Interview Questions for SharePoint Developer

1. Tell me about your favorite SharePoint features and it’s benefits?
   (Looking for: Do they have a good understanding of what functionality SharePoint can provide, the types of configurations that are available, the limitations of the functionality, and what can be achieved via OOTB (Out of the Box) or Customization.)

2. Compare and contrast Visual Studio and SharePoint Designer?
   (Look for :an understanding of these products)

Visual Studio Workflow Designer	SharePoint Designer
Workflows- more control on workflows. Code-behind file enables developer to write custom Microsoft Visual C# or Microsoft Visual Basic code to express business logic. Note: Can create custom actions that can be used in designer workflows	workflows
Package workflow assembly and workflow definition as a SharePoint Feature, and deploy to the site	Automatically handles deployment to specific list
Visual Studio debugging available	No step-by-step debugging available.  Must use print to log.
Can author both sequential and state workflows	Can author only sequential workflows
Deployment is more complicated and requires central admin access.	Deployment is automatic.
Creates templates that all site inherit from.	Modification to a site are limited to only that site.

1. What is your experience using workflows? What are the different types of workflows?  Have you created a 2013 or a 2010 workflow?
   
   (Look for: There are many different types of workflow list, content type,  site workflow reusable workflow and global workflow.  You would create different type of workflow based on how it will be used.  You can create a workflow in Visual Studio and SharePoint Designer )
   
   

2. What web tools/debugger tools do you have experience with? Please include the version and example of how you used the product.

   
   (Look for: Demonstrates experience using tools that support creating web applications.

   Experience with a tool is transferable.  If you use a different debugger but have experience using a debugger, this is all we need.  If you know java than you can learn any other language but you need to have the experience.)

Product		Version/# years	Example of experience
Creating forms: Nintex, SharePoint Designer, Oracle Forms
Scripting Language: PowerShell, Perl, DOS commands
Developed Web services: REST, SOAP
	Web languages: XML, C#, JavaScript, Java, jQuery, CSS
	Web Page designer: SharePoint Designer, Visual Studio
	DB: Oracle, SQL
	Workflow: Designer, Visual studio

 

1. Tell us about a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed a proactive solution?
   
   (Look for: voluntary proactive response, customer care, resolution affect on company, creativity of solution Did they share potential problem (s) with supervisor, colleague and/or customer; Did they seek or get approval from supervisor or customer before implementing a solution to the potential problem; Did they consider various solution options to the potential problem and recommend a specific solution)

2. What are the different ways you can transfer data between SharePoint and other corporate applications like an HR system? What do you feel is most effective when automating processes?

   (Look for: Access to SQL snap shot, web service  )

    

3. What is a REST based APIs in SharePoint and what experience do you have using them?
   (Look for: Have you created a REST web service ?  Have you consumed a REST web service in script or workflow? REST is new to SharePoint 2013, developers can interact remotely with SharePoint data by using any technology that supports REST web requests. This means that developers can perform Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) operations from their SharePoint Add-ins, solutions, and client applications, using REST web technologies and standard Open Data Protocol (OData) syntax. Representational State Transfer (REST) based APIs Search, User Profiles, Taxonomies, and Publishing Object Model.  Extended with REST capabilities and accepts HTTP GET, PUT, POST requests used in 2013)

    

4. Why are web services important and how can you use them?
   
   (Look for: creating a custom web service is much easier than creating a custom action in a workflow.  Can use a web service to simplify a workflows complexity.  Web services can be called on any web page.  Web services are a good way to pass data between systems)

    

5. Which project are you most proud of? What was your role in the project?  Do you have any examples of your work?
   
   (Looking for: What did they like about the product, what their role was, what they learned from it, how many iterations were there? How did you get feedback? How did you know when this was finished?)

    

    

by Rachel Marshall via Everyone's Blog Posts - SharePoint Community