6 Sharepoint Developer Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction

This question is crucial for evaluating your practical experience with SharePoint development and your problem-solving capabilities in a project environment.

How to answer

• Start by clearly outlining the project goals and stakeholders involved
• Describe the specific SharePoint features you utilized or developed
• Explain your approach to gathering requirements and ensuring they were met
• Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them
• Highlight the outcomes of the project and any metrics related to success

What not to say

• Providing vague descriptions without specific details
• Not mentioning your role or contributions clearly
• Ignoring challenges faced or lessons learned
• Focusing solely on technical details without considering user needs

Example answer

“In my internship at a local company, I worked on a project to create a document management system using SharePoint. The requirement was to streamline document sharing among teams. I conducted interviews with users to gather requirements and implemented a solution that used SharePoint libraries and workflows. We faced challenges with user adoption, but after conducting training sessions and integrating feedback, we increased usage by 40% within three months.”

Introduction

This question assesses your understanding of user experience and accessibility principles, which are critical for any development role.

How to answer

• Explain your methods for gathering user feedback during development
• Discuss any design principles you follow to enhance usability
• Mention how you incorporate accessibility standards in your SharePoint solutions
• Provide examples of tools or techniques you use to test user experience
• Highlight the importance of continuous improvement based on user input

What not to say

• Claiming that user experience isn't your responsibility
• Failing to mention any user testing or feedback mechanisms
• Ignoring accessibility laws or guidelines
• Providing no concrete examples of user-friendly design

Example answer

“I prioritize user experience by involving end-users early in the development process. I conduct surveys and usability tests to gather feedback. For instance, I created a SharePoint site for a project that included intuitive navigation and clear labels, ensuring compliance with WCAG accessibility guidelines. After launch, I continued to gather user feedback to make iterative improvements, which resulted in a 30% increase in user satisfaction ratings.”

Introduction

This question assesses your technical expertise and ability to customize SharePoint solutions, which is crucial for a SharePoint Developer role.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to structure your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Briefly describe the business needs that prompted the custom solution.
• Detail the specific SharePoint features and technologies you used (e.g., workflows, custom lists, PowerApps).
• Explain your development process and how you collaborated with stakeholders.
• Quantify the impact of your solution on the business or team efficiency.

What not to say

• Avoid overly technical jargon that doesn't explain your work clearly.
• Neglecting to mention the business context or user needs.
• Focusing solely on the technical aspects without discussing results.
• Not demonstrating collaboration with team members or stakeholders.

Example answer

“At a previous role with a financial services company, we needed to streamline our document approval process. I developed a custom SharePoint workflow that automated notifications and approvals. By integrating it with PowerApps for mobile access, we reduced approval times by 40%. This project not only enhanced efficiency but also improved user satisfaction as it simplified the process significantly.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your understanding of security best practices and compliance requirements, which are critical in managing SharePoint environments.

How to answer

• Discuss your knowledge of SharePoint security features and permissions management.
• Explain how you assess compliance needs based on industry standards or regulations.
• Describe your approach to training users on security practices.
• Mention tools or methodologies you use for monitoring and auditing security.
• Provide examples of how you’ve handled security challenges in the past.

What not to say

• Implying that security is the responsibility of others, not the developer.
• Giving vague answers without specific examples or practices.
• Ignoring the importance of user education on security.
• Failing to mention ongoing monitoring or proactive measures.

Example answer

“I prioritize security by establishing clear permissions for SharePoint sites, ensuring users only have access to what they need. I regularly conduct audits and utilize SharePoint's built-in reporting tools to monitor compliance. In a previous role, I developed a training program on security best practices for users, which significantly reduced data breach incidents. Additionally, I stay updated on GDPR regulations, ensuring our SharePoint implementations comply with legal requirements.”

Introduction

This question is crucial for understanding your technical expertise and experience in managing complex SharePoint implementations, which are essential for a Senior SharePoint Developer.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.
• Clearly outline the project's objectives and challenges.
• Detail your specific contributions, including technical skills and tools used.
• Highlight any collaboration with team members or stakeholders.
• Discuss the outcomes of the project, including metrics that demonstrate success.

What not to say

• Focusing too much on team contributions without highlighting your role.
• Not mentioning specific technologies or methods used.
• Avoiding discussion of challenges faced during the project.
• Neglecting to quantify results or impacts.

Example answer

“At a previous role with Accenture, I led a project to implement a SharePoint-based document management system for a multinational client. The system needed to streamline workflows and improve compliance. I designed the architecture, configured the SharePoint environment, and developed custom workflows using Power Automate. As a result, the client reported a 30% reduction in document retrieval time, significantly enhancing productivity.”

Introduction

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and technical knowledge in diagnosing issues within SharePoint, which is critical for maintaining system integrity.

How to answer

• Explain your systematic approach to troubleshooting.
• Describe tools and resources you utilize for diagnosis.
• Share an example of a specific issue you resolved and the steps taken.
• Highlight your communication with users or stakeholders during the process.
• Discuss how you ensure the issue doesn’t recur in the future.

What not to say

• Claiming you never encounter issues, which suggests a lack of experience.
• Providing vague answers without a clear process.
• Neglecting to mention user communication or feedback.
• Failing to demonstrate learning from past troubleshooting experiences.

Example answer

“When troubleshooting SharePoint issues, I first gather detailed information about the problem by consulting with the users to understand their experience. I use tools like SharePoint ULS logs and PowerShell scripts to identify errors. For instance, I once resolved a permissions issue that prevented users from accessing a document library. I traced it back to a broken inheritance setting and fixed it while communicating updates to the users. Post-resolution, I implemented checks to ensure permissions were regularly reviewed to prevent future issues.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your technical expertise in SharePoint development as well as your project management and problem-solving skills, which are critical for a lead developer role.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response
• Clearly outline the project's objectives and your specific role
• Discuss the technical challenges encountered and how you addressed them
• Highlight any team collaboration or leadership strategies you employed
• Quantify the project's success with metrics or feedback

What not to say

• Focusing solely on technical details without discussing leadership or collaboration
• Not addressing the challenges or how you overcame them
• Providing vague examples without measurable outcomes
• Taking sole credit without acknowledging team contributions

Example answer

“At Alibaba, I led a SharePoint migration project for our internal documentation system. The challenge was integrating legacy data while ensuring minimal downtime. I coordinated with cross-functional teams to create a phased rollout plan, conducting thorough testing before each phase. As a result, we achieved a 25% improvement in document retrieval times and received positive feedback from over 300 users.”

Introduction

This question assesses your ability to balance technical capabilities with user experience, which is vital in ensuring adoption and satisfaction with SharePoint solutions.

How to answer

• Describe your approach to gathering user requirements and feedback
• Explain how you prioritize user experience in your development process
• Share examples of usability testing or user training you've conducted
• Discuss how you adapt solutions based on user feedback
• Highlight any specific tools or methodologies you use to improve usability

What not to say

• Ignoring user feedback in the development process
• Focusing only on technical features rather than user needs
• Failing to describe specific user engagement strategies
• Suggesting that user training is unnecessary

Example answer

“I prioritize user experience by conducting regular feedback sessions with end-users at Tencent. For example, during a recent project, I implemented a user-friendly interface based on their input, which included simplified navigation and customizable dashboards. Post-implementation surveys indicated a 40% increase in user satisfaction, and I continue to iterate on features based on ongoing user feedback.”

Introduction

This question assesses your technical expertise and problem-solving abilities in implementing SharePoint solutions, which are critical for a SharePoint Architect.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to structure your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Clearly outline the project scope and the specific challenges faced.
• Detail the steps you took to address these challenges, including any innovative solutions.
• Quantify the results achieved and any improvements in efficiency or user satisfaction.
• Discuss any lessons learned that could inform future projects.

What not to say

• Focusing solely on technical details without discussing the impact on the organization.
• Failing to mention team collaboration or stakeholder involvement.
• Not providing specific metrics or outcomes from the project.
• Avoiding discussion of challenges faced and how they were resolved.

Example answer

“At Fujitsu, I led a SharePoint implementation for a multinational client that faced integration issues with existing systems. We conducted a thorough analysis and developed a phased rollout plan. By collaborating closely with the IT team and conducting user training sessions, we improved user adoption by 40% within three months. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and adaptability in overcoming technical obstacles.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your strategic thinking and ability to bridge technical solutions with business strategies, which is essential for a SharePoint Architect.

How to answer

• Discuss your approach to gathering requirements from stakeholders.
• Explain how you prioritize user needs alongside business objectives.
• Detail the frameworks or methodologies you use to ensure alignment, such as Agile or user-centered design.
• Share examples of how you have successfully aligned SharePoint solutions with organizational goals.
• Highlight the importance of ongoing feedback and iteration in your process.

What not to say

• Suggesting that user needs are less important than technical capabilities.
• Failing to demonstrate a structured approach to requirement gathering.
• Ignoring the necessity for ongoing communication with stakeholders.
• Providing vague examples lacking specific outcomes.

Example answer

“In my role at Sony, I implemented a user-centered design approach to ensure our SharePoint architecture met both business goals and user needs. By conducting workshops with stakeholders, we identified key features that aligned with our objectives. For instance, we developed a document management system that reduced retrieval time by 50%, directly contributing to improved productivity. Continuous user feedback loops were essential to maintain alignment.”

Introduction

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and technical expertise in SharePoint implementations, which are critical for a SharePoint Consultant.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to structure your response (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Clearly outline the specific challenges faced during the project
• Detail the steps you took to address these challenges, emphasizing your problem-solving approach
• Share the outcome of the project, including any metrics or feedback received
• Mention any lessons learned that could benefit future projects

What not to say

• Focusing too much on technical jargon without explaining the problem clearly
• Blaming team members or external factors for project difficulties
• Failing to mention your role in overcoming the challenges
• Neglecting to highlight the positive outcomes or learning experiences

Example answer

“In a project at a large financial institution, we faced significant data migration issues due to legacy systems. I led a task force to conduct a thorough assessment and developed a phased migration plan that involved continuous testing. As a result, we successfully migrated 99% of the data with minimal downtime. This experience taught me the importance of thorough planning and stakeholder communication.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your ability to facilitate user engagement and training, which is vital for the success of any SharePoint deployment.

How to answer

• Discuss your strategies for assessing user needs and tailoring training accordingly
• Explain how you incorporate feedback into training materials and sessions
• Share experiences where you successfully increased user adoption rates
• Describe your approach to ongoing support and resources for users post-implementation
• Highlight your collaborative efforts with stakeholders to ensure alignment

What not to say

• Suggesting that training is a one-time event without follow-up
• Ignoring the importance of user feedback in the training process
• Failing to mention specific methods you use to engage users
• Providing vague examples without measurable results

Example answer

“When rolling out a new SharePoint solution for a client in the education sector, I conducted a needs assessment to tailor the training program. I created interactive training sessions that included real-life scenarios. Post-launch, I set up a dedicated support channel which resulted in a 70% adoption rate within the first month, significantly improving collaboration across departments.”