Talk to an Insider: Connecting with Employees During the Salesforce Interview Process

Have you ever interviewed with a company and just wanted to ask an employee your burning questions? Like: What do people wear in the office? How does this company support working parents or caregivers? What’s the experience like as a new grad?

Good news: here at Salesforce ... you can.

While everyone has a unique employee experience, sometimes you just want to hear from someone on the inside to feel confident that a company is the right fit for you. At Salesforce, we’ve designed a program to give interview candidates an all-access pass to ask questions to an employee: the Insiders Program.

What is the Insiders Program?

The Salesforce Insiders Program offers candidates in their final stage of interviewing a unique chance to engage directly with a Salesforce employee, known as an Insider. This is not a formal interview round, but instead a chance for candidates to learn more about Salesforce culture.

These volunteers provide valuable insights into our company culture and employee experience, helping candidates understand how they can bring their authentic selves to work and thrive here. By connecting over shared interests, Insiders empower candidates to make informed decisions about their next career step.

Who are the Insiders?

Insiders are Salesforce employees that aren't on a candidate’s hiring panel. They create a safe space for candidates to ask candid questions about life at Salesforce that are not directly related to the role they’re interviewing for.

Over 300 employees from 19 different countries are volunteering their time as Insiders, and the program continues to grow. Insiders represent a diverse array of our employees: first-generation college grads, members of Equality Groups, and more.

Insiders are from all parts of the business and hold a variety of roles, from Customer Success Managers to Regional Vice Presidents of Sales. Interview candidates can select the Insider they’d like to chat with based on their brief profile, which shares a little about themselves, their Equality Group affiliations, and their career journey.

Want to learn more about the interview process? Take a look at how we hire.

How can a candidate make the most of their time with an Insider?

Meeting your Insider is like grabbing a (virtual) coffee with a new friend! This casual conversation can go any way you want it to — but remember, they aren’t a part of the formal hiring process, so they won’t have insights into HR-related questions. Save those for your recruiter!

Here are some questions to guide your conversation:

1. You are currently in my dream role — what skills have been the most critical for your success?
2. How would you describe Salesforce culture?
3. What’s your favorite Salesforce benefit?
4. What opportunities have you taken advantage of for professional development and career growth?
5. What should I do in the first 90 days to set myself up for success?
6. Can you share what being a member looks like, and what kinds of events your Equality Group hosts?

What are our Insiders saying?

We asked our Insiders to tell us what it means to be an Insider and how they’ve seen the program help candidates. Here’s what they shared:

“You are making a huge leap of faith when you apply for a role at a new company. Will I like the work, will I find my “tribe”, what’s everyday life really like? Is the hype, well, just hype? Insiders is an exclusive passport to the heart of Salesforce, connecting with experienced employees that can help inform that decision and make you feel excited, comfortable and ready for day one. You’re never an outsider when you have an Insider.” - Rik, Partner Delivery Architect, Sydney

“Sharing our experiences of life at Salesforce with potential new hires means we can validate or reassure a candidate’s sentiment about a potential big decision, be a Day 1 resource to them should they be selected for the position, and expand our own perspectives by meeting with people from multiple departments and multiple leadership levels.” - Eric, Solutions Consultant, Ontario

“Being part of the Insiders Program is a great way for me to connect with the incoming class of Trailblazers. Plus, I get to give them a sneak peek at all the cool benefits Salesforce offers to its employees!” - Nandita, Senior Customer Success Manager, Los Angeles

An Insider Success Story

By participating in the Insiders Program, you may just make your first work friend at your new job! Take it from Amandeep, Tableau Solution Engineer, who met with Salesforce Insider Teneil during her own Salesforce interview process.

“Talking to someone in a role similar to what I was interviewing for was so valuable. I felt more confident going into my next round of interviews that I could focus more on how I was a great fit for the job and less on figuring out if Salesforce was a good fit for me.

“Teneil really supported me through the process, and we have stayed connected through our monthly virtual coffee dates. It just goes to show that the Salesforce culture can have an impact on you even before day one.”

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