These Salesforce Interview Questions cover the topics commonly discussed in Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Developer, integration, security, data migration, and project-based interviews. The aim is not to memorize every answer word for word, but to understand the Salesforce concepts clearly enough to explain them with examples from your own project work.

The questions below are useful for candidates preparing for Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Developers interviews. They include short answers, scenario prompts, and technical areas that interviewers often use to check real implementation knowledge.

Salesforce Interview Questions

Salesforce Interview Questions by Role and Topic

Salesforce interviews are usually structured around the role. Administrator interviews focus on configuration, security, automation, reporting, and data management. Developer interviews focus on Apex, triggers, SOQL, Visualforce, Lightning Web Components, integrations, testing, and deployment. For experienced candidates, interviewers also ask project design and troubleshooting questions.

Basic Salesforce Interview Questions and Answers

1. What is Salesforce?

Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM platform used to manage customer data, sales processes, service cases, marketing activities, analytics, and custom business applications. It provides standard applications such as Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, and it also allows teams to build custom objects, automation, security models, and integrations.

2. What is Salesforce architecture?

Salesforce uses a multi-tenant cloud architecture. Multiple customers share the same core infrastructure, while each customer’s data and configuration are logically separated by Salesforce. The platform includes metadata-driven configuration, role-based security, APIs, automation tools, and runtime services for custom code.

3. What services are provided in cloud computing?

The common cloud service models are IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. IaaS provides infrastructure such as servers and storage. PaaS provides a platform for building and running applications. SaaS provides ready-to-use applications through the internet. Salesforce is mainly known as SaaS for CRM and PaaS through the Salesforce Platform.

4. What Salesforce clouds do candidates usually mention in interviews?

Common Salesforce clouds include Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, and Data Cloud. The exact answer should match the job description. For example, a Service Cloud role may require cases, queues, entitlements, milestones, knowledge, and omni-channel concepts.

Salesforce Administrator Interview Questions

5. What is the difference between a profile and a role in Salesforce?

A profile controls what a user can do, such as object permissions, field permissions, app access, tab access, and system permissions. A role mainly controls record visibility through the role hierarchy. In simple terms, profiles answer “what can the user do?” and roles answer “which records can the user see?”

6. What is the difference between a permission set and a profile?

A profile is the baseline permission container assigned to a user. A permission set grants additional access without changing the user’s profile. Permission sets are useful when only some users need extra permissions, such as access to a custom object, Apex class, connected app, or system permission.

7. What are standard objects and custom objects in Salesforce?

Standard objects are provided by Salesforce, such as Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity, Case, Campaign, and User. Custom objects are created by an organization to store business-specific data. Custom object API names usually end with __c.

8. What is a record type in Salesforce?

A record type lets an object support different business processes, picklist values, and page layouts for different users or scenarios. For example, an Opportunity object may have separate record types for new business and renewals.

9. What is the difference between workflow rules, Process Builder, and Flow?

Workflow Rules and Process Builder are older automation tools. Salesforce Flow is the current declarative automation tool for most new automation. Flow can update records, create records, delete records, call Apex, show screens, and run before or after save depending on the requirement.

10. What is a dynamic approval process?

A dynamic approval process routes approval requests based on data instead of a fixed approver list. For example, the approver may be selected from a manager field, custom metadata, user lookup, queue, or approval matrix depending on region, amount, department, or product category.

Salesforce Security Interview Questions: OWD, Roles, Sharing Rules, and Manual Sharing

11. What is OWD in Salesforce?

OWD means Organization-Wide Defaults. It defines the baseline record access for an object. Common access levels include Private, Public Read Only, and Public Read/Write, depending on the object. Sharing mechanisms can open access beyond OWD, but they should not be used as a substitute for a clear security model.

12. What are sharing rules?

Sharing rules automatically extend record access to users based on ownership or criteria. For example, all opportunities owned by a sales team can be shared with a regional manager group. Sharing rules grant additional access; they do not restrict access that users already have.

13. What is manual sharing?

Manual sharing allows a user with sufficient access to share an individual record with another user, group, or role. It is useful for one-off exceptions, but it should not replace well-designed role hierarchy, teams, sharing rules, or territory management for large-scale access needs.

14. What is field-level security?

Field-level security controls whether users can view or edit specific fields. Even if a user has access to an object and record, field-level security can hide or make individual fields read-only.

Salesforce Developer Interview Questions: Apex, SOQL, SOSL, and Visualforce

15. What is Apex?

Apex is Salesforce’s strongly typed, object-oriented programming language used to write custom server-side logic. Apex is commonly used for triggers, classes, asynchronous processing, REST services, SOAP services, complex validations, and custom business logic that cannot be handled cleanly with configuration alone.

16. What is the difference between SOQL and SOSL in Salesforce?

SOQL is used to query records from one object and related objects when you know the object structure. SOSL is used for text search across multiple objects and fields. Use SOQL for precise record queries and SOSL when searching text across objects such as Account, Contact, Lead, and Case.

AreaSOQLSOSL
PurposeStructured object queryText search across objects
Object scopeOne main object with relationshipsMultiple objects can be searched
Best useReports, triggers, Apex logicGlobal search, keyword search
ExampleFind contacts for an accountFind records containing an email or name

17. What is the difference between Trigger.new and Trigger.old?

Trigger.new contains the new versions of records in insert, update, and undelete contexts. Trigger.old contains the old versions of records in update and delete contexts. For example, in an update trigger, compare Trigger.oldMap and Trigger.newMap to detect field changes.

18. What are Apex trigger context variables?

Common trigger context variables include Trigger.new, Trigger.old, Trigger.newMap, Trigger.oldMap, Trigger.isInsert, Trigger.isUpdate, Trigger.isDelete, Trigger.isBefore, Trigger.isAfter, and Trigger.size. These variables help identify the operation and access the records being processed.

19. What is Batch Apex?

Batch Apex is used to process large data volumes asynchronously in smaller chunks. A batch class commonly implements Database.Batchable and includes start(), execute(), and finish() methods. It is useful for data cleanup, recalculation, integration retries, and scheduled background processing.

20. What is System.runAs() in Salesforce testing?

System.runAs() is used in Apex tests to run code as a specific user. It helps test sharing behavior and user-specific logic. It does not bypass governor limits, and it is available only in test methods.

21. What is Test.setPage()?

Test.setPage() is used in Apex tests for Visualforce controllers or controller extensions. It sets the current Visualforce page context so that page parameters and controller behavior can be tested.

Apex Trigger Interview Questions and Bulkified Code Example

22. Why are governor limits introduced in Salesforce?

Governor limits protect the shared Salesforce platform by limiting resource usage such as SOQL queries, DML statements, CPU time, heap size, and callouts per transaction. They encourage developers to write bulkified and efficient code that works safely in a multi-tenant environment.

23. What does bulkified Apex code mean?

Bulkified Apex code processes many records in one transaction without placing SOQL or DML inside loops. A bulkified trigger collects record IDs, performs queries once, prepares records in collections, and performs DML once outside the loop.

</>
Copy
trigger AccountTrigger on Account (before insert, before update) {
    for (Account acc : Trigger.new) {
        if (String.isBlank(acc.Name)) {
            acc.addError('Account Name is required.');
        }
    }
}

This simple trigger does not use SOQL or DML, so it is safe for bulk insert and bulk update operations. In real projects, complex trigger logic is usually moved to a trigger handler class for better testing and maintenance.

24. Which trigger should be used when an Account record is inserted or updated?

Use before insert or before update when you need to validate or change values on the same records before they are saved. Use after insert or after update when you need record IDs or when you need to update related records.

Salesforce Integration Interview Questions: REST, SOAP, WSDL, and Callouts

25. What are web services in Salesforce?

Web services allow Salesforce and external systems to exchange data over a network. Salesforce can expose services for other systems to call, and Salesforce can also call external services using Apex callouts, named credentials, connected apps, REST APIs, SOAP APIs, and middleware.

26. What is WSDL?

WSDL stands for Web Services Description Language. It describes a SOAP web service, including operations, request and response structures, endpoints, and data types. Salesforce uses WSDL files in SOAP-based integrations.

27. What is SOAP?

SOAP is a protocol used for structured web service communication, commonly using XML. In Salesforce interviews, SOAP often appears in questions about Enterprise WSDL, Partner WSDL, metadata operations, and older enterprise integrations.

28. What is a Salesforce callout?

A callout is an outbound request from Salesforce to an external service. Callouts are commonly made using Apex HTTP classes, named credentials, external credentials, or middleware. Callouts cannot be made directly after DML in the same synchronous flow unless the transaction order is designed correctly, often with asynchronous processing.

Salesforce Data Migration and Deployment Interview Questions

29. What is the difference between External ID and Unique ID?

An External ID is a custom field used to store an identifier from another system. It can be used for upsert operations and relationship matching during data loads. A unique field prevents duplicate values in Salesforce. A field can be both External ID and unique if the data design requires it.

30. How can you convert a lead in Salesforce?

A lead can be converted into an Account, Contact, and optionally an Opportunity. In the UI, users convert a lead from the lead record. In Apex or integrations, lead conversion can be performed with Salesforce APIs or Apex lead conversion classes depending on the implementation.

31. What should be checked before loading data through Data Loader?

Before using Data Loader, check object permissions, required fields, validation rules, duplicate rules, lookup relationships, record types, picklist values, ownership, automation side effects, and backup/export needs. For updates and upserts, confirm the matching field and test with a small sample first.

32. How do you deploy Salesforce changes?

Salesforce changes can be deployed using change sets, Salesforce CLI, Metadata API, DevOps Center, or source-driven CI/CD tools. A good interview answer should mention sandbox testing, code coverage, validation deployment, dependency checks, and rollback planning.

Salesforce Scenario-Based Interview Questions

  • An approval should move through manager, finance, and legal based on opportunity amount. How would you design the approval process?
  • A user can see an Account but cannot see a custom field on the page. Which permissions would you check?
  • A trigger fails during bulk data load but works for one record. What would you inspect first?
  • A Flow updates a record and causes another automation to run. How would you troubleshoot recursion or unexpected updates?
  • A Visualforce page must display Contacts and Opportunities related to an Account. Which controller approach and SOQL relationship queries would you consider?
  • An external system must send order data to Salesforce. Would you use REST, SOAP, Platform Events, middleware, or Bulk API? Explain the reason.
  • Reports show different records for two users. Which parts of the sharing model would you review?

Company-Wise Salesforce Interview Question Practice

The following company-wise question lists are useful for practice. The questions may vary by project, experience level, and interview panel, so prepare the underlying concepts instead of expecting the exact same wording.

Capgemini Salesforce Interview Questions

  • Briefly explain about yourself?
  • What is salesforce architecture?
  • What all the services provided in cloud computing?
  • what all the services that salesforce supports?
  • what is the difference between profiles and roles?
  • what are web services? why we need to go for them?
  • What is WSDL?
  • What is SOAP?
  • Here you attended capgemini written test. If you got selected here you will be sent to technical round..if you got selected in technical round then you will be sent to HP for client interview, because HP is client to capgemini. If you got selected finally.Then you will be put into work. This is the scenario. which process do you apply here either “WORKFLOWS” or “APPROVALS”.(I said approvals,i don’t know whether it’s correct or not).
  • How can you say that it’s “APPROVAL”? (i said first we need to be approved in first round then only we will be sent to the next).
  •  How you will make a class available to others for extension? (Inheritance concept) 10) In the process of creating a new record, how you will check, whether user has entered email or not in the email field of Account object?
  • How you will write a javascript function that display an alert on the screen?
  • Whatis the value of “renderas” attribute to display o/p in the form of Excel Sheet?
  • How you will get the javascript function into Visualforce page?
  • Can we create a dashboard using Visual-force page? and what all the components we use here?
  • What are web tabs?
  • How you will add an attachment from VF page? tell me the component names to achieve this functionality?
  • Security(OWD, Sharing Rules,Manual Sharing).
  • Rate yourself in salesforce?
  • what is your current package?
  • How much you are expecting?
  • You will be given pen and paper, they will ask you to write some simple code.

Accenture Salesforce Interview Questions

  • What is Dynamic Approval process?
  • Flow of execution in validations, triggers & workflows?
  • Assignment process & validations.
  • Difference between Trigger.new & Trigger.old?
  • Trigger events? & context variables?
  • Batch Apex?
  • Will one workflow effects another workflow?
  • Syntax for upsert & undelete trigger & Purpose undelete?
  • Case management?
  • If we want to upload data through DataLoader, what the changes to be done?
  • Deloitte Salesforce Interview Question
  • We have 3 objects Account, Contact, Opportunity. In a VF page, we need to display the names of contact & Opportunity which are related to Account.
  • One object (s1) & 3 tasks (t1, t2, t3) are there. Each task performing discount related stuff. Write a trigger that should calculate the sum of 3 tasks. And if any task is modified than trigger should fire automatically & perform the same.
    • Ans: List<Task> listof tasks = [select id, name from Task where whatId=Trigger.new];
  • How can you convert a lead?
  • What is your Role in your project?
  • Explain 2 VF pages developed by you?
  • How will you deploy? Have you ever involved in deployment? 7. How will you test your code through Sandbox?
  • What is the custom settings ?
  • Difference between SOSL and SOQL in Salesforce ?
  • Custom settings?
  • What is Sales cloud & Service cloud?
  • can a Checkbox as controlling field?
  • Sharing Rules?
  • SOQL & SOSL? Diff between SOQL & SOSL?
  • Difference b/w External ID & Unique ID?
  • What is System.RunAs ()?
  • Explain Test.setPage ()?
  • Why Governor Limits are introduced in Salesforce.com?

TCS Salesforce Interview Questions

  • About project?
  • What are standard objects used in your project?
  • Call outs?
  • Governor Limits?
  • Relationships
  • Different types of field types?
  • Data Migration?
  • Roll-up summary?
  • What is the difference between sales cloud & service cloud?

American Express Salesforce Interview Questions

  • Trigger should perform based on user requirement?
    It should Trigger when user want to trigger & shouldn’t when trigger don’t want?
  • What are default methods for Batch Apex?
    Ans: start(), execute() and finish()
  • Analytical snapshot?
  • Types of Triggers?
  • Other than Data Loader any other way to import Bulk Data?
  • Explain any scenario occurred you to work beyond Governor Limits?7) How do Mass Insert through trigger?
  • If I want to Insert, Update any record into ‘Account’. What trigger I have to use?

Salesforce Interview Preparation Checklist

  • Prepare a clear explanation of your Salesforce project, your role, objects used, automation built, and deployment process.
  • Revise profiles, permission sets, roles, OWD, sharing rules, manual sharing, field-level security, and record visibility troubleshooting.
  • Practice SOQL, SOSL, trigger context variables, bulkification, test classes, governor limits, and asynchronous Apex.
  • Prepare one integration example, including authentication, API type, request/response handling, error handling, and retry approach.
  • Review data migration steps such as mapping, external IDs, upsert, duplicate handling, validation rules, and post-load verification.
  • Practice scenario answers in the format: requirement, design choice, Salesforce feature used, risk, and testing approach.

Salesforce Interview Questions FAQs

What are the most important Salesforce interview topics for beginners?

Beginners should prepare Salesforce basics, standard and custom objects, relationships, profiles, roles, permission sets, reports, dashboards, Flow, validation rules, data import, and simple project scenarios. Developer candidates should also prepare Apex, SOQL, triggers, test classes, and governor limits.

How should I answer Salesforce project questions in an interview?

Explain the business problem, the Salesforce objects involved, your exact responsibility, the configuration or code used, the security impact, and how you tested the solution. Avoid only naming features; interviewers usually want to know how you applied them.

Are Salesforce Admin and Salesforce Developer interview questions different?

Yes. Admin interviews focus more on configuration, security, automation, reports, dashboards, users, and data management. Developer interviews focus more on Apex, SOQL, triggers, integrations, test classes, deployment, Lightning components, and troubleshooting.

What is the best way to prepare for scenario-based Salesforce interview questions?

Practice explaining real scenarios from your work or training. For each scenario, describe the requirement, available options, selected Salesforce feature, reason for the choice, security considerations, testing steps, and any limitations.

Do Salesforce interviews include coding questions?

Salesforce Developer interviews often include Apex, SOQL, trigger, and test class questions. Some panels may ask candidates to write simple code on paper or in an editor to check bulkification, syntax, and understanding of governor limits.