How to get a job at Salesforce
20 real interview questions, insider tips on the hiring process, and what Salesforce actually looks for. Most people read about it. Very few practise for it.
Sign up free · No card needed · Free trial on all plans
Choose your interview type
Your question
“Tell me about yourself and what makes you a strong candidate for this role.”
About Salesforce
Company overview
Salesforce operates a significant presence in London focused on product development, customer success, and international services. Teams build and extend the Salesforce platform, handle customer relationships, and develop integrations and extensions.
The company is the market leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and is expanding into adjacent areas like data, analytics, and industry-specific solutions. The UK office contributes to global product development and European customer delivery.
Inside the company
Culture & values at Salesforce
Salesforce's culture is built on the "1-1-1 Model"—giving back to the community through time, technology, and resources. The company emphasises trust, customer success, innovation, and equality. Work-life balance is genuine, and the company invests in employee wellbeing.
The pace is professional but not startup-chaotic. Salesforce values collaboration, continuous learning, and thinking about the customer's long-term success, not just short-term wins.
Why people want to work here
Join the CRM market leader serving millions of customers. Salesforce offers solid compensation, genuine flexibility and balance, strong benefits, and the opportunity to build features impacting enterprise customers globally.
What to expect
Working at Salesforce
The working environment at Salesforce reflects the enterprise software sector — structured but dynamic, with a mix of planned project work and responsive tasks. Most roles involve regular collaboration with colleagues across different teams and functions, with clear expectations for deliverables and timelines. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are increasingly common, and the organisation recognises that different roles require different working patterns.
As a 5,500+-person organisation, Salesforce sits at a size where you can genuinely know people across different departments. Teams tend to be close-knit, and there's a real sense of shared purpose. You'll likely have more visibility with senior leadership than you would at a larger employer, which means your contributions are noticed and your ideas can reach decision-makers more quickly.
The culture at Salesforce shapes how the day feels beyond just the work itself. Colleagues describe the environment as one that values Customer Focus and Scalability Thinking. Lunch breaks, team socials, and informal catch-ups are part of the rhythm — Salesforce recognises that building relationships across the organisation is as important as the deliverables themselves. Most employees report that the people are one of the best things about working here, and that the team dynamic makes challenging work feel manageable.
The hiring journey
Salesforce interview process
Salesforce's interview process assesses technical skills, problem-solving, and customer-focused thinking. The company looks for people who can navigate complexity and balance shipping with quality. Interviews are collaborative and forward-looking.
Recruiter Screen
20–30 minutesInitial conversation about background and interest in the role. Recruiter assesses fit and motivation.
Technical Phone Interview
45–60 minutesTechnical questions, coding problems, or system design depending on role. Assesses problem-solving and technical depth.
On-site Interviews (2–3 rounds)
45–60 minutes eachMix of technical interviews and team fit discussions. May include case studies or architecture problems. Assess collaboration and customer thinking.
Manager Round
30–45 minutesConversation with hiring manager about role expectations, team dynamics, and growth opportunities.
2–3 weeks from first contact to offer
Insider tips
Emphasise customer thinking—Salesforce cares deeply about customer impact. Show experience building scalable systems and integrating with external services. Be familiar with cloud platforms and APIs. Ask about the team's approach to solving customer problems.
Your game plan
How to prepare for your Salesforce interview
Salesforce's interview process typically takes 2–3 weeks from first contact to offer. Starting your preparation 4 weeks ahead gives you enough time to research thoroughly, build strong examples, and practise until your answers feel natural rather than rehearsed. Candidates who prepare systematically consistently outperform those who wing it — and interviewers can always tell the difference.
4 weeks before
Research Salesforce thoroughly — read their annual report, recent press coverage, and leadership interviews. Understand their position in technology and any challenges or opportunities they're facing. Follow Salesforce on LinkedIn and note the type of content they share — this reveals what they're proud of and where they're heading. Start reviewing the 4 stages of their interview process so you know exactly what to expect at each step. Identify anyone in your network who works or has worked at Salesforce and reach out for an informal conversation.
3 weeks before
Prepare 8-10 STAR examples from your experience that demonstrate Customer Focus, Scalability Thinking, Technical Depth. These should be specific, quantified stories you can adapt to different questions — don't just prepare one example per quality, because interviewers often ask follow-ups or probe the same competency from different angles. If you're applying for Software Engineer or Backend Developer role, make sure your examples are directly relevant to that function. Start practising answering questions out loud — silent preparation and written notes aren't enough, because the interview requires you to articulate your thoughts clearly under pressure.
2 weeks before
Do a full mock interview covering Salesforce's typical question types — common, behavioural, and technical. Time your answers (aim for 2-3 minutes per STAR response — shorter feels thin, longer loses the interviewer's attention). Research your interviewers on LinkedIn if you know who they are — understanding their background can help you tailor your examples. Prepare 4-5 thoughtful questions to ask at the end of each stage. Good questions show you've done your research: ask about team challenges, upcoming projects, or how the role contributes to Salesforce's strategy.
Final week
Review and refine your STAR examples — tighten any that felt long or unfocused during practice. Check Salesforce's news and social media for anything published in the last few days (being able to reference something current shows genuine, ongoing interest). Confirm logistics — location, format (video or in-person), dress code, who you're meeting, and how long to allow. Prepare a printed copy of your CV, the job description, and your question list. Plan your route if in-person. The night before, focus on rest rather than last-minute cramming — confidence and composure matter as much as preparation.
Stand out from the crowd
What Salesforce looks for
Customer Focus
Genuine empathy for customer problems and willingness to understand their needs. Salesforce is obsessed with customer success. Show that you think about user outcomes.
Scalability Thinking
Experience building systems that grow with customer bases. Salesforce serves enterprises with massive data and concurrent users. Understanding scale is essential.
Technical Depth
Strong fundamentals and experience with relevant technologies (cloud platforms, APIs, distributed systems). For Apex/Lightning, platform-specific knowledge is valued.
Integration Mindset
Ability to think about how systems connect and integrate. Salesforce's ecosystem is built on integrations with other enterprise software. Cross-system thinking matters.
Balance & Pragmatism
Recognition that perfect is the enemy of good. Salesforce ships frequently, and people need to balance quality with velocity and customer deadlines.
Get through the door
How to apply to Salesforce
Start by studying Salesforce's careers page and current openings carefully. Tailor your CV to mirror the language they use in job descriptions — technology employers use applicant tracking systems that scan for specific keywords, and generic applications get filtered out before a human sees them. If you're applying for Software Engineer, Backend Developer, Product Manager, research what each role involves at Salesforce specifically, not just the job title in general.
If you're early in your career, look for entry-level or junior positions on Salesforce's careers page. Some roles may not be advertised externally, so networking through LinkedIn and industry events can surface opportunities before they're posted publicly. Consider whether Salesforce offers internships or work experience placements as a route in — many enterprise software employers use these as a pipeline for permanent roles.
Before submitting your application, research Salesforce's recent news, strategy, and any public statements from leadership. Mentioning something specific in your cover letter — a recent project, a company initiative, or a strategic direction — signals that you've done your homework and aren't sending the same application to every enterprise software employer. Referrals from current employees significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, so connect with people at Salesforce on LinkedIn and attend any open days or recruitment events they run.
With 5,500+ employees, Salesforce has a large alumni network. Search LinkedIn for former employees now working elsewhere — they can offer candid insights about the interview process, team culture, and what it's really like to work there. Current employees are also worth connecting with, but former employees tend to be more frank.
Mistakes candidates make
- 1Submitting a generic CV that doesn't reference Salesforce or technology-specific experience — tailored applications are significantly more likely to get past initial screening. Mirror the language from the job description and quantify your achievements.
- 2Failing to research Salesforce's values, recent news, and strategic direction before the interview — interviewers can tell immediately when a candidate hasn't prepared beyond reading the About page on the website.
- 3Not preparing concrete STAR examples that demonstrate Customer Focus and Scalability Thinking — Salesforce uses competency-based interviewing, so vague answers like "I'm a team player" without specific situations, actions, and measurable outcomes will score poorly.
- 4Underestimating the preparation timeline — Salesforce's process typically takes 2–3 weeks from first contact to offer, and the best candidates start preparing weeks in advance. Last-minute cramming shows in your answers.
- 5Neglecting to ask thoughtful questions at the end of each interview stage — generic questions like "what's the culture like?" waste your chance to demonstrate genuine curiosity about Salesforce and the specific role.
- 6Applying to multiple roles at Salesforce simultaneously without tailoring each application — recruiters notice this, and it signals that you're not genuinely interested in any specific position.
Real questions asked
Salesforce interview questions
20 questions sourced from real Salesforce candidates. Practise answering them out loud before your interview.
- 1Tell me about your experience with cloud platforms.
- 2Describe a project where you had to integrate systems or APIs.
- 3How do you approach building systems that need to scale to millions of records?
- 4Tell me about a time you had to prioritise customer feedback over technical preferences.
- 5Describe your experience with enterprise software.
- 6How do you approach technical debt and refactoring?
- 7Tell me about a time you had to learn a new platform or framework quickly.
- 8Describe a situation where you had to balance shipping with quality.
Your career here
Growth & development at Salesforce
Career progression at Salesforce follows a relatively clear path for most roles. Promotions typically depend on demonstrating increased responsibility, deeper expertise, and leadership capability — whether that's leading teams, managing clients, or driving technical innovation. The organisation values both specialist depth and the ability to take on broader management responsibilities, so there are usually multiple progression routes available. Don't assume you need to move into management to advance — many enterprise software organisations increasingly recognise and reward technical and specialist career paths.
Salesforce invests in structured learning and development programmes, including access to training courses, conferences, and professional certifications. Many employees report that the L&D budget is generous and genuinely encouraged — not just a line in the benefits package that nobody actually uses. Whether it's technical upskilling, leadership development, or industry certifications, there's real support for continuous learning. While formal mentoring programmes may vary across departments, the culture generally encourages learning from more experienced colleagues. Building relationships with senior team members is one of the most effective ways to accelerate your development — seek out people whose career trajectory you admire and ask them for advice regularly.
For technology professionals, Salesforce offers exposure to projects and challenges that build a strong CV whether you stay long-term or move on after a few years. The skills and experience you gain — particularly around Customer Focus and Scalability Thinking — are transferable across the enterprise software sector and beyond. Internal mobility is possible for strong performers, with opportunities to move between teams, departments, or even locations as your career develops. Many senior leaders at Salesforce started in entry-level or early-career positions, which speaks to the genuine career development opportunities available.
Compensation
Salary & benefits at Salesforce
Salesforce UK salaries are competitive. Software engineers typically earn £75,000–£110,000 base salary, with annual bonuses (10–15%) and equity. Total packages are solid, though generally lower than peak Big Tech.
Notable benefits
Roles they hire for
Popular roles at Salesforce
Frequently asked questions
What's Salesforce's platform like to build on?
The Salesforce platform (Apex, Lightning) is powerful but different from traditional development. You're building within the platform constraints, which can feel limiting if you're used to greenfield work. For some, it's intellectually interesting; for others, restrictive. Ask about the team's tech stack during interviews.
How much customer exposure do engineers have?
Moderate to significant depending on role. Product teams and customer success engineering have regular customer contact. Platform engineering may be more internal. If customer interaction is important, seek customer-facing roles.
What's the release cycle like?
Salesforce releases three times a year with planned feature sets. Releases are managed and well-communicated. It's not the "daily shipping" culture of startups, but the cadence is regular and predictable.
Is Salesforce's "1-1-1 Model" genuine?
Yes. Employees get paid volunteer time, and the company genuinely invests in community impact. It's not just corporate social responsibility—it's deeply embedded in culture. If giving back matters to you, Salesforce is well-aligned.
How does Salesforce compare to smaller cloud software companies?
Salesforce is more established and stable with longer customer relationships. The pace is professional rather than startup-chaotic. You'll have better resources and support but potentially less autonomy than a startup. Great if you want stability; less appealing if you want early-stage chaos.
What are the growth prospects?
Promotions are merit-based and happen regularly. The company is expanding into new markets and products, creating opportunities for growth. Internal mobility is good, and many leaders were promoted from within.
Similar companies
Your Salesforce interview is coming.
Be ready for it.
Practise with real Salesforce questions, get scored across 6 competencies, and walk in confident you can perform under pressure.
Start freeSign up free · No card needed