20 Salesforce CRM Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Salesforce CRM interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
How to Answer
This question is something that you should have an answer ready for at all times. Perhaps you look up to a parent who was a hard worker, or a teacher who encouraged you to become who you are today. Whomever this inspiring person may be, remember that the Salesforce interviewer is looking for a heartfelt response.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"My previous manager was a huge inspiration to me. Her passion for this profession was motivating and put the fire in me to climb the ladder in my engineering career. She taught me teamwork, the value of collaboration, the art of creative design, and how to look for alternative solutions to challenging problems. Her work ethic was inspiring and she demonstrated that you could achieve anything you set your mind to. I hope to live up to these values in my time here at Salesforce."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
2. Tell me about the proudest day of your life.
How to Answer
The Salesforce interviewer would like to know you on a more personal level. There is no right or wrong answer but if you are able, keep your answer career or school-related. Be sure to express any challenges that you overcame to reach this proud day, and discuss what it took to get you there. You can then let the interviewer know that you will have the same excitement and tenacity towards your goals while working for Salesforce.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"The proudest day of my life was when my first son was born. I knew at that moment that the rest of my life would be spent caring for him and preparing him to be the best man he could be. I gave me a clear understanding of all the sacrifices my parents had made for me, ensuring that I had what I needed to learn, grow, enjoy my life, make friends and be happy. My son's birth also reinforced my commitment to my partner, with whom I would work to raise our child together."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
3. Are you a reliable worker?
How to Answer
This question should have a simple answer. Of course, you are a reliable worker! What the interviewer is looking for, is an example of a time when you demonstrated this standard. Being a great worker will show the interviewer that you are an unselfish person, and willing to go above and beyond the requirements for the job at Salesforce without being asked.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"I pride myself on being a reliable person. My previous employers knew they could count on me to do whatever needed to be done whenever I was available. It is important to me that I am there for others when they need me. Recently I agreed to work over the weekend to get a project done on time, even though I had previous asked for the preceding Friday off to take care of some personal business. I will continue to demonstrate this type of commitment if hired by Salesforce."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
4. What is your least favorite personal trait, and what are you doing to improve yourself in that area?
How to Answer
If you had to pick one trait about yourself that you are not overly proud of, what would it be? The interviewer would like to get a great idea of the real you. Talk a bit about something that you are working on within yourself, but avoid mentioning a trait that would disqualify you for the position for which you are interviewing at Salesforce.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"While I bring many positive traits to Salesforce, I have a couple of characteristics that I would like to improve on. It was brought to my attention recently that I am too general when giving instructions. I was training another engineer and missed some critical directions because I assumed they already were aware of them. I am trying to improve this shortcoming and be more thorough in situations like this."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
5. What is your ideal work environment?
How to Answer
When applying for a job, the fit has to match both ways. The interviewer knows this and wants to ensure that the work environment Salesforce offers is suitable for you.
There are a few factors to take into consideration when looking at the work environment:
- Are questions encouraged without judgment?
- Is continuing education encouraged?
- Does the company promote an entrepreneurial mindset?
- Does the office allow for flexibility such as working from home or flex in hours?
- Are there regular team huddles?
- Is it an open-air environment without cubicles or walled offices?
- Is feedback, from both sides, encouraged and acceptable?
- Are goals set as a team, or only individually?
- Are there strict dress codes, after-hours expectations, and other restrictions?
- Is the initial training through or is there a sink-or-swim mentality?
- Is there recognition for a job well done, or incentives on a regular basis?
- Are employees promoted based on performance, or tenure only?
Choose two to three of these factors that are important to you, and before accepting a job offer, ensure that the company hits these must-haves for you and your ideal work environment.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"My ideal work environment is one that offers flexibility and a high level of trust. In my current role, I am given the latitude to work whenever I feel productive, whether it be during the day, in the evening, or sometimes late at night. I can also choose to work from home time-to-time, and there is no strictly enforced dress code because the managers know that I understand how to dress without being told. Is this something that Salesforce supports?"
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
6. What are you reading right now?
How to Answer
Do you feed your mind on a regular basis? What kind of literature do you prefer and why? Talk to the interviewer for this job at Salesforce about a book that you are currently reading. If you are not currently reading a book - talk about one that has impacted you the most.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"One of my favorite authors is Napolean Hill. Although his books about achievement were written almost a century ago, they are still very relevant. His mantra of 'Whatever you can conceive, and believe, you can achieve is one of my core beliefs. I also like his concept of the 'Mastermind Alliance' of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. I use this to seek out other people within an organization like Salesforce to collaborate with on challenging projects."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
7. How competitive are you?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know if you have a competitive spirit. Being a competitive person is an excellent thing if you are appropriately competitive in the workplace. Assure the interviewer that you have a tremendous competitive edge when necessary but are still able to balance that competition healthily.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"Competition is a healthy component to creativity. When I am competitive with myself, I come up with really great ideas that help my team to deliver incredible projects. Sometimes I create competitions within our team to motivate myself and the other team members to achieve something special. Of course, my approach is always welcoming and friendly."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
8. How would you maintain a balance your life and the work you would do here at Salesforce?
How to Answer
It is essential to keep a healthy work/life balance to prevent burnout. Talk to the Salesforce interviewer about how you can maintain that appropriate balance for yourself. You do not want to answer as though work is so exhausting that you cannot keep up, but you also do not want to come across as a workaholic either. Find a healthy balance.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"Maintaining a balance, when working on challenging engineering projects, can be difficult because it often requires working evenings and weekends. To keep a balance, I make sure I schedule time with my friends during the week and also carve out some time by myself. It's important to stay grounded and in tune with your own needs when you have a demanding schedule like the ones I've heard about at SalesForce."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
9. What types of activities keep you busy, outside of work?
How to Answer
The interviewer at Salesforce would like to know what keeps you busy outside of the workplace. Having hobbies and interests outside of work is an essential part of maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Talk to the interviewer about the activities that interest you outside of the workplace. Try to avoid activities that may be controversial such as hunting.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"Coding and programming are of huge interest for me. I am taking an online course related to advanced coding at the moment. This experience has helped me in my engineering career as well because I better understand the ins and out of the back-end project needs. I practice the skills I am learning by creating software which a local food pantry uses to track its inventory and solicit donations from local businesses."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
10. What is your personal mission statement, and how will it impact your work here at Salesforce?
How to Answer
The Salesforce interviewer would like to know if you have a personal motto or mantra. Not everyone has a mission statement or personal mantra just off the cuff. In business, especially when entering leadership, this is an important question to ponder. Do you have a quote that inspires you or a saying that you grew up with that resonates with you? If possible, try to relate your mission statement to the things Salesforce values.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"My mission is to do my best 100% of the time. It's important to me that I have a great reputation in this industry through hard work and a positive attitude. By putting everything I have into my work and never settling for second best, I will help Salesforce continue to succeed and be the best in its industry."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
11. What unique qualities about yourself would you bring to Salesforce?
How to Answer
There are some things that your resume cannot do. Showing off your fabulous personality is one of them, for instance! Talk to the Salesforce interviewer about some of your unique qualities and be sure to tie these qualities into how they will benefit the company, should they hire you.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"The main qualities I bring to this role are my attention to detail, being highly organized, and diligent about my work. As an engineer, it's important that I pay a great deal of attention to what I'm doing to avoid errors and the need for rework. I'm very proud of the fact that most of what I create is accurate and correct the first time. "
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
12. Tell me one thing about yourself that you would like to improve upon.
How to Answer
The Salesforce interviewer would like to know in which way(s) you seek to improve yourself. This question is another way of asking 'What is your greatest weakness?' Saying 'nothing' is not an option here. Self-improvement is required by everyone, no matter what stage we are in, in life and career. Talk to the interviewer about something that you would improve about yourself and what you are planning to do to achieve that.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"If I could improve anything about myself I would choose to improve my delegation skills. As a creative type, I tend to jump right into a project, thinking that I can do it all. And, I do succeed; however, implementing a teamwork mentality never hurts. I know that there are better and more efficient ways to accomplish some of the tasks related to the projects I work on and that people with skills sets different from mine could do these quicker than I can."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
13. If you could alter the career path that led you to this opportunity to work for Salesforce in any way, what would you change?
How to Answer
This question will help the interviewer to understand if you have a long and continued passion for your chosen career. Talk to the interviewer about an alternate career path that you might wish for but be sure to keep it related to the position at Salesforce for which you are interviewing.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"I am very pleased with my career path, but there are always areas for improvement. I would like to incorporate more opportunities to teach and mentor others in my field. For that reason, if I could change anything about my career path, I would go into a management role or join the career development team as an instructor or coach."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
14. Here at Salesforce we are proud of our employee culture. Do you participate in many social activities with your fellow workers?
How to Answer
Often time, engaged and happy employees are the ones who will participate in social and extra-curricular activities. Talk to the interviewer about the ways you participate in social activities with your co-workers. Keep your answer professional as you do not want to come across as someone who becomes involved in workplace drama, or who parties with your co-workers all the time. Also, avoid any answers related to co-worker romantic relationships.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"My current team works very hard, so when we have the opportunity to relax, we enjoy doing things like going out and partying on weekends. Although that is not my style, I will go now and then for an hour or so to catch up with my colleagues and say hello. I prefer company-led events like Friday social hours and holiday parties, for instance."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
15. If you had $50,000 to build your own business, what would you do?
How to Answer
The interviewer is interested in learning about your ambitions, imagination, and motivation. Few people are offered this opportunity and your answer will reflect how organized your thinking is. You don't need to limit your answer to a commercial business, but it should be something that supports your qualifications for the job or demonstrates your commitment to helping others or your community.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"If I were given $50,000, I would form an incubator that would provide opportunities for engineers to develop their innovations and ideas into products and services. I can't think of a better way to leverage a seed investment to create products that, when commercialized, would go on to generate exponential returns on the initial investment. I'd also structure the business so that successful ideas would repay the investment the incubator made in them plus a percentage, so as to make the company sustainable."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
16. What is something you would be happy doing everyday for the rest of your career here at Salesforce?
How to Answer
If you could choose any task to do every day for the rest of your career, what would it be and why? Talk to the Salesforce interviewer about what would make you the happiest and be sure to tie it into something related to their organization.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"If I could choose to do just one thing for the rest of my career, it would be coming up with new ideas for Salesforce products or product features, then testing their viability. I'm not sure what term you use for this at this company, but I've often heard it referred to as 'Ideation.' I define it as practical daydreaming. If only one in ten of my ideas actually became a product, it would more than justify the time I spend doing this."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
17. Who is the smartest person you know? Explain your answer.
How to Answer
You can have fun with this question and choose a family member, friend, mentor, author, or celebrity. Just be sure that you can back your answer! If you can relate your response to an influencer in your industry, that's the best way to approach this question. A great way to keep this conversation going would be to ask the Salesforce interviewer the same matter in the end.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"The smartest person I know is my father. Although he never went to college or technical school, he can fix anything, His innate curiosity, willingness to explore, lack of fear of failure and adept dexterity enable him to tackle mechanical problems many engineers would shirk from. He taught me to break down a problem into its individual components, then solve each one in order. This approach has helped me resolve complex issues and create some products others thought were impossible. I look forward to continue my work using this approach here at Salesforce."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
18. What is your definition of hard work?
How to Answer
Hard work and dedication can be interpreted differently by everyone. To one person, another person's hard work could seem like slacking. Talk to the interviewer about how you understand a hard day's work.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"Hard work for me refers to the mental effort that I am putting into my deliverables. Rather than merely going with the flow, I work hard for my employer by striving to be innovative and creative as well. I want to contribute to our process, and more - not just design a product."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
19. If you could teach me about any topic, unrelated to your career, what would you choose?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know more about your passions. This question is intended for the Salesforce hiring manager to get to know you, outside of your resume. Choose a topic that you are very knowledgeable about and be sure that your passion comes through. You could choose a sport, a genre of movie, a book that has recently inspired you, music, cooking, or dance. Anything!
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"If I could teach you about any subject unrelated to work, I'd teach you how to play the harmonica. I'm passionate about this because it brings me a great deal of joy in producing music, learning new songs, and entertaining others. The nice thing about the harmonica is that it is portable and easy to learn but hard to master."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
20. What excites you?
How to Answer
The Salesforce interviewer would like to know the types of situations that excite and motivate you on the job. Every hiring manager wants to know how to keep you best motivated and excited on the job. Talk to the interviewer about what excites you and keeps you happy at work.
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"During a normal day, I spend about 60% of my time writing code. The remainder of the day is spent reviewing my work, meeting with my manager, collaborating and I have a healthy competitive edge, even if it's a personal competition. For me, I am excited and motivated by doing my best; whether that means creating something new and unique, exceeding my KPI's or being recognized for a job well done. I am also motivated and energized by great teamwork."
Written by William Swansen on March 15th, 2021