Top Skills to Look for When Hiring a Salesforce Developer

Salesforce has become one of the most widely used Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms globally, helping businesses streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service processes. The demand for skilled Salesforce developers has surged as more organizations seek to leverage the platform's full potential. Whether you’re a startup looking to implement Salesforce or a large enterprise optimizing its existing systems, hiring the right Salesforce developer is crucial for maximizing the platform's capabilities.

In this article, we’ll explore the top skills to look for when hiring a Salesforce developer. From technical expertise to problem-solving abilities and communication skills, we’ll cover the essential traits and qualifications that make a successful Salesforce developer. If you’re in the process of finding the right talent, this guide will help you understand what to look for to ensure your business thrives with Salesforce.

1. Proficiency in Salesforce Development Tools

The first and foremost skill to consider when hiring a Salesforce developer is their proficiency with Salesforce development tools. Salesforce provides a variety of development platforms, such as:

• Apex: Salesforce’s proprietary programming language, which is similar to Java, is used for server-side development. Apex allows developers to write custom logic and triggers, automate processes, and build complex workflows.

• Visualforce: A framework used to build custom user interfaces (UIs) within Salesforce. It’s essential for developers to be well-versed in creating interactive pages that integrate seamlessly with the Salesforce platform.

• Lightning Web Components (LWC): This is the latest framework for building UI components in Salesforce, and it’s rapidly gaining popularity. LWC is built on modern JavaScript, making it essential for developers to have a solid understanding of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

• Salesforce DX (Developer Experience): A set of tools and processes for modern Salesforce development, enabling source-driven development and seamless team collaboration. Salesforce DX helps developers manage codebases, collaborate efficiently, and integrate version control systems.

When hiring Salesforce developers, ensure they are well-versed in these development tools. A strong understanding of Apex, Visualforce, LWC, and Salesforce DX will allow developers to build robust applications, automate tasks, and integrate Salesforce with other business systems effectively.

2. Expertise in Integrations

Salesforce is often used alongside other enterprise applications and systems. Therefore, the ability to integrate Salesforce with third-party applications, APIs, and external data sources is a critical skill for any Salesforce developer.

• REST and SOAP APIs: A skilled Salesforce developer should be proficient in integrating external systems using REST and SOAP APIs. REST APIs are widely used for lightweight integrations, while SOAP APIs are often used for more complex integrations.

• Data Integration: Familiarity with integration tools like MuleSoft, Informatica, and Dell Boomi is beneficial for developers working with Salesforce. These tools allow seamless data exchange between Salesforce and external databases, CRMs, or applications.

• Salesforce Connect: This tool allows developers to link external data sources to Salesforce, providing a unified view of business information across multiple systems.

When searching for a Salesforce developer, ensure they possess the necessary integration expertise. This will ensure smooth communication between Salesforce and your organization’s other critical applications.

3. Understanding of Salesforce Architecture and Data Model

A deep understanding of Salesforce architecture is another key skill for developers. Salesforce developers must have a solid grasp of the underlying data model, which involves knowing how objects, fields, and relationships are structured within the platform.

• Objects and Fields: Salesforce is built on a data model consisting of standard and custom objects. Custom objects are particularly useful for businesses with unique data requirements.

• Relationships: Salesforce offers different types of relationships, such as master-detail and lookup relationships, that allow developers to link objects and create more sophisticated data structures.

• Governor Limits: Salesforce enforces limits on database operations to ensure platform stability and prevent misuse. A skilled Salesforce developer should be aware of these limits and how to design solutions that avoid hitting these limits, ensuring high-performance applications.

A developer who understands Salesforce’s architecture can create solutions that are both efficient and scalable, while also avoiding common pitfalls like exceeding governor limits.

4. Knowledge of Security Best Practices

Salesforce handles vast amounts of sensitive customer data, so security is a top priority. A Salesforce developer should be familiar with security best practices to protect that data and maintain compliance with privacy regulations.

• Field-Level Security: Understanding how to configure field-level security ensures that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users.

• Profiles and Permission Sets: Developers need to know how to set up and manage profiles and permission sets to control user access to Salesforce features and data.

• Sharing Rules: Setting up sharing rules allows businesses to control record visibility and access based on roles or other criteria.

• OAuth and SSO (Single Sign-On): Knowledge of OAuth and integrating Single Sign-On (SSO) with Salesforce is essential for enabling secure authentication and seamless user access.

When hiring a Salesforce developer, ensure they understand the critical role security plays and are equipped to implement best practices to safeguard your organization’s data.

5. Experience with Agile Development Methodologies

Salesforce development often involves working on large projects with multiple stakeholders, which is why experience with agile development methodologies is highly valued. Agile frameworks, such as Scrum or Kanban, help development teams work collaboratively, adapt to changing requirements, and deliver incremental updates to the system.

A Salesforce developer with agile experience will be familiar with working in sprints, attending standups, and participating in sprint reviews. They will also understand how to prioritize tasks based on business needs and continuously improve the development process.

In addition, developers with experience in agile methodologies can work seamlessly in teams, communicate effectively, and deliver high-quality results on time.

6. Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills

Problem-solving is at the heart of software development, and Salesforce development is no exception. Salesforce developers need to analyze business requirements, identify challenges, and design technical solutions that meet those needs.

• Troubleshooting: A skilled developer can quickly troubleshoot issues within the Salesforce environment, whether they involve code bugs, integration failures, or performance problems.

• Custom Solution Design: Developers should be able to design custom solutions that address specific business requirements, rather than relying solely on out-of-the-box Salesforce features.

• Optimization: Analyzing existing Salesforce configurations and identifying ways to optimize performance and reduce technical debt is an essential skill for developers.

When hiring Salesforce developers, look for candidates who can demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to overcoming challenges.

7. Collaboration and Communication Skills

Salesforce development is rarely a solitary task. Developers often need to work closely with other departments, such as sales, marketing, and IT, to understand business requirements and ensure the Salesforce platform is configured appropriately.

• Cross-Department Collaboration: A successful Salesforce developer should be able to understand the needs of various departments and translate them into technical solutions.

• Clear Communication: Whether it’s explaining technical details to non-technical stakeholders or writing clear documentation for future developers, strong communication skills are essential for a Salesforce developer.

• Teamwork: In addition to collaborating with other departments, Salesforce developers often work as part of larger development teams. Being able to collaborate efficiently with team members and share knowledge is crucial for success.

When hiring a Salesforce developer, prioritize candidates who can communicate complex technical concepts clearly and work well in a team environment.

8. Familiarity with Salesforce Certifications

Salesforce offers a variety of certifications that can help validate a developer’s expertise. While not mandatory, certifications are a strong indicator of a developer’s skill level and commitment to staying updated with the latest Salesforce features.

Some of the most valuable Salesforce certifications include:

• Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I and II: These certifications demonstrate a developer’s expertise in building and customizing Salesforce applications.

• Salesforce Certified Administrator: A certification for individuals who manage and configure Salesforce environments.

• Salesforce Certified App Builder: For developers focused on building custom applications within Salesforce.

Hiring a Salesforce developer with relevant certifications can provide peace of mind, knowing that they possess the necessary skills to build and maintain your Salesforce solutions.

9. Experience with Reporting and Data Analytics

Salesforce provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions. A developer with experience in creating custom reports, dashboards, and data visualizations can significantly enhance the value your organization derives from Salesforce.

• Report Building: Developers should be able to create custom reports that pull data from various Salesforce objects and present it in a meaningful way.

• Data Visualization: Knowledge of Salesforce’s data visualization tools, such as the Lightning App Builder, is essential for developing intuitive and informative dashboards.

• Data Accuracy: Developers should also ensure the accuracy and integrity of data within Salesforce, making sure reports reflect the correct information and deliver actionable insights.

A Salesforce developer with a strong understanding of reporting and analytics can help your business leverage Salesforce to its full potential.

Conclusion: Hire Salesforce Developers Who Bring Value

When hire salesforce developers, look for candidates who possess a combination of technical expertise, security knowledge, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively within a team. Salesforce is a powerful platform, and hiring the right developer is key to unlocking its full potential. Whether you’re looking for someone to develop custom solutions, integrate Salesforce with other systems, or optimize your existing setup, make sure the candidate has the skills necessary to deliver results.