salesforce database. Proficiency in SOQL and SOSL means quicker data retrieval and manipulation, leading to faster application performance and more accurate reporting.
5. Salesforce APIs
A strong understanding of Salesforce API integration, such as REST and SOAP, is essential for connecting third-party systems. Salesforce integration allows seamless data exchange between Salesforce and other platforms, such as ERPs or CRMs, making your business more connected and automating tasks across systems.
6. Declarative Development
Declarative tools like Process Builder, Flows, and Workflows allow developers to automate business processes without writing code. Developers who master these tools can build efficient automations that reduce manual tasks, speeding up business operations without adding complexity.
7. Salesforce Security Model
A deep understanding of Salesforce’s security model, including roles, profiles, and permissions, is key to keeping your data safe. Developers who can configure security settings protect sensitive information and help your organization meet compliance requirements, reducing risk.
8. Data Modeling and Management
Effective data modeling allows the Salesforce developer to organize and manage large volumes of data. By structuring data properly, developers help prevent performance issues and make it easier to scale Salesforce as your business grows.
9. Change and Release Management
Developers skilled in Salesforce DX and version control systems like Git can manage code changes and deploy updates smoothly. This prevents disruptions during new releases and helps avoid downtime, keeping your Salesforce environment stable.
10. Testing and Debugging
Strong testing and debugging skills help developers catch issues early and prevent bugs from impacting the system. This leads to a more reliable Salesforce environment, with fewer problems during updates or changes, saving time and resources.
11. Integration with Third-Party Tools
Salesforce is often integrated with other platforms, such as marketing automation tools or financial systems. Developers who know how to handle these integrations make it easier for your business to share data across systems, leading to better decision-making and more streamlined operations.
12. Salesforce AppExchange
Familiarity with Salesforce AppExchange helps developers leverage existing solutions and tools instead of building everything from scratch. This can save time and money, giving your business faster access to ready-made solutions that solve specific problems.
13. CI/CD for Salesforce
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools automate testing and deployments. Developers who use CI/CD pipelines reduce errors during updates and speed up the development process, allowing your business to implement new features quickly and confidently.
14. Salesforce DevOps
Salesforce DevOps practices focus on improving collaboration and streamlining development workflows. Developers who adopt DevOps principles can handle complex projects more efficiently, avoiding bottlenecks and allowing for faster delivery.
15. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
SOA allows developers to design modular and scalable Salesforce solutions. By using SOA, developers create systems that are easier to update and maintain, helping businesses adapt quickly to changes without major disruptions.
16. Salesforce Einstein Analytics
Salesforce Einstein Analytics helps turn data into actionable insights. Developers skilled in this tool can create dashboards and reports that give your business a clear picture of performance, helping you make data-driven decisions that improve operations. Working with a Salesforce consultant experienced in Einstein Analytics allows your business to better leverage its data for competitive advantages.
Soft Skills to Look for in Your Ideal Salesforce Developer
17. Problem-Solving
Salesforce development often involves complex customizations, such as creating automated workflows or integrating third-party tools like QuickBooks or Slack. Strong problem-solving skills are essential for navigating these challenges and devising efficient solutions. Whether resolving a tricky code issue or configuring Salesforce to meet specific business needs, the ability to find creative solutions is key to optimizing performance and avoiding bottlenecks.
18. Communication Skills
Clear communication is crucial for Salesforce developers, who often work with non-technical stakeholders. They need to explain complex features like Salesforce CPQ, gather requirements, and document solutions for future reference. From discussing API integrations or explaining custom objects like Property Listings or Service Requests to a business team, effective communication keeps everyone on the same page and the project runs smoothly.
19. Adaptability
Salesforce is constantly evolving with new updates and tools like Einstein AI or Marketing Cloud integrations. Developers need to continuously adapt, quickly learning and applying new features like Salesforce Flow, custom APIs, or advanced automation tools to address evolving business needs. This adaptability keeps Salesforce solutions both scalable and innovative, letting businesses stay competitive and leverage the platform’s latest capabilities.
20. Attention to Detail
In Salesforce development, a minor error in a formula field, validation rule, or an Apex trigger can cause major issues across the platform. Attention to detail safeguards the successful implementation of all components. This focus on precision helps prevent bugs, data corruption, or misconfigurations that could derail the entire system or negatively impact business operations.
This should give you a basic understanding of the technical and soft skills to look for in an experienced Salesforce developer. Next, here are some technical interview questions you can ask to find the hidden gems in your applicant queue.
8 Questions to Identify the Best Salesforce Developers
When interviewing a Salesforce developer, focus on questions that reveal their experience with core features like Apex, Visualforce, integrations, and automation. Many employers also use technical tests to assess hands-on skills. These questions will help evaluate their technical expertise, problem-solving, communication, and ability to collaborate in a fast-paced Salesforce environment.
Here are a few examples of technical interview questions:
1. Explain how you would use a SOQL query to retrieve a list of accounts with related contacts.
You can use a SOQL query to retrieve a list of accounts and their related contacts using a relationship query. For example:
SELECT Name, (SELECT LastName FROM Contacts) FROM Account
This query retrieves all account names and their related contacts’ last names. The nested query fetches the contact details associated with each account, useful in scenarios where a Salesforce developer needs to create reports or dashboards involving parent-child relationships.
2. What’s the difference between using Apex triggers and declarative tools like Process Builder or Flow? When would you use each?
Apex triggers are used when you need more complex logic that declarative tools like Process Builder or Flow cannot handle, such as invoking asynchronous operations, handling large volumes of data, or creating recursive logic. For simpler automation tasks, like updating a field based on a condition, most certified Salesforce developers use declarative tools because they’re easier to maintain and don’t require code. For example, I would use Process Builder for simple field updates, but I’d use an Apex trigger to handle large batch data processes.
3. How would you use Apex to handle governor limits in a bulk operation?
To handle governor limits in a bulk operation, I’d use techniques like bulkifying my code, which means performing operations like queries or DML (Data Manipulation Language) actions in collections rather than one by one. For example, I would use a list to process multiple records in a single query:
List<Account> accounts = [SELECT Id, Name FROM Account WHERE CreatedDate = TODAY];
This keeps me within the 50,000 record limit for SOQL queries.
4. Explain how you would implement sharing rules in Salesforce to give certain users access to specific records.
Sharing rules in Salesforce are used to extend record access beyond the organization-wide defaults. For instance, if a Salesforce developer needs to give users in a specific role access to opportunities owned by other users, you can create a criteria-based sharing rule or a role-based sharing rule. A criteria-based rule could grant access to all opportunities with a value over $100,000 to a specific group of users, sharing data only where it’s relevant.
5. As a Salesforce developer, how have you used Apex to solve a complex business requirement?
In one project, I used Apex to build a custom loyalty program for a retail client. The solution automated point calculations based on purchases, referrals, and social media activity, replacing a manual process. After implementation, processing time decreased by 60%, and customer engagement increased by 25% due to more accurate, real-time rewards tracking. I collaborated with other certified Salesforce developers and stakeholders across marketing and sales to keep the focus on business goals and user experience.
6. Can you describe a scenario where you integrated Salesforce with a third-party system? What challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them?
I once integrated the Salesforce platform with a client’s ERP system to streamline inventory management. The challenge was handling large data volumes in real-time while avoiding API governor limits. To solve it, I used the Salesforce Bulk API for high-volume data transfers and scheduled batch Apex jobs to process updates outside peak hours. As a result, our Salesforce developer team improved data accuracy by 40% and reduced manual reconciliation time by 50%. I worked closely with other Salesforce certified developers and the IT team to open up communication between systems, aligning technical details with the business’s operational goals.
7. How would you decide when to use declarative tools like Process Builder or Flow versus custom development in Apex?
When deciding between declarative tools like Process Builder or Flow and custom development with Apex, I first assess the complexity of the business requirement. For simple automation, such as field updates or email notifications, I use Flow because it’s easier for Salesforce developers to maintain and requires no code. However, for more complex logic, like handling large data sets, recursive operations, or asynchronous processing, I opt for Apex to ensure scalability and performance. For example, I used Apex when handling a complex approval process that required custom logic not supported by Flow, making sure it could process thousands of records without hitting governor limits. This approach keeps solutions maintainable while leveraging Salesforce’s full capabilities.
8. Are you Salesforce certified?
Yes, I am Salesforce certified, as a Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I and Administrator. I’ve also gained years of hands-on experience building custom Apex solutions, developing Lightning web components, and integrating Salesforce with third-party systems like QuickBooks and DocuSign. I stay up-to-date with the latest Salesforce releases and best practices through Trailhead so I can leverage new features to deliver useful business solutions.
Can you describe a challenging Salesforce project you worked on and how you handled the complexities?
This question helps evaluate the candidate’s problem-solving abilities and approach to handling complex projects. You’ll gain insight into their experience and strategies for navigating obstacles and delivering successful outcomes.
How have you integrated Salesforce with other systems or third-party tools? What was your approach?
This assesses the candidate's experience with Salesforce integration and how they’ve used APIs or connected Salesforce with other business systems. It highlights their ability to handle data integration and maintain system integrity.
Tell me about a time when a Salesforce solution you implemented had a significant impact on business operations.
This reveals the candidate’s understanding of how Salesforce solutions align with business goals. You can see how they’ve contributed to improving workflow, sales productivity, or customer engagement through their technical expertise.
How do you stay current with Salesforce updates and new features, and how have you applied them to your work?
This question gauges their commitment to continuous learning and applying new Salesforce features in real-world scenarios. It shows their ability to maintain an optimized and cutting-edge Salesforce environment.
FAQ
How do the best Salesforce developers customize the platform to meet specific business needs?
A Salesforce developer customizes the platform through a combination of declarative tools like Flow and Process Builder, as well as custom code using Apex and Visualforce. By tailoring fields, objects, automations, and integrations, developers align your Salesforce implementation with your unique business processes, driving efficiency and supporting operational goals. Experienced Salesforce developers can also customize Salesforce Health Cloud and Salesforce Lightning for more specific business use cases, further enhancing system effectiveness.
What are the benefits of hiring a Salesforce developer with integration experience?
A Salesforce developer with seamless integration experience can connect your Salesforce implementation to other systems like ERP, marketing platforms, or financial software. This ensures smooth data flow across tools, reducing manual entry and increasing data accuracy. Skilled integration Salesforce developers streamline operations and enhance the overall functionality of your business systems, making it easier to leverage data for better decision-making across your CRM system.
How can I ensure I hire Salesforce developers who are familiar with the latest platform updates and features?
Look for developers who are Salesforce certified, attend Dreamforce or similar conferences, and engage with Salesforce Trailhead. Regularly updating their skills through hands-on experience with new features, such as Einstein Analytics or Slack integrations, is also a good indicator of their ongoing platform knowledge. When you hire Salesforce developers who stay engaged with the Salesforce ecosystem, you ensure your business benefits from the latest innovations.
Does a developer have to be Salesforce certified to be a competitive candidate?
While Salesforce certifications can demonstrate a developer’s knowledge and commitment, not all competitive candidates are Salesforce certified. Practical, hands-on experience with real-world projects, strong problem-solving skills, and familiarity with Salesforce best practices can be just as valuable. Many successful developers gain their expertise through experience and then become Salesforce certified to enhance their credentials.
Why is DevOps experience important when hiring a Salesforce developer for large-scale implementations?
Developers with Salesforce DevOps experience are more skilled in version control, automated testing, and smooth deployments, which reduces errors and downtime in large implementations. This expertise is mandatory for large teams working on multiple aspects of the platform, supporting seamless rollouts and system stability. DevOps skills also play a significant role when integrating Salesforce with marketing cloud or managing large data volumes across the organization.
How can hiring experienced Salesforce developers help optimize system performance as your business scales?
As your data volume grows, skilled Salesforce developers can prevent performance bottlenecks by using best practices like optimizing SOQL queries, implementing field indexing, and using batch processing for large data sets. When you hire Salesforce developers who’ve mastered these skills, your Salesforce environment will stay efficient even as your business expands. This optimization is critical to keeping your business strategy on track as operations grow.
What role does user training experience play when hiring a Salesforce developer?
Developers experienced in providing user training can help end-users and admins understand how to use custom solutions, dashboards, and automations effectively. When you hire Salesforce developers who can also train users, you’ll increase platform adoption and maximize the value of your Salesforce implementation. Whether you're scaling native app development or launching new features, user training is key to ensuring smooth platform adoption across teams.
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