1. What is Salesforce and what are its main benefits?
Answer:
Salesforce is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that helps businesses manage sales, customer service, marketing, and more. Its main benefits include:
- Cloud accessibility (anywhere, anytime)
- Scalability and customization
- Automation of workflows
- Integration with third-party applications
- Built-in analytics and reporting
2. What are Objects in Salesforce? Name the types.
Answer:
Objects in Salesforce are database tables that store data. There are two main types:
- Standard Objects (e.g., Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity)
- Custom Objects (created by users to store unique business data)
3. What is a Record Type and when would you use it?
Answer:
Record Types allow you to offer different picklist values, layouts, and business processes for different users or business scenarios on the same object. You’d use them when multiple business processes need to coexist within a single object (e.g., different sales processes for B2B vs. B2C).
4. Explain the difference between a Role and a Profile.
Answer:
Profile: Determines what a user can do (e.g., read, create, edit objects).
Role: Determines what data a user can see, based on the role hierarchy.
Together, they control access and visibility within Salesforce.
5. What is the purpose of the App Builder in Salesforce?
Answer:
The App Builder is a drag-and-drop tool that allows admins to customize Lightning Pages, create custom apps, and build dynamic user interfaces without code. It’s central to the no-code/low-code development Salesforce promotes.
6. Can you explain what a Validation Rule is and give an example?
Answer:
A validation rule ensures data integrity by preventing users from saving incorrect or incomplete records.
7. What’s the difference between Workflow Rules and Flows in 2025?
Answer:
As of 2025, Workflow Rules are deprecated in favor of Flows. Flows are more powerful and flexible. They allow admins to automate complex business processes using a visual interface and are now the standard for all new automation in Salesforce.
8. How do you give field-level security for a user?
Answer:
Field-level security is controlled through:
- Profiles and Permission Sets – to grant or restrict access to individual fields.
- Page Layouts – to show/hide fields visually.
This ensures sensitive data is only accessible to authorized users.
9. What is a Lightning Page and how is it different from Classic?
Answer:
A Lightning Page is a customizable layout in the Lightning Experience that allows admins to configure components and data views. Unlike Classic, Lightning Pages support dynamic visibility, flexible components, and responsive design.
10. How do you manage user access in Salesforce?
Answer:
User access is managed through:
- Profiles: Basic access to objects, tabs, and apps.
- Roles: Data visibility through role hierarchy.
- Permission Sets: Additional permissions beyond the profile.
- Sharing Rules: Record-level access based on criteria.
11. What are some key reports and dashboards a Sales Manager might need?
Answer:
- Sales Pipeline Report
- Closed Won Opportunities by Month
- Lead Conversion Rates
- Activity Reports (Calls, Emails)
- Dashboard showing KPIs like Revenue, Quota Attainment
12. What’s the Recycle Bin in Salesforce and how long does it retain data?
Answer:
The Recycle Bin stores deleted records for 15 days (for most Salesforce editions). During this period, users can restore or permanently delete records.
13. Explain the concept of “Record Ownership” in Salesforce.
Answer:
Each record in Salesforce is owned by a user or a queue. Ownership impacts sharing, visibility, and access to records. Owners can edit, delete, and share the records they own unless restricted.
14. What are some tools you use for data import/export?
Answer:
- Data Import Wizard – for standard/custom objects with simple data sets.
- Data Loader – for bulk operations, including update, delete, and export.
- Data Export Service – for full backups.
15. How do you stay current with Salesforce updates and best practices?
Answer:
- Trailhead (Salesforce’s learning platform)
- Salesforce Release Notes (3x per year)
- Salesforce Admin Blog & YouTube Channel
- Community groups and events like Dreamforce
- Certification maintenance modules
