Tools, Frameworks & Implementation Proficiency Topics
Practical proficiency with industry-standard tools and frameworks including project management (Jira, Azure DevOps), productivity tools (Excel, spreadsheet analysis), development tools and environments, and framework setup. Focuses on hands-on tool expertise, configuration, best practices, and optimization rather than conceptual knowledge. Complements technical categories by addressing implementation tooling.
CRM Systems & Sales Technology Basics
Practical familiarity with at least one CRM platform (preferably Salesforce given its FAANG prevalence), basic understanding of CRM data structure, record management, and how CRM data feeds into reporting and analysis. Awareness of other common sales tools in the tech stack (Slack, email platforms, automation tools).
Technology Evaluation and Selection
Focuses on evaluating technology options and selecting appropriate platforms or vendors. Key skills include defining business and technical requirements, creating evaluation criteria and decision matrices, running proof of concept trials, assessing total cost of ownership and vendor lock in, validating integration feasibility and operational impact, ensuring security and compliance, planning staged rollouts and migrations, and documenting governance for adoption. Interviewers may probe examples of build versus buy decisions and how pilots were used to de risk technology choices.
Microsoft Product and Technology Solutions
Evaluate familiarity with the Microsoft product ecosystem and the ability to apply that ecosystem to solve customer problems. Candidates should know core Azure services and their typical patterns, Microsoft 365 collaboration scenarios, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform business automation options, and Microsoft artificial intelligence products such as Copilot and Azure OpenAI. Interviewers assess understanding of integration patterns, connectors, hybrid deployment considerations, identity and access trade offs, migration strategies, and how to map product capabilities to customer outcomes and reference architectures.
Custom Solution Development
Focuses on designing and delivering bespoke technical solutions to meet specific customer or project requirements. Candidates should explain how they gather requirements, translate needs into technical designs, build prototypes, iterate with stakeholders, validate solutions, and deliver production quality implementations. Discussions may include architectural decision making, trade off analysis, integration with existing systems, customization of third party software, testing strategies, documentation, and how to measure success and maintainability. Provide examples of complex customizations, how constraints were managed, and how technical and non technical stakeholder feedback was incorporated.