Landing a Salesforce Developer role at a prestigious firm like Accenture requires demonstrating deep technical expertise, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to deliver robust, scalable solutions on the Salesforce platform. Interviews often cover a wide range of topics, from core Salesforce concepts like Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components to integration strategies, data management, and best practices for development within the platform's governor limits. Preparing for these common questions is crucial for showcasing your readiness to tackle complex development challenges and contribute effectively to client projects. This guide provides a structured overview of frequently asked questions, offering insights into why they are asked and how to formulate compelling answers. By focusing on these key areas, you can build confidence and articulate your skills clearly, making a strong impression on your interviewers. Mastering these fundamentals is the first step towards a successful interview and a thriving career as an Accenture Salesforce Developer.
What Are Accenture Salesforce Developer Questions?
Accenture Salesforce Developer questions are designed to assess a candidate's proficiency in developing custom solutions on the Salesforce platform. They cover a broad spectrum of topics, including declarative configurations, Apex programming, Visualforce and Lightning development (both Aura and LWC), data modeling, security implementation, integration patterns, and deployment strategies. These questions often delve into best practices, governor limit handling, asynchronous processing, and performance optimization, reflecting the need for developers who can build efficient and scalable applications in a multi-tenant environment. Beyond technical skills, questions may explore a candidate's problem-solving approach, their ability to work within agile methodologies, and their experience in collaborating with clients or internal teams. The goal is to gauge not just theoretical knowledge but practical experience in applying Salesforce development concepts to real-world business challenges and delivering high-quality code within enterprise-level projects.
Why Do Interviewers Ask These Questions?
Interviewers ask these questions to evaluate a candidate's foundational knowledge and practical experience with the Salesforce platform. They want to ensure you understand the core architecture, programming models (Apex, LWC/Aura), data management, security framework, and integration capabilities essential for developing robust business solutions. Questions about governor limits and asynchronous processing test your understanding of the multi-tenant environment and your ability to write efficient code that avoids hitting system constraints. Scenario-based questions assess your problem-solving skills and how you apply technical knowledge to address specific business requirements or technical challenges. Discussions around deployment and testing practices reveal your understanding of the software development lifecycle on Salesforce. Ultimately, these questions help interviewers determine if you possess the required technical depth, adherence to best practices, and the ability to contribute effectively to complex Accenture projects, delivering value to clients by building reliable and scalable Salesforce applications.
Explain the MVC Architecture in Salesforce.
Difference Between Trigger and Batch Apex.
How do you Implement Security in a Salesforce Application?
Describe a Custom Salesforce Solution for a Unique Sales Process.
How do you Handle Salesforce Governor Limits?
Explain Integration of Salesforce with an External System.
How do you Migrate from Salesforce Classic to Lightning?
How do you Diagnose and Resolve Performance Issues in Salesforce?
How Would You Train a Client’s Team on a New Salesforce Feature?
How Do You Stay Updated with New Salesforce Features?
What are Salesforce Governor Limits?
Explain the Different Types of Salesforce Sandboxes.
What is Apex in Salesforce?
What are Lightning Web Components (LWC)?
Explain the Use of SOQL and SOSL in Salesforce.
What is the Use of Custom Settings in Salesforce?
How Can You Deploy Changes from One Salesforce Org to Another?
Best Practices for Writing Apex Triggers?
Difference Between ‘with sharing’ and ‘without sharing’ Keywords in Apex?
What are Future Methods in Salesforce?
How Do You Handle Bulk Data Processing in Salesforce?
Different Types of Relationships in Salesforce?
Explain the Use of Salesforce APIs.
How Can You Optimize Salesforce Performance?
What are Change Sets in Salesforce?
Explain the Role of Salesforce Flows.
What are Custom Metadata Types in Salesforce?
How Do You Handle Errors and Exceptions in Salesforce?
What are Standard Objects in Sales Cloud?
How Do You Approach Data Migration from Legacy Systems?
Preview List
1. Explain the MVC Architecture in Salesforce.
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your fundamental understanding of the design pattern Salesforce follows, crucial for building structured and maintainable applications using Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components.
How to answer:
Define MVC (Model-View-Controller) and map each component to specific Salesforce features, explaining how they interact within the platform's structure.
Example answer:
Salesforce uses MVC: Model is data/logic (Objects, Apex), View is UI (Visualforce, Lightning), and Controller manages interactions (Apex controllers, LWC/Aura controllers). This separates concerns for cleaner code.
2. Difference Between Trigger and Batch Apex.
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your knowledge of synchronous vs. asynchronous processing and when to use each for different scenarios, particularly for data manipulation and bulk operations.
How to answer:
Explain their primary use cases: Triggers for real-time, record-level operations; Batch Apex for processing large data sets asynchronously. Highlight governor limit implications.
Example answer:
Triggers run synchronously on record changes for immediate action. Batch Apex runs asynchronously, processing large data in chunks to avoid governor limits, ideal for bulk updates or cleanup tasks.
3. How do you Implement Security in a Salesforce Application?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your understanding of the layered Salesforce security model, essential for protecting sensitive data and ensuring users have appropriate access.
How to answer:
Describe the key security layers: Org-level, Object-level (profiles/permission sets), Field-level (profiles/permission sets), and Record-level (OWD, roles, sharing rules, Apex sharing).
Example answer:
Security involves profiles/permission sets for object/field permissions, OWD and roles for record access defaults, sharing rules for exceptions, and Apex with sharing to enforce these rules programmatically.
4. Describe a Custom Salesforce Solution for a Unique Sales Process.
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions using Salesforce customization tools and code.
How to answer:
Outline a process starting from requirements gathering, designing custom objects and fields, automating steps with workflows/Flows/Apex, and building UI components.
Example answer:
I'd analyze the process, create custom objects for unique steps/data, use Flows for automation logic, Apex for complex calculations/integrations, and LWC for a tailored user interface flow.
5. How do you Handle Salesforce Governor Limits?
Why you might get asked this:
Crucial question demonstrating awareness of the multi-tenant environment and ability to write scalable code that operates within platform constraints.
How to answer:
Explain common limits (SOQL, DML, CPU) and strategies to mitigate them: bulkification, efficient queries, using asynchronous Apex (Batch, Queueable, Future), and minimizing loop operations.
Example answer:
I analyze debug logs for limit exceptions. Solutions involve bulkifying Apex triggers/classes, optimizing SOQL queries to reduce rows/CPU time, and using Batch or Queueable Apex for large data volumes.
6. Explain Integration of Salesforce with an External System.
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your experience with connecting Salesforce to other applications, a common requirement in enterprise environments.
How to answer:
Discuss common approaches (REST/SOAP APIs), authentication methods (OAuth, API keys), data mapping, error handling, and potential use of middleware or platform events.
Example answer:
Integration often uses Salesforce REST or SOAP APIs. I'd secure connections via OAuth, design Apex classes for callouts/receiving data, map fields carefully, and implement robust error handling and logging.
7. How do you Migrate from Salesforce Classic to Lightning?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your familiarity with the transition to the Lightning Experience and the considerations involved in updating or replacing older components.
How to answer:
Describe the assessment phase (readiness report), updating Visualforce pages or rebuilding with Lightning components (Aura/LWC), testing, and user training.
Example answer:
The process includes running the Readiness Report, assessing custom code (VF, Apex, JS), prioritizing component migration/rebuilding (to LWC preferably), thorough testing, and user enablement/training.
8. How do you Diagnose and Resolve Performance Issues in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your debugging skills and knowledge of tools and techniques to identify and fix bottlenecks in code or configuration.
How to answer:
Mention using the Developer Console, Debug Logs (especially profiling), analyzing query performance, and identifying inefficient loops or excessive callouts.
Example answer:
I use the Developer Console and debug logs with profiling categories enabled. I analyze SOQL queries for selectivity, check for DML or SOQL in loops, and identify long-running Apex transactions.
9. How Would You Train a Client’s Team on a New Salesforce Feature?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your communication and change management skills, important for client-facing roles.
How to answer:
Describe preparing tailored materials, conducting interactive sessions (demos, Q&A), providing hands-on exercises, and offering documentation and ongoing support.
Example answer:
I'd create user-specific guides/videos, conduct live demos explaining the feature's value, provide hands-on exercises in a sandbox, and establish channels for ongoing support and questions.
10. How Do You Stay Updated with New Salesforce Features?
Why you might get asked this:
Demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving platform.
How to answer:
Mention official Salesforce resources: Release Notes, Trailhead, Dreamforce/TrailblazerDX sessions, community groups, and Salesforce blogs.
Example answer:
I regularly read the Salesforce Release Notes three times a year. I also use Trailhead modules for hands-on learning, follow the official Salesforce blog, and participate in local user groups.
11. What are Salesforce Governor Limits?
Why you might get asked this:
Fundamental question proving you understand the constraints of the multi-tenant platform crucial for writing scalable code.
How to answer:
Define them as enforced limits to prevent single tenants from monopolizing shared resources (database, CPU, memory). List examples like SOQL queries, DML statements, CPU time, heap size.
Example answer:
Governor limits are runtime limits enforced by Salesforce to ensure efficient use of shared resources in the multi-tenant environment. They restrict things like the number of SOQL queries, DML calls, and CPU time per transaction.
12. Explain the Different Types of Salesforce Sandboxes.
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your understanding of development and testing environments available on the platform.
How to answer:
Describe Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, and Full Sandboxes, explaining their storage capacity, data type (metadata only vs. data), refresh frequency, and typical use cases (dev, UAT, training).
Example answer:
Developer sandboxes copy metadata for single developer use. Developer Pro has more storage. Partial Copy includes sample data for UAT. Full sandboxes copy all data/metadata for performance/load testing and training.
13. What is Apex in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
A core technical question for a developer role, assessing your knowledge of Salesforce's proprietary programming language.
How to answer:
Define Apex as a strongly-typed, object-oriented programming language allowing developers to execute flow and transaction control statements on the Salesforce server.
Example answer:
Apex is Salesforce's proprietary, object-oriented programming language executed on the Force.com platform. It's used for backend processes, custom logic, database manipulations, and complex integrations.
14. What are Lightning Web Components (LWC)?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your understanding of the modern frontend development framework in Salesforce.
How to answer:
Describe LWC as a modern framework built on web standards (HTML, JavaScript, CSS), emphasizing its performance benefits and component-based architecture compared to Aura components.
Example answer:
LWC is a modern framework for building Salesforce UIs using standard web technologies like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. It's lightweight, performant, and aligns with web standards, preferred over older Aura components.
15. Explain the Use of SOQL and SOSL in Salesforce.
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your ability to retrieve data from the Salesforce database, a fundamental developer task.
How to answer:
Explain SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) for querying single or related objects based on criteria. Explain SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) for searching text across multiple objects and fields.
Example answer:
SOQL is like SQL; used to query records from a single object or related objects. SOSL is a search language used to find records based on text across multiple objects and fields simultaneously.
16. What is the Use of Custom Settings in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses knowledge of storing application configuration data outside of custom objects.
How to answer:
Describe custom settings as a way to store organizational or profile/user-specific data used by Apex code or formula fields, noting they are cached for faster access and don't count against SOQL limits for access.
Example answer:
Custom settings store configuration data specific to an organization, profile, or user. They are useful for storing constants or parameters used by Apex and are cached, providing fast access without SOQL limits.
17. How Can You Deploy Changes from One Salesforce Org to Another?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your understanding of the application lifecycle management (ALM) process in Salesforce.
How to answer:
List common deployment methods: Change Sets (declarative), Metadata API, Salesforce CLI, and potentially third-party tools like Gearset or Copado. Explain when you might use each.
Example answer:
Common methods include Change Sets (declarative, between connected orgs), Metadata API (programmatic), and Salesforce CLI. For complex projects, I'd use the CLI or consider CI/CD tools.
18. Best Practices for Writing Apex Triggers?
Why you might get asked this:
Critical for ensuring your code is scalable, maintainable, and avoids hitting governor limits.
How to answer:
Mention key practices: One trigger per object, trigger framework usage, bulkification, avoiding SOQL/DML in loops, handling exceptions, and writing comprehensive test classes.
Example answer:
Use one trigger per object, employ a trigger framework, bulkify all SOQL and DML statements outside loops, handle exceptions gracefully, and ensure positive/negative test coverage.
19. Difference Between ‘with sharing’ and ‘without sharing’ Keywords in Apex?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your understanding of how Apex code interacts with Salesforce's security model.
How to answer:
Explain that with sharing enforces the current user's record-level sharing rules (OWD, roles, sharing rules), while without sharing bypasses these rules and runs in system context (object/field permissions still apply).
Example answer:
With sharing enforces the running user's sharing rules, respecting record-level access configured via OWD, roles, and sharing rules. Without sharing runs Apex code in system context, ignoring these sharing rules.
20. What are Future Methods in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates knowledge of asynchronous processing methods used for operations that don't need to happen immediately or involve external callouts.
How to answer:
Describe @future methods as static Apex methods that run asynchronously in the background when resources become available. Mention their use for callouts and processes that would exceed synchronous limits.
Example answer:
Future methods, marked with @future, run asynchronously. They are used for operations like callouts to external services or processing that doesn't need to block the user interface or could hit synchronous governor limits.
21. How Do You Handle Bulk Data Processing in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your strategy for handling large volumes of data efficiently within governor limits.
How to answer:
Discuss using asynchronous Apex: Batch Apex for large, discrete record sets; Queueable Apex for chaining jobs and using non-primitive types; and potentially the Bulk API for data loading.
Example answer:
For bulk processing, I use Batch Apex to iterate through records in manageable batches, which is efficient for large data transformations or updates while respecting governor limits. Queueable Apex is good for chaining jobs.
22. Different Types of Relationships in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Fundamental data modeling question essential for designing database schemas.
How to answer:
Explain Lookup relationships (loosely coupled, data deletion doesn't cascade by default), Master-Detail relationships (tightly coupled, detail record security/ownership/deletion depends on master, often used for roll-up summaries), and Hierarchical (special lookup for User object).
Example answer:
Salesforce has Lookup (loose link, independent records), Master-Detail (tight link, detail depends on master, roll-up summaries possible), and Hierarchical (specific lookup for User object).
23. Explain the Use of Salesforce APIs.
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your understanding of how Salesforce communicates with external systems or applications programmatically.
How to answer:
Mention common APIs: REST (flexible, stateless, JSON/XML), SOAP (WSDL-based, XML), Bulk (for large data sets), Streaming (for real-time events), and Metadata (for configuration). Explain their typical use cases.
Example answer:
Salesforce offers various APIs: REST API is common for mobile/web integrations. SOAP API is enterprise-level. Bulk API is for large data operations. Streaming API for real-time events. Metadata API for deployments.
24. How Can You Optimize Salesforce Performance?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your ability to write efficient code and configure the platform for speed.
How to answer:
Discuss optimizing SOQL queries (selective queries, proper indexing), reducing Apex CPU time (efficient loops, avoiding unnecessary calls), minimizing view state in Visualforce, using platform caching, and employing asynchronous processing.
Example answer:
Performance optimization involves writing selective SOQL queries, reducing code complexity and CPU time, minimizing DML operations, leveraging asynchronous processing, and optimizing UI components like LWCs.
25. What are Change Sets in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates knowledge of Salesforce's built-in tool for moving metadata between related orgs.
How to answer:
Describe Change Sets as a declarative tool used to package metadata components (Apex classes, Visualforce pages, custom fields, etc.) from a source org (e.g., Sandbox) and deploy them to a target org (e.g., Production).
Example answer:
Change Sets are a declarative deployment method in Salesforce. They allow packaging specific metadata components (like code, custom fields, reports) from a source sandbox and deploying them to a related target org like production.
26. Explain the Role of Salesforce Flows.
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your understanding of Salesforce's powerful declarative automation tool.
How to answer:
Explain Flows as visual tools to automate complex business processes through sequences of actions (collecting data, creating records, updating records, executing logic, calling Apex). Mention screen flows, record-triggered flows, etc.
Example answer:
Salesforce Flows are declarative automation tools that allow building complex business processes visually. They can guide users through screens (Screen Flows) or run automatically on record changes (Record-Triggered Flows), handling logic and data manipulation.
27. What are Custom Metadata Types in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests knowledge of a modern way to store configuration data that is deployable and doesn't have the limits of Custom Settings.
How to answer:
Define custom metadata types as configurable, deployable, and packageable application configuration data. Highlight that accessing them doesn't count against SOQL limits and they behave like custom objects but store metadata, not transactional data.
Example answer:
Custom metadata types are used to store application configuration data in a structured, deployable way. Unlike Custom Settings, they are metadata, can be packaged, and querying them doesn't hit SOQL limits.
28. How Do You Handle Errors and Exceptions in Salesforce?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your ability to write robust code that can gracefully handle unexpected issues.
How to answer:
Discuss using try-catch blocks in Apex to catch exceptions, logging errors (using custom logging objects or debug logs), providing informative error messages to users, and potentially implementing retry mechanisms for integrations.
Example answer:
I use try-catch blocks in Apex to gracefully handle exceptions, log detailed error information using custom objects or debug logs, and provide clear, user-friendly error messages rather than exposing raw system errors.
29. What are Standard Objects in Sales Cloud?
Why you might get asked this:
Fundamental domain knowledge question for anyone working in a sales-focused environment on Salesforce.
How to answer:
List the key standard objects fundamental to sales processes: Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity, Campaign, Task, Event. Briefly explain the purpose of each.
Example answer:
Key standard objects in Sales Cloud include Accounts (companies), Contacts (people at accounts), Leads (potential customers), Opportunities (deals in progress), Campaigns (marketing efforts), Tasks, and Events.
30. How Do You Approach Data Migration from Legacy Systems?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests your experience with a common challenge in Salesforce implementations – moving data from old systems.
How to answer:
Outline the process: Data analysis and mapping (source to target), data cleansing and transformation, choosing migration tools (Data Loader, ETL tools, custom scripts), performing migration batches, and validation.
Example answer:
I'd start with data analysis and mapping, followed by cleansing and transformation using scripts or tools. Then I'd use Data Loader or an ETL tool for the migration, performing validation steps throughout and post-migration.
Other Tips to Prepare for an Accenture Salesforce Developer Interview
Preparing thoroughly goes beyond just knowing the technical answers. It's about demonstrating your potential as a valuable team member and problem solver. As the legendary management consultant Peter Drucker said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it." Take proactive steps to create your successful interview outcome. Practice articulating your thought process for problem-solving scenarios, especially those involving governor limits or complex data structures. Be ready to discuss projects you've worked on, focusing on your specific contributions, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Quantify your impact whenever possible. Consider using resources like the Verve AI Interview Copilot (https://vervecopilot.com) to simulate interview environments and refine your responses. Verve AI Interview Copilot offers targeted practice for technical roles, helping you build confidence and improve your delivery. Remember to also prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers – this shows your engagement and interest in the role and the company. As the saying goes, "Success is where preparation and opportunity meet." Ensure you are well-prepared to seize the opportunity at Accenture. Utilizing tools like Verve AI Interview Copilot can significantly enhance your readiness, allowing you to practice specific Salesforce developer questions and receive constructive feedback. Make sure you understand the Accenture values and how your work style aligns with them. Strong preparation using comprehensive resources, including mock interviews with Verve AI Interview Copilot, will set you apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How long is an Accenture Salesforce Developer interview?
A1: Typically involves multiple rounds, including technical screens and behavioral interviews, ranging from 30 minutes to over an hour each.
Q2: Should I prepare for coding questions?
A2: Yes, expect Apex coding questions or whiteboarding exercises focusing on logic, governor limits, and best practices.
Q3: Will they ask about specific project experience?
A3: Absolutely, be ready to discuss your role, challenges, solutions, and impact on past Salesforce projects in detail.
Q4: How important are communication skills?
A4: Very important. You'll work with clients and teams, so clearly explaining technical concepts is crucial.
Q5: What if I don't know an answer?
A5: Be honest, explain your thought process on how you would approach finding the answer, or relate it to something similar you know.
Q6: Is Lightning Web Components (LWC) required knowledge?
A6: Yes, LWC is the preferred framework now, so strong knowledge is expected for modern development roles.
