Salesforce Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024
Overview
Salesforce is renowned as the Customer Company, driving the future of business through AI, Data, and CRM solutions. With its innovative approach, strong core values, and commitment to positive change, Salesforce offers unparalleled career growth and development opportunities.
The Business Analyst position at Salesforce demands strong technical acumen, problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate business needs into data-driven insights. The role involves collaborating with various teams, managing complex datasets, and supporting strategic decision-making processes.
Prepare yourself for an in-depth interview experience that blends technical assessments with personality-based evaluations, reflecting Salesforce’s holistic approach to finding the perfect fit for their dynamic team.
This guide will help you navigate the interview process, prepare for commonly asked Salesforce business analyst interview questions, and land your dream role. Let’s get started!
What is the Interview Process Like for a Business Analyst Role at Salesforce?
The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a Salesforce business analyst interview:
Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening
If your CV is among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the Salesforce Talent Acquisition Team will contact you and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be part of the screening process.
Sometimes, the hiring manager might be present during the screening round to answer your questions about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions. You might be asked questions like, “Why Salesforce?” or “Why this role?”
The recruiter call typically lasts about 20-30 minutes.
Initial Technical Phone/Video Screening
Successfully navigating the recruiter round will lead to an invitation for an initial technical screening via phone or video call. This stage generally involves a 30- to 60-minute interview focused on your technical know-how and problem-solving skills.
For technical roles, you can expect questions about data manipulation, ETL processes, and other data analytics-related queries. You may also be asked questions about previous projects, challenges you’ve faced, and your thought process in resolving those challenges. Behavioral questions such as “Describe a time you overcame a challenge at work” are common.
One-on-One Interviews
You will meet with managers or potential team members in the subsequent stages. These interviews can be technical or behavior-focused. You will likely face scenario-based questions to evaluate your problem-solving skills and cultural fit.
Panel Interview and Case Studies
If you advance, you may be invited for a more comprehensive panel interview, which could involve a case study presentation. Here, you’ll be expected to perform basic data analysis and present your findings and recommendations to a panel. These interviews are designed to test your technical skills more rigorously and assess your capability to work in a team setting.
Questions may include:
- Describe a time when you were given a large dataset and what you did to prepare the data for analysis.
- Why did you decide to use certain analytical techniques? What are the benefits of using those techniques for this purpose?
Onsite Interview Rounds
The final stage typically involves onsite interviews, which might vary depending on the role. You’ll meet various team members, including analysts, product managers, and directors. In addition to evaluating your technical prowess, these interviews aim to gauge your cultural fit and collaborative potential within the team.
If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round might also be part of the onsite interviews.
What Questions Are Asked in a Salesforce Business Analyst Interview?
Typically, interviews at Salesforce vary by role and team, but commonly, business analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.
1. How would you estimate the cost of storing Google Earth photos yearly?
Estimate the annual cost of storing Google Earth photos, considering factors like storage size, data redundancy, and storage technology.
2. Should the sales team target individual companies or groups of companies for white pages and marketing blog content?
The sales team wants to target new customers by building white pages and marketing blog content. Should they focus on individual companies or groups of companies? Explain your reasoning.
3. Create a function random_key that returns a key at random with a probability proportional to the weights.
Given a dictionary with weights, write a function random_key that returns a key at random with a probability proportional to the weights.
Example 1:
Input:
weights = {'A': 1, 'B': 2}
Output:
random_key(weights) -> return A 1/3 of the time, B 2/3 of the time
Example 2:
Input:
weights = {'A': 1, 'B': 1}
Output:
random_key(weights) -> return A 1/2 of the time, B 1/2 of the time
4. Write a SQL query to calculate the 3-day weighted moving average of sales for each product. Use the weights: 0.5 for the current day, 0.3 for the previous day, and 0.2 for the day before that.
The sales department is conducting a performance review and is interested in trends in product sales. They have decided to use a weighted moving average in their analysis.
Only output the weighted moving average for dates with two or more preceding dates. You may assume that the table doesn’t skip dates.
Example:
Input:
sales table
| Column | Type |
|---|---|
| date | DATE |
| product_id | INTEGER |
| sales_volume | INTEGER |
Output:
| Column | Type |
|---|---|
| date | DATE |
| product_id | INTEGER |
| weighted_avg_sales | FLOAT |
5. How does random forest generate the forest and why use it over logistic regression?
Explain how a random forest generates its ensemble of decision trees. Additionally, it discusses the advantages of using random forest over logistic regression in certain scenarios.
6. What is the difference between XGBoost and random forest, and when would you use each?
Describe the key differences between XGBoost and random forest algorithms. Provide an example scenario where one algorithm would be preferred over the other.
7. What is the expected number of good ads rated by different types of raters?
- Suppose we have 100 raters, each rating one ad independently. What’s the expected number of good ads?
- Now, suppose we have 1 rater rating 100 ads. What’s the expected number of good ads?
- Suppose we have 1 ad rated as bad. What’s the probability the rater was lazy?
8. Write a function to simulate coin tosses with a given probability of heads.
Create a function that takes the number of tosses and the probability of heads as input and returns a list of randomly generated results (‘H’ for heads, ’T’ for tails).
Example 1:
tosses = 5
probability_of_heads = 0.6
Output:
coin_toss(tosses, probability_of_heads) -> ['H', 'T', 'H', 'H', 'T']
Example 2:
tosses = 3
probability_of_heads = 0.2
Output:
coin_toss(tosses, probability_of_heads) -> ['T', 'T', 'T']
9. Write a function to calculate the sample variance of a list of integers.
Create a function that takes a list of integers and returns the sample variance, rounded to 2 decimal places.
Example:
test_list = [6, 7, 3, 9, 10, 15]
Output:
get_variance(test_list) -> 13.89
10. What is the probability of rolling at least one 3 with dice?
- What’s the probability of rolling at least one 3 with 2 dice?
- What’s the probability of rolling at least one 3 given (N) dice?
11. What is the probability of finding an item on Amazon’s website given its availability in warehouses?
Given that the probability of item X being available at warehouse A is 0.6 and at warehouse B is 0.8, what is the probability that item X would be found on Amazon’s website?
How to Prepare for a Business Analyst Interview at Salesforce
A few tips for acing your Salesforce interview include:
Know the Company and Its Products:
Salesforce values candidates who are well-versed in its products and market position. Research Salesforce’s AI, Data, and CRM offerings and understand how they impact clients across different industries.
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:
During interview rounds, be ready to showcase your expertise in data manipulation, visualization, and analysis. Brush your knowledge of tools like Tableau, SQL, and data engineering practices.
Prepare Behavioral Responses:
Salesforce emphasizes cultural fit and teamwork. Practice responding to behavioral questions with answers that reflect how you embody Salesforce’s core values, such as innovation, customer success, and equality.
FAQs
What is the average salary for a Business Analyst at Salesforce?
Average Base Salary
Average Total Compensation
What skills and experience are required for a Business Analyst role at Salesforce?
The role typically requires a degree or equivalent experience, strong analytical and technical skills, and familiarity with tools like Excel, Tableau, SQL, and Salesforce products. Excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks are also crucial. Experience in finance, data analysis, and process improvement is highly valued.
What is the company culture like at Salesforce?
Salesforce has a highly collaborative and innovative culture. The company values diversity, creativity, and employee growth, reflected in its supportive and encouraging work environment. Employees must embody values like trust, customer success, innovation, and equality.
The Bottom Line
As the digital revolution redefines industries, Salesforce is at the forefront, continually seeking innovative and dynamic Business Analysts.
If you’re eager to dig deeper, explore our Salesforce main interview guide. Also, check out other roles such as Data Analyst, Data Scientist, and Business Intelligence to broaden your understanding of the company’s diverse opportunities.
Embark on your trailblazing journey with Salesforce and turn your aspirations into achievements. Good luck with your interview!