Complete the Virtual Technical Screening
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Explain why we use technical screening.
- Prepare for your technical screening.
- Execute your technical screening.
Ready to join the Engineering team? If you have been invited to interview for an engineer position, the first step in our hiring process is the technical screening. Let’s break it down in more detail.
Technical Screening 101
Your interview process starts with a phone or video call between you and a member of our interview team. The interview is a chance to talk about your resume, experience, and the ideal position you’re looking to find.
While you’ve probably applied for a specific position, we’re always looking for great talent for a number of teams, so feel free to ask questions about anything that intrigues or interests you. If the person you’re talking to can’t answer the question, we get you in touch with someone who can.
Along with questions about your resume, experience, and career goals, the virtual screening typically involves doing a design problem and coding in the language of your choice. This takes place over a shared screen, so the interviewer can see how you decompose problems.
Prep Tips to Rock Your Technical Screening
Ready for your technical screening? It’s important to cover all your bases and do your prep work—it’s your first chance to show us what you can do. Here are some tips to help you rock your technical screening.
- Practice, practice, practice. There are good online resources specific to the tech industry that help you practice the kinds of interview questions you are most likely to encounter. Some places to start include: Careercup, Topcoder, and Project Euler. Seek out practice exercises to make sure your coding skills are on fire before the interview process begins.
- Do your research. Check online for other candidates’ interview experiences at Salesforce. Sites like Glassdoor and Geeks for Geeks can give you further insights into what to expect during your interview.
- Reread the job description. If it’s not clear, or you just want to do a little more prep work, research the job online. Be sure to write down a few questions of your own about the position, Salesforce, and how this job fits into your career path.
- Identify your skills. Bring a copy of your resume and be prepared to discuss why your skills and experience make you a great fit.
- Check out your interviewers on LinkedIn. Do a quick search to find out more about your interviewers. What is their background? Experience? Jot down a couple of icebreaker questions to demonstrate you did this work.
- Find a quiet place. Pick a distraction- and interruption-free place so you and your interviewer can focus on the call. Remember to double-check your phone and Internet connections for stability and clarity.
- Be ready to decompose. Be prepared to answer coding questions and demonstrate your decomposition skills. Practice explaining how your decision-making process works.
Let’s Sum It Up
The first step in the hiring process is the technical screening—it’s a great way to get to know the Engineering org and let them get to know you. To ensure you do your best, it’s important to prepare for your interview in advance. If you’re invited to move forward in the hiring process, congrats! In the next unit, we tackle the next step: the remote programming test.
