Publish date:
Salesforce provides built-in features for everyone. However, to customize the platform for your specific processes, you need a dedicated Salesforce developer.
The right developer has both the technical skills to meet your technology needs and the soft skills to work well with your business team. This balance will help you get the best results and support your business growth.
In this blog, we will show you the key technical and soft skills every Salesforce developer should have. We will also share tips on how to assess candidates effectively.
By the end, you will feel confident in making the right hire and helping your team succeed in the long run.
Let’s get started!
Technical skills to look for when hiring a Salesforce developer
Here is a list of key technical Salesforce developer skills:
Salesforce platform expertise
When hiring a developer, it's essential to find someone who knows the Salesforce platform well. A developer with strong Salesforce CRM skills can customize its features to fit your business needs.
The developer should understand how the platform works, including its architecture, limits, and data security models. They need to know when to use simple drag-and-drop tools and when to write custom code.
How to assess candidates for this skill set?
-
Use a mix of technical questions, hands-on tasks, and discussions of past projects.
-
Look for Salesforce certifications like Platform Developer I and II. These certifications show that the developer has met Salesforce standards and gained the necessary knowledge.
-
Ask them to describe solutions for real business situations, like automating customer onboarding and connecting to third-party systems.
-
Offer debugging challenges, ask them to identify a process issue, or suggest ways to improve automation workflows.
Apex skills
Apex is a programming language created by Salesforce. It is an essential skill for working with their platform. Developers use Apex to build business logic and Salesforce applications, which allows them to add more features beyond what point-and-click tools offer. With this language, they can create workflows and perform integrations through coding, similar to how Java works.
When looking for a candidate, prioritize those who can write clean, bulkified code to prevent crashes in production environments.
Tips to assess the candidate for Apex expertise
You can guide candidates through a specific piece of Apex or Visualforce code. Ask them to identify areas for optimization and possible refactoring.
Test their knowledge by asking basic, advanced, or scenario-based questions.
-
What are the different ways to call Apex classes?
-
You can expect answers including anonymous blocks, triggers, and web services.
-
-
What is recursion in Apex, and how can you prevent it?
-
Expect answers such as using static variables, trigger handler classes, and more.
-
-
Describe a complex situation involving triggers that you worked on. What challenges did you face, and how did you resolve them?
-
Your trigger is hitting the SOQL query limit in large data loads. How would you redesign it to stay within limits?
- You can expect answers that explain SOQL limits, how to use collections to get data in advance, and concepts like batchable, queueable, or async Apex.
Apart from these, you can conduct technical coding challenges.
-
Ask them to write bulkified code, e.g., update a custom field on related records.
- Look for proper use of SOQL, governor limit avoidance, and unit test coverage.
-
Ask them to make a simple custom page that uses an Apex controller. The page should display a list of accounts, include a filter, and have buttons for updating records.
Lightning Components (Aura and Lightning Web Components)
Aura and Lightning Web Components are frameworks used for web development. They help developers create user interfaces (UIs) with HTML and CSS. It's essential to know how to build web pages, customize components, and extend the standard Salesforce interface. You need a skilled professional to make attractive and user-friendly UIs that improve user experiences.
In the past, people used Visualforce to create user interfaces in Salesforce. However, it had some problems, like slow performance and difficulty in maintaining the code. Because of this, Salesforce replaced Visualforce with better options: Aura and LWC components. These new components are lighter, faster, and easier to maintain.
-
Also Read: Useful Tips for Hiring Salesforce Developers
How would you evaluate these skills?
Guide the candidates through a piece of code and discuss areas for improvement. You can ask questions like:
-
When should you use Aura components instead of LWC?
-
How do you embed LWC in Aura or the other way around?
-
What are some best practices for writing efficient LWC code?
You can also ask scenario-based or code solution questions, such as:
-
Build an LWC to fetch a record by ID and handle errors.
-
Create a system to load additional records only when the user scrolls or clicks “Load more” if your component needs to show hundreds of records.
Data modelling and data management skills
A Salesforce developer with the right data modeling skills can properly arrange your objects, fields, and relationships. It creates a clear view of your data and helps prevent data silos and duplication. If your data model is messy, a professional can clean it up.
Good data management skills help you maintain high-quality data and make Salesforce data migration easier. A professional will know how to use a data loader and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools. These tools can help reduce errors and improve the accuracy of reports.
People with these skills help keep your Salesforce Org organized and secure.
Tips to assess these skills in a candidate
Ask them how they built data models, ensured quality, handled migrations, or managed data lifecycles. You can ask about core concepts, types of relationships, and data security. Here are a few examples:
-
What are the core components of the Salesforce data model?
-
Define different relationships, and when would you use them?
-
Explain how sharing rules affect record visibility.
-
Provide a sample ERD (Enterprise Relationship Diagram) or Salesforce schema. Normalize it, index it, or design it for large data volumes.
-
Ask them to draw a rough schema.
Integration skills
To go beyond what Salesforce can do, you need a Salesforce expert who can safely connect other applications to your platform. It includes ERP systems, payment processors, analytics tools, and custom software. A skilled developer can create and set up connections between these systems to ensure data flows easily. They will establish and sync fields and objects for effective two-way communication.
How can you assess integration skills in a developer?
Strong integration skills involve knowing how to map data, check its accuracy, and understand limits. Therefore, ask candidates when to use REST or SOAP APIs and when to use middleware tools.
Ask experience-based questions, such as:
-
Describe a time you performed Salesforce integration with another system.
-
What tools and architecture did you use?
-
What challenges did you face, and how did you deal with them?
-
Which APIs did you use, and why was it your choice
In addition to essential technical skills, developers also have specific skills related to Salesforce products. If you plan to hire an expert in a particular Salesforce cloud area, review the key skills listed below.
Technical Skills by Salesforce Cloud Specialization
For Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud
When hiring a Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud developer, ensure they are certified. After that, look for these key skills:
-
Ensure that the developer knows how to create custom cartridges. This skill allows them to update features independently and helps troubleshoot issues more quickly.
-
They can use SFRA, or Storefront Reference Architecture, to run headless commerce. This approach separates the front end from the back end. As a result, it helps pages load quickly and makes it easier to connect with modern user interface frameworks.
-
You can improve price books for accurate and up-to-date pricing across different currencies and promotions. It helps reduce errors and allows for quicker marketing decisions.
-
We can handle large amounts of catalogs efficiently. It will enable customers to browse products quickly and keep your site responsive even during busy times.
- Can manage a composable commerce architecture to avoid vendor lock-in.
For Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud
Validate their B2B Commerce Cloud developer certificate and expect the following capabilities:
-
A developer should be able to customize how B2B buyers reorder products. It makes repeat purchasing easier and reduces complications, increasing the chances of getting more orders.
-
They can set up custom catalogs and organize products in a way that makes it easier for different buyer groups to find what they need. It improves the user experience and helps increase sales.
-
Increase the capacity to handle large transactions to ensure smooth and reliable operation during busy times with big B2B orders.
For Salesforce Marketing Cloud
For this role, the developer must have a Salesforce Marketing Cloud developer certification. Look for these skills to help you make the right choice:
-
The candidate can create personalized campaigns and automate customer journeys using tools like Journey Builder and Automation Studio. This method helps deliver campaigns that are timely, personalized, and can easily scale.
-
Developers create eye-catching and responsive email templates. It allows campaigns to work well across all channels, increasing open rates, clicks, and brand consistency.
-
Use AMPscript to create personalized and dynamic email content. You can personalize content, format data, and add real-time information. It also helps you manage dynamic elements in emails, landing pages, and SMS.
-
I can analyze performance metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. I will use these insights to improve campaigns continuously and make marketing more effective by focusing on measurable results and ongoing testing.
Agentforce developer/specialist
Having a developer with expertise in Agentforce can significantly improve your business. It will help automate repetitive tasks, increase service efficiency, and manage complex questions from both your employees and customers.
When a developer has skills in creating prompts, your team can write clear and structured prompts that help AI agents give accurate and detailed responses. It improves the quality of the output by assisting agents to understand the intent and allowing for more nuanced interactions.
The developer needs to implement RAG (retrieval augmented generation). This process combines enterprise data, whether it is structured or unstructured, from databases and retrieval systems, and then provides this information to large language models (LLMs) with the relevant context.
Users should be skilled in using Agentforce studios, such as Agent Builder, Prompt Builder, Agent Actions, and Testing Center. It helps them quickly develop agents, maintain quality and compliance, create customized actions across Slack, flows, or Apex, and seamlessly integrate testing and Continuous Integration (CI) into the process.
Soft skills to look for when hiring a Salesforce developer
Key soft skills to consider when hiring a Salesforce developer:
Business acumen
Business acumen is the ability to understand how a business operates. It involves understanding how the organization generates revenue, how it competes with others, and how it provides value to its customers.
This skill set shows how well a developer understands your business challenges and needs, and how they can turn these into technical solutions. With this understanding, they can design useful features, create integrations, and make decisions that help your organization grow.
Therefore, a candidate with this skill set can be a valuable asset for your business.
How would you assess the business acumen of a candidate?
Ask them questions based on specific situations or scenarios that relate to different business departments. For example:
-
Can you share an example where you identified a business problem and created a Salesforce solution for it?
-
The sales team wants to automate tasks that require minimal human attention. It will help reduce reliance on people for less critical tasks. What possible solutions could they consider?
How do you keep up with trends in our industry?
Marketing and Sales have different requirements. How will you create a solution that meets both of their needs?
Communication skills
It is an essential skill for developers. It means being able to explain technical ideas to non-technical stakeholders, including team members and clients.
Working with internal teams helps us set clear goals, spot problems early, and stay flexible. When we communicate with outside parties, we build trust by being open, transparent, and respectful.
A candidate excelling at this skillset can:
-
Know the project requirements to prevent misunderstandings that might cause delays in the work or project.
-
Work well with everyone, including departmental teams, technical teams, and clients. Make sure everyone is on the same page.
-
Resolve any disputes or disagreements.
-
Build trust and satisfaction with customers.
How would you assess this skill?
During the interview, please pay attention to how well the candidate listens and how accurately they answer your questions. If they seem confused, notice if they rush to respond or ask for clarification. Also, observe how well they take your feedback.
You can ask them to explain a complex technical idea in simple terms. For example, ask about governor limits or Salesforce integration approaches. Pay attention to whether they can explain these concepts clearly without losing their accuracy.
Ask them to role-play a situation where they must propose a Salesforce solution to a mock stakeholder. It will show their tone, pace, and how they communicate with different audiences.
Teamwork skills
Teamwork means working together to reach a common goal. This skill shows that a developer’s goals match the company’s goals, rather than just focusing on their interests. It also involves helping team members when needed and respecting different opinions.
This skill set is essential because you cannot build software solutions alone. It requires teamwork, peer code reviews, shared debugging, mentorship, and group problem-solving. These practices help prevent mistakes and conflicts, ensuring that projects are completed on time.
For organizations that work with remote Salesforce developers, it is essential to develop effective collaboration methods. Here are some practical tips to improve collaboration with remote Salesforce developers.
How to assess teamwork in candidates?
Ask questions such as:
-
Describe a time when you solved a team problem. What did you do?
-
How did you complete a project with a tight deadline as a team? What was your role? How did your team maintain high quality even with time limits?
-
Can you provide an example of giving or receiving feedback within a team?
-
Describe a time when you assigned tasks to team members and made sure they contributed effectively.
-
You can connect with the candidate's colleagues to get feedback or run a team exercise to observe their collaboration with others.
Adaptability skills
Adaptability means being flexible, quick to adjust, and eager to learn new things in the Salesforce ecosystem. An adaptable developer stays updated on the yearly changes that Salesforce releases. Someone who loves to learn will actively master new features and innovations.
Adaptable developers handle last-minute changes easily while maintaining high-quality solutions.
How to assess adaptability in the candidate?
You can look at their resume and portfolio. Check for phrases such as "upgraded to the latest Spring release," "migrated to a new feature," or "completed a new certification." These examples show their ability to adapt.
Ask behavioral questions. Here are some examples:
-
How do you keep yourself updated with the latest releases and innovations in Salesforce?
-
What were the key highlights of the last update?
-
Describe a time when the project requirements changed suddenly. What actions did you take? How did you handle the situation, and was the result satisfactory?
-
Describe a time when you learned something new in Salesforce and used it in your work.
Problem-solving skills
Problem-solving is about finding issues, breaking them down, and coming up with practical solutions. It involves more than just coding. It also means diagnosing a problem and creating a solution that is reliable and works well across different platforms.
A Salesforce developer with this skill can spot problems early, simplify them, and create strong solutions to prevent downtime and unexpected bugs.
How would you assess the candidate for this skill?
-
You can ask behavioral questions like, “Can you tell me about a time when you solved a Salesforce issue? Please explain the steps you took.”
-
Give them a real business problem. Ask them to find the issue and suggest a possible solution.
-
Ask them to look at a broken piece of code. Have them find the problems and suggest ways to fix them.
Attention to detail skills
Paying attention to detail means noticing and fixing small but essential parts when designing solutions. These parts include keeping consistent formatting and finding logical errors before they become bigger issues. A small typo can lead to unexpected problems, which might cause deployment failures.
Look for developers who use clear and meaningful names for variables, write neat and organized code, and follow good practices to make their code easy to understand. With these skills, they can find data mismatches, security problems, and integration bugs before they affect users.
How would you assess this skill in the candidates?
Review a coding challenge and check for any typos, formatting issues, or indentation errors. Consider sharing a time when your attention to detail helped prevent a significant mistake.
Time management skills
Time management is the skill of planning, organizing, and using time well. A good developer prioritizes tasks, meets project deadlines, and balances multiple activities. If an unexpected challenge comes up, they can stay calm and manage their schedule.
Conclusion
These are the key skills to look for when hiring a Salesforce developer. Whether you hire a dedicated Salesforce developer or use a different approach, these skills are essential.
The questions and tips above will help you make the right choice. After you hire a developer, it is essential to use onboarding best practices. It will create a welcoming and supportive environment.
If you need skilled Salesforce developers, hire them from Codleo. Our developers are experts in various Salesforce clouds, platforms, APIs, and integrations. They are also familiar with other tools and utilities. Schedule a consultation call today.
Partnering with Codleo for Salesforce Development Services
In 2025, Salesforce projects demand skilled developers. Codleo provides certified developers with a strong record of delivering successful Salesforce solutions. Our team collaborates closely with your business to understand your needs, ensuring that every line of code we write adds value for your organization.
Codleo helps businesses solve complex Salesforce problems by building custom applications, integrating systems, and automating processes. For example, one retail client improved their sales conversion rates by 35% after we customized their Salesforce setup with personalized lead nurturing workflows and automated follow-ups.
When hiring a Salesforce Developer in 2025, focus on finding a partner who can help your business grow with Salesforce. It's essential to have someone who can develop custom apps, connect third-party systems, or automate crucial processes. Codleo has the knowledge and experience to help you succeed
With Codleo, you get a team of certified Salesforce Developers ready to handle projects of any size. We make sure your Salesforce setup meets your business needs. Our flexible outsourcing model offers the scalability and expertise you need to stay competitive. Contact us today for a consultation and learn how we can help you meet your Salesforce development goals.
Do you need a customized Salesforce solution? Contact us today for an easy and efficient experience tailored to your business needs.