Career

Tips and Tricks for Salesforce Interviews

By Christine Marshall

Attending a job interview can be immensely stressful, but there are many things you can do in advance, during, and after to ace your interview and maximize your chances of a job offer.

While some of these may seem a bit obvious, you’d be surprised how many people fail to prepare or be personable during an interview. You can easily stand out by following these tips.

Before the Interview

  1. Research the company.
  2. Research the hiring manager.
  3. Re-read the Job Specification.
    • Identify where your existing experience matches the job role and required skills.
    • Swot up on any technical areas mentioned in the job specification that you are less familiar with.
  4. Write down examples of quantifiable achievements.
  5. Practice with sample interview questions and answers.
  6. Prepare questions.

Virtual Interview

If your interview is virtual there are a number of things you should do in advance:

  • Test your technical set up prior to the interview. Most conference software can be tested in advance to make sure your camera and audio are working.
  • Ensure your computer is fully charged and, ideally, connected to power throughout the interview.
  • Use a good quality microphone and/or headphones to create clear audio without noisy distractions.
  • Use your built-in webcam or an external camera. It’s imperative that you use your camera and keep it on at all times if possible. It is much easier for people to create a connection with you when they can see you, and it can make the interview less stilted or awkward.
  • Make sure the space you are in is tidy, with good lightning.
  • Turn off all other deceives and any systems that might send notifications.
  • Dress as you would for an in-person interview. Dress codes can vary based on company or industry. Do your research and dress appropriately.
  • Join your virtual interview on time – this means being ready at your computer in advance, having tested your setup.

In-Person Interview

We also have tips for preparing for in-person interviews:

  • Dress codes can vary based on company or industry. Do your research and dress appropriately.
  • Arrive early, ensuring you plan for traffic or any other contingencies.
  • Smile and say “hello” to the people you meet, including receptionists, doormen, the assistant that gets you a glass of water and so on… people will remember those who were polite and friendly to them, and it creates a great impression.
  • Bring a hard copy of your resume, the job description, a notebook and a pen to take notes with.
  • Turn your phone off or at least on silent. The same goes for any other technology that could make noise during the interview.

During the Interview

  1. Start with a warm, confident greeting. Smile, lean in, make eye contact, and try to avoid crossing your arms. It’s extra important to try to convey warmth, passion, and friendliness during a virtual interview where body language can be hard to see/read.
  2. Show your passion for Salesforce.
  3. Answers should be concise – not too short, but there’s no need to waffle.
  4. Talk about how you could add value. Do you have a particular expertise? Are you a Flow guru? A dashboard rockstar? Let them know!
  5. Give concrete, quantifiable examples of achievements – check out our sample interview questions for some examples.
  6. Respond to their questions and comments with corresponding questions and thoughts that shows you are actively listening.
  7. Everybody likes to feel special; this includes hiring managers and companies! Let them know why you are interested in them and their role specifically.
  8. Ask questions:
    1. Career progression/promotion opportunities.
    2. Professional development e.g., certifications, attending training or conferences.
    3. Working hours/expectations.
    4. Company objectives/targets/strategies for market expansion.
    5. Travel required.
  9. Never bad mouth your current or previous employers.
  10. At the end of the interview, thank them for their time.

After the Interview

  1. Send a thank you note to the person who interviewed you – it can be as simple as thanking them for their time and saying it was a pleasure to meet them.
  2. Send a thank you note to the recruiter (if you worked with one).

Summary

Interviewing can be an incredibly stressful experience but you can increase your odds of a successful interview by preparing correctly, being present and engaging during the interview, and following up to say thank you afterwards.

The more familiar you are with your own experience (it’s very common to feel like you can’t remember what you’ve done or remember the details when under pressure!), the job role you are interviewing for, and how your skills and experience could add value, the more confident you will be.

Don’t forget to check out our interview questions to help you prepare. Good luck!

READ MORE: Top 50 Salesforce Interview Questions & Answers

The Author

Christine Marshall

Christine is the Courses Director at Salesforce Ben. She is an 11x certified Salesforce MVP and leads the Bristol Admin User Group.

Comments:

    Kate
    October 12, 2022 7:55 pm
    This is great! How did you know I needed this very advice this week?? Thanks Christine!
    Christine Marshall
    October 13, 2022 11:46 am
    It sounds like you might have an interview soon?! If so, good luck!!

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