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Tech Mahindra, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, has established itself as a powerhouse in the IT and BPO sectors. With a significant presence in over 90 countries and a dedicated workforce of more than 125,000 employees, the company is a testament to successful global expansion. What truly sets Tech Mahindra apart is its unwavering commitment to ethical business practices, a principle that has been a cornerstone of its operations.
In this blog, we’re going to delve into a specific aspect of Tech Mahindra’s operations that’s crucial for anyone looking to join their team: the Salesforce interview process. Salesforce, as a leading CRM platform, plays a pivotal role in Tech Mahindra’s service offerings. The interview questions for this domain are both challenging and insightful.
Let’s explore the most commonly asked technical questions that you may encounter in your interview at Tech Mahindra.
Salesforce Technical Questions and Answers
Q1. Can you explain the difference between a standard controller and a custom controller in Salesforce?
A standard controller in Salesforce is an auto-generated controller provided by Salesforce for every object. It includes the basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations and is used in standard page layouts. A custom controller, on the other hand, is a class written in Apex that implements custom logic and data manipulation.
Q2. How would you handle bulk data operations in Salesforce?
Bulk data operations in Salesforce can be efficiently handled using the Bulk API, which is designed for processing large sets of data while reducing the number of API requests. Batch Apex can also be used for processing records in large batches. Additionally, tools like Data Loader are useful for importing, exporting, and updating large volumes of data.
Q3. Describe a scenario where you would use an Apex Trigger in Salesforce.
In Salesforce, Apex Triggers are designed to execute custom operations either before or after modifications are made to Salesforce records. A practical use of an Apex Trigger is to automate the updating or validation of field values when a record is newly created or altered. This functionality is key in preserving the integrity of data and in automating processes that are aligned with specific business rules.
Q4. What is SOQL and how does it differ from SQL?
Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) is a specialized query language for retrieving records from the Salesforce database. It’s tailored to interact specifically with Salesforce data. The key difference is that SOQL is object-oriented, focusing on querying objects and their fields, while SQL is table-oriented. SOQL does not support all SQL functions, such as ‘INSERT’ or ‘DELETE’, as these operations are handled by the Salesforce platform itself.
Q5. Explain the concept of Governor Limits in Salesforce and why they are important.
Salesforce imposes Governor Limits as a way to regulate the runtime environment of Apex, ensuring that no single block of code excessively consumes shared resources. These limits are critical in maintaining a balanced and efficient system for all users.
These limits include constraints on the number of SOQL queries, DML operations, and CPU time, among others. They are crucial because they prevent individual Apex processes from using resources excessively, ensuring that all Salesforce customers receive a consistent level of performance.
Q6. What is a Wrapper Class in Salesforce, and when would you use it?
A Wrapper Class in Salesforce is a custom-defined class by developers, encapsulating a variety of data types or objects. This is particularly useful for displaying multiple objects on a single Visualforce page, facilitating diverse data handling in one location. It can also be used to process multiple records on a page, like selecting multiple records and performing operations like delete or update.
Q7. Explain the concept of a Sandbox in Salesforce. What are its types?
A Sandbox in Salesforce is a copy of a production environment used for testing and development purposes. It allows developers and admins to work with different types of data and configurations without affecting the live environment.
Salesforce offers different Sandboxes, including Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, and Full Copy. Each type varies in terms of storage capacity and its specific purpose, catering to various development and testing needs.
Q8. Can you describe what a SOQL Injection is and how to prevent it?
SOQL Injection is a security vulnerability in Salesforce where an attacker can insert a malicious SOQL query. This can happen if user inputs are not properly sanitized in dynamic SOQL queries. To prevent SOQL Injection, always use static queries when possible, or if dynamic queries are necessary, use binding variables and avoid concatenating strings to build queries.
Q9. How do you differentiate between a Workflow Rule and a Process Builder in Salesforce?
Workflow Rules and Process Builder in Salesforce are both used for automation but differ in complexity and capabilities. Workflow Rules are simpler and can automate tasks like sending email alerts, creating tasks, and updating fields. Process Builder, on the other hand, is more powerful and can handle complex multi-step processes, including creating records, posting to Chatter, and invoking Apex code. It can also handle more complex criteria for executing actions.
Q10. What is a Master-Detail Relationship in Salesforce, and how is it different from a Lookup Relationship?
Master-Detail Relationship in Salesforce establishes a dependent connection between two objects, where the master (parent) object influences certain aspects of the detail (child) object, such as security and deletion protocols. Deleting a master record automatically leads to the deletion of all its associated detail records.
In contrast, a Lookup Relationship is a less dependent relationship where related records remain independent, and deleting a parent record in a lookup relationship does not result in automatic deletion of the child records.
Also Read – Accenture Salesforce Developer Interview Questions & Answers
Q11. Explain the concept of Batch Apex in Salesforce.
Batch Apex in Salesforce is used for processing large data sets that exceed the normal processing limits of Apex. It allows you to define a job that can be divided into manageable chunks, where each chunk is processed as a separate batch. Batch Apex is particularly useful for operations like data cleansing, archiving records, and complex large-scale calculations.
Q12. What is the purpose of Visualforce in Salesforce, and how does it interact with Apex?
Visualforce in Salesforce is a framework that empowers developers to craft custom user interfaces using a tag-based language. It’s versatile for creating pages, components, and unique interfaces, offering extensive customization capabilities. Visualforce pages can interact with Apex through controllers and extensions, allowing for dynamic and data-driven interfaces that can leverage the full power of the Salesforce platform.
Q13. How does Salesforce handle data security at the field level?
Salesforce handles data security at the field level through Field-Level Security (FLS). FLS enables administrators to control user access to specific fields, both in terms of viewing and editing. This feature is crucial in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring compliance by restricting access to authorized personnel only.
Q14. Can you explain what a Salesforce Lightning Component is and its advantages?
Salesforce Lightning Components are self-contained and reusable units of an app that work within the Lightning framework. They are used to create dynamic web apps for mobile and desktop devices. The advantages of Lightning Components include a modern user interface, improved performance, and enhanced development efficiency. They also support client-side and server-side logic, making them versatile for various applications.
Q15. Describe the use of the @future annotation in Apex.
The @future annotation in Apex is used to designate methods that run asynchronously. This means the method executes when Salesforce has available resources rather than immediately. It’s particularly useful for handling operations that are time-consuming or need to run in their own thread, such as callouts to external web services, complex calculations, or data processing tasks that exceed normal governor limits.
Q16. How does Salesforce’s Apex manage state persistence between transactions?
In Salesforce, Apex provides state persistence in a transaction through the use of static variables. However, once the transaction completes, the static variables are reset and any stateful information is lost. For state persistence across transactions, one needs to use the database or custom settings to store the information that needs to be retrieved in subsequent transactions.
Q17. What strategies would you employ to optimize a slow-running SOQL query in a Salesforce Apex class?
To optimize a slow-running SOQL query, I would first ensure that the query is selective by using indexed fields in the WHERE clause. If necessary, I would review and add custom indexes. Next, I would limit the number of queried fields to only those that are necessary. Utilizing the “EXPLAIN” keyword in the Developer Console’s Query Plan tool to analyze query performance is another strategy. Additionally, I would consider implementing pagination for the query results if the data set is large.
Q18. Can you discuss the use of Database.setSavepoint() and Database.rollback() in Apex? When would you use them?
Database.setSavepoint() and Database.rollback() are used in Apex to establish a point in the transaction to which you can later roll back. A savepoint is a record of the database state at that moment. If an error occurs after setting a savepoint, you can use Database.rollback(savepoint) to undo any DML operations that occurred after the savepoint, reverting the database to its previous state. This is especially useful in complex transactional operations where maintaining data integrity is critical, such as in large data import processes where partial successes are not acceptable.
Q19. Explain the purpose of the @testSetup annotation in writing Apex tests.
The @testSetup annotation in Apex is used to define methods that set up test data for all test methods in a test class. Using @testSetup can make your test methods run faster and reduce code redundancy. The method annotated with @testSetup runs once before any test method in the class and the data setup in this method is rolled back after each test method runs. This ensures that every test method starts with a consistent dataset.
Q20. How do you implement error handling in Apex and ensure exceptions are properly logged?
Error handling in Apex is implemented using try-catch-finally blocks. When an exception occurs within a try block, control passes to the corresponding catch block that can handle that type of exception. To ensure exceptions are properly logged, I would use a custom logging mechanism that writes error details to a custom object or utilizes Salesforce’s Error Logging feature. It is also possible to re-throw exceptions after logging to ensure that the error state is not silently consumed.
Tech Mahindra’s Philosophy
Tech Mahindra’s ascent to the top of the IT world is anchored in its core values, which guide its corporate culture and business methodologies.
- Emphasis on a Robust Corporate Culture: The company’s path is defined by its ethical standards and a vision for long-term success that harmonizes with the needs of the communities it serves.
- Championing Professionalism: Tech Mahindra is a hub for innovation and growth, where freedom and opportunity are not just offered but celebrated. The company values performance but also supports calculated risk-taking and creativity.
- Dedication to Quality: “First Time Right” is the mantra that drives Tech Mahindra’s commitment to quality. This principle permeates every aspect of their operations, ensuring value for customers.
- Customers First: The company’s agility in adapting to customer needs and its focus on effective and courteous responses underline its customer-first philosophy.
- Upholding Individual Dignity: Tech Mahindra stands out for its respect for individual dignity, encouraging open communication and valuing the contributions of each team member.
Wrapping Up
As we wrap up our exploration of Tech Mahindra’s Salesforce interview process, it’s clear that success in these interviews requires not just knowledge, but also hands-on experience and confidence in your Salesforce skills. Whether you’re aiming to join a leading IT company like Tech Mahindra or looking to excel in your Salesforce career, practical experience is key.
If you’re seeking to enhance your Salesforce expertise with real-world scenarios, saasguru’s Salesforce labs offer an invaluable resource. These labs provide a unique learning environment where you can engage in mini-projects, ranging from Admin to Developer tasks, and even specific Interview Scenarios.
No more second-guessing your solutions or waiting for external validation. With saasguru’s Salesforce labs, you gain immediate feedback and the confidence to tackle any challenge. Whether you’re preparing for an interview or looking to sharpen your skills, these labs offer a practical, hands-on approach to mastering Salesforce.
Join saasguru’s labs today!
