What to Ask a Salesforce Developer in an Interview: A Guide for Executives

1. What Salesforce certifications do you currently hold?

This is a quick way to gauge how invested the candidate is in staying current with the Salesforce platform. Look for relevant certifications such as:

• Salesforce Platform Developer I & II
  
  
• Salesforce Administrator
  
  
• JavaScript Developer I
  
  
• Experience Cloud or Marketing Cloud certifications (if relevant to your org)
  
  

Top-tier developers will not only list certifications but explain how they applied that knowledge in real projects.

2. Can you walk me through a recent Salesforce project you built or contributed to?

Ask for a concrete example of a recent project. You're looking for:

• Business context (not just technical jargon)
  
  
• The problem they were solving
  
  
• How they approached solution design
  
  
• Collaboration with other teams (admins, architects, business stakeholders)
  
  
• Key outcomes or results
  
  

A strong developer can speak to both code and the bigger picture.

3. How do you ensure code quality and long-term maintainability in Salesforce development?

This question helps assess their technical discipline. Look for mentions of:

• Apex unit testing and code coverage standards
  
  
• Use of version control tools like Git
  
  
• Following naming conventions and Salesforce governor limits
  
  
• Working with sandbox environments before deploying to production
  
  
• Use of Salesforce DX or CI/CD pipelines
  
  

4. How do you handle integration with third-party tools or external systems?

Many Salesforce projects involve connecting with ERP systems, marketing platforms, or payment gateways. Your developer should be comfortable discussing:

• REST/SOAP APIs
  
  
• Authentication flows (OAuth, etc.)
  
  
• Middleware like MuleSoft or custom integration logic
  
  
• Error handling and performance monitoring
  
  

5. How do you stay up to date with Salesforce releases and platform changes?

Salesforce releases new features three times a year. A strong developer stays ahead by:

• Reviewing release notes
  
  
• Participating in the Trailblazer Community
  
  
• Taking part in Salesforce events or webinars
  
  
• Testing new features in sandboxes
  
  

6. How do you collaborate with admins, architects, or non-technical stakeholders?

Technical skills matter—but collaboration and communication are just as critical. Ask about how they translate business needs into technical solutions, handle feedback, and work within Agile or hybrid teams.

7. Why do you think you’re a good fit for our organization?

Finally, gauge alignment with your culture and mission. Are they focused on technical perfection, or do they think in terms of business impact? Do they align with your pace, communication style, and customer philosophy?

Final Takeaway

Hiring a Salesforce developer in 2025 is about more than just Apex and triggers. It’s about finding someone who understands your business goals, builds for scale, and can integrate seamlessly into your team. Ask smart, strategic questions—and you’ll find a developer who’s more than just a coder, but a long-term asset.

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