How to Ace Your Salesforce Interview: Tips from a Talent Advisor

By Kaycee Oyama

Arielle Frye, Equality Talent Advisor at Salesforce, is a flight attendant-turned-tech recruiter. As an Equality Talent Advisor, Arielle is focused on hiring diverse professionals and building an inclusive talent pipeline.

Outside her role, she’s involved in BOLDforce and Vetforce, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) focused on supporting the Black and veteran communities and their allies. “I love being a part of ERGs. It allows me to connect with others who I have a common ground with outside of my working team.

I feel that they also help me be more knowledgeable when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Arielle admits recruiting was something she never thought of doing. She “fell into it” after an old college friend and recruiter felt Arielle would be a great fit for the career. “Some people have dreamed of being a doctor since they were a child or a CEO of a major company. I have never been a person who has known what they wanted to be ‘when they grow up.’ With the help of my managers, Salesforce helped me recognize new paths I never thought of and discover my untapped talents that have helped me elevate my career.”

Now helping others elevate their career, Arielle knows just how daunting interviews can be. The good news? She’s here to help. She shares her top tips for those interviewing for their dream job.

Do your research and be authentic

Arielle’s first piece of advice is to always do your research. But she tells us there’s another thing people often forget: bringing your authentic self to an interview. Arielle says being honest and vulnerable can take you a long way in the interview process.

“It’s important to be vulnerable and talk about ways that you can be coachable. They’re interviewing you for a reason, so show them you’re willing to be coached and go the extra mile to be successful in your role.”

She also adds that you need to “know your why.” She continues, “Understand why you want to work for that company and why this role is a really good fit for you.” Arielle recommends tying your “why” back to the company’s values to show you’ve done your research.

Once you’re comfortable being your authentic self in an interview and have figured out your “why,” focus on your confidence. “Show your interviewers where you stand, that you’re passionate, [and] that you hold that confidence true.” Arielle says she evaluated her strengths and weaknesses, then focused on her strengths to maintain her confidence.

Interviewing virtually can make it more challenging to connect with your interviewer, but finding something in common with them can help. “I would recommend looking up your interviewers beforehand. Look at their backgrounds and find neutral topics to really point out [at] the beginning of your interviews to engage your audience.” For virtual interviews, test your technology beforehand to make sure everything is working properly.

Send thank you notes

When asked about a candidate who stood out most, Arielle recalls one who went above and beyond to thank his interview panel. “He ended up mailing handwritten thank you notes as well as little pins to each and every one of them, just to say, ‘Thank you for your time. Thank you for interviewing me. This process has been amazing.’ Not that every candidate has to do that, but it’s great to really see that effort put into an interview.” If you aren’t able to send a handwritten note, Arielle suggests sending a thank you email to your interviewers within 24 hours of your interview.

She also explains that the thank you note is a time to express your interest and an opportunity to correct any misunderstandings or clarify something you said during the interview. “This is your chance to go back and tell that interviewer how great you are, why you’re a perfect fit for this role, and why you’re passionate for the role or for the company.”

Stay consistent

Before landing a new role, you’ll typically need to go through a few interview rounds. Arielle says to maintain momentum, you should aim to stay enthusiastic and focused on improving. “I think a lot of it comes down to personality and to passion. If you’re passionate about the opportunity, find ways to constantly stay engaged as you’re going from one interview to the other.” She also recommends reaching out to peers who work at the company to help you dig deeper into the role.

Have an interview coming up and want to be fully prepared? Watch the full interview with Arielle to hear all of her advice, and subscribe to Salesforce Careers & University for more employee stories, tips, and insights. Looking for the next step in your career? Join our Talent Community.