Top Challenges Companies Face When Hiring Salesforce Developers

Salesforce is one of the most powerful CRM platforms, but unlocking its full potential requires the right technical talent. As demand for Salesforce developers continues to rise, many companies find themselves struggling to hire the right candidates. In this article, we break down the top challenges businesses face when hiring Salesforce developers—and how to overcome them.

1. Shortage of Qualified Talent

The Salesforce ecosystem has grown rapidly, but the supply of skilled developers hasn’t kept pace. Many businesses face:

• A limited pool of certified professionals
• Developers with basic knowledge but lacking real-world experience
• High competition from other companies for the same talent

Tip: Look beyond certifications. Prioritize hands-on experience and practical problem-solving skills.

2. Difficulty Evaluating Technical Skills

Salesforce development involves multiple tools and languages like Apex, Lightning Web Components, Visualforce, and SOQL. Most hiring managers:

• Struggle to design effective technical tests
• Can’t verify if candidates follow best practices (e.g., governor limits, scalable code)
• May overlook integration or deployment expertise

Tip: Involve a technical expert in interviews or use third-party coding assessments tailored to Salesforce.

3. Mismatched Expectations Between Developer and Business

Many companies fail to clearly communicate their project scope, resulting in:

• Misalignment in skills vs job responsibilities
• Overengineering or under-delivering due to unclear goals
• Frustration on both ends when the developer can't meet business needs

Tip: Define clear business goals and technical requirements before starting the hiring process.

4. Balancing Soft Skills with Technical Skills

Even technically strong developers can struggle with:

• Communicating with non-technical teams
• Collaborating across departments (Sales, Marketing, Support)
• Adapting to fast-changing business needs

Tip: Use behavioral interview questions and team-based assessments to evaluate communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.

5. Budget Constraints

Skilled Salesforce developers often command high salaries or hourly rates. This can be challenging for:

• Startups or small businesses
• Companies with limited or fixed IT budgets
• Projects that require niche Salesforce skills (e.g., Marketing Cloud, CPQ)

Tip: Consider hiring freelance or contract developers for short-term needs, or explore staff augmentation services to scale flexibly.

6. Verifying Experience and Portfolio Claims

Resumes and certifications don’t always tell the full story. Challenges include:

• Exaggerated project experience
• Limited verifiable client references
• Lack of exposure to complex real-world Salesforce scenarios

Tip: Ask for detailed project breakdowns, perform live coding tasks, and request references or case studies from past work.

7. Navigating Hiring Platforms

With so many options—job boards, freelance sites, Salesforce partners, etc.—it can be overwhelming to:

• Know where to post your job
• Trust the credibility of freelance profiles
• Choose between in-house vs outsourced talent

Tip: Match your hiring platform to your project duration, complexity, and budget.

Conclusion

Hiring a Salesforce developer is more than finding someone who can write code. It’s about aligning technical expertise, business understanding, and cultural fit. By understanding and proactively addressing these hiring challenges, companies can build a team capable of driving impactful Salesforce solutions.