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However, finding someone who not only knows the platform but can tailor it to your specific business needs can be a challenge.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about hiring a SharePoint Developer, from understanding the role to crafting the perfect interview questions.
About SharePoint
SharePoint, a Microsoft product, is a powerful platform for content management, intranet portals, collaboration tools, and document management systems. Organizations worldwide rely on SharePoint to create secure websites, manage information flow, and facilitate teamwork.
Whether cloud-based (SharePoint Online) or on-premises (SharePoint Server), it offers flexibility, scalability, and tight integration with the Microsoft 365 suite, making it a critical tool for businesses aiming for digital transformation.
Industries and applications
SharePoint Developers are in demand across a variety of industries. Here are a few examples:
- Healthcare: Manage sensitive patient data, internal communication portals, and compliance documentation.
- Finance: Secure document management, regulatory compliance portals, and automated workflows.
- Education: Campus portals for students and faculty, learning resource management.
- Government: Public service portals, internal document storage, and workflow management.
- Retail: Intranet platforms for employee communication, training resources, and inventory management.
No matter the sector, the need is consistent: organizations want centralized, efficient, secure collaboration solutions, and SharePoint is often the answer.
Must-have skills for SharePoint Developers
When hiring a SharePoint Developer, prioritize candidates with the following core competencies:
1. Expertise in SharePoint Framework (SPFx)
Modern SharePoint development relies heavily on SPFx. It's the foundation for building responsive, scalable web parts and extensions. Developers experienced with SPFx can tailor SharePoint Online experiences to your business needs.
2. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and Azure Ecosystem
SharePoint Online deeply integrates with Microsoft 365 services (Teams, OneDrive, Outlook) and Azure Active Directory (now Entra ID). Developers must understand how these systems interact to create seamless solutions.
Why it's important: As businesses move to the cloud, integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure is no longer optional, it's expected.
3. Front-end development (React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
Building user-friendly SharePoint applications demands strong frontend skills. SPFx itself is built around modern web stack technologies like React.
Why it's important: Clean, functional, and visually appealing interfaces lead to better user adoption of SharePoint solutions.
4. Understanding of SharePoint administration and architecture
While you may have a separate administrator, developers should understand the basics of site collections, permissions, content types, and governance.
Why it's important: It ensures their custom solutions are scalable, secure, and maintainable.
5. Workflow automation experience (Power Automate, Nintex, etc.)
Workflows are central to business efficiency. Developers should be able to automate tasks like approvals, notifications, and data routing.
Why it's important: Streamlining repetitive processes saves time, reduces errors, and improves operational efficiency.
Nice-to-have skills for SharePoint Developers
While not essential, candidates with the following skills can bring even more value to your team:
- Power platform expertise: (PowerApps, Power BI) to build low-code apps and analytics within the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Knowledge of .NET development: To extend SharePoint with complex server-side solutions.
- Experience with SharePoint Migrations: Moving from on-premises to SharePoint Online requires special know-how.
- Understanding of information architecture: Helps structure intranets and content libraries for maximum usability.
- UI/UX design principles: Building intranet portals that people actually enjoy using.
- Experience with Enterprise companies: SharePoint is used mainly in those environments.
Interview questions to ask a SharePoint Developer
Choosing the right candidate means asking smart questions. Here are some examples you can use:
1. What is your experience with SharePoint Online versus SharePoint Server?
Answer: A strong candidate will highlight differences such as SharePoint Online's cloud-based, continuously updated nature versus the on-premise, customizable environment of SharePoint Server. They should mention working with features like Modern UI, Power Platform integrations, and Microsoft 365 services in SharePoint Online.
2. Can you explain how permissions work in SharePoint?
Answer: The candidate should explain SharePoint's inheritance model, how permission levels work (e.g., Read, Contribute, Full Control), how to create custom permission levels if needed, and the importance of using SharePoint Groups for better management and governance.
3. Describe a project where you customized SharePoint using SPFx. What challenges did you face?
Answer: Look for a detailed example where the candidate created custom web parts or extensions using SPFx. Challenges might include dealing with authentication, API throttling, managing state in React components, or ensuring responsive design across devices.
4. How would you create a custom web part using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx)?
Answer: The candidate should describe setting up the development environment with Node.js, installing Yeoman SharePoint generator, scaffolding a project, choosing a JavaScript framework (e.g., React), developing the component, testing using the workbench, and deploying it to a SharePoint App Catalog.
5. How do you manage large lists and libraries in SharePoint to maintain performance?
Answer: Candidates should mention creating indexed columns, setting filtered views that return fewer than 5000 items, using metadata navigation, enabling Content Organizer Rules, and possibly splitting data across multiple lists if needed.
6. What are some best practices for designing a SharePoint intranet portal?
Answer: Expect answers highlighting simplicity in navigation, mobile responsiveness, clean visual design, use of Modern Communication Sites, effective use of Hub Sites, consistent branding, and focusing on end-user experience with minimal training requirements.
7. How would you integrate a SharePoint solution with Microsoft Teams?
Answer: They should explain options such as embedding SharePoint pages as tabs in Teams, using Teams-connected SharePoint Sites, or building apps/bots that utilize both Teams and SharePoint via Microsoft Graph API.
8. Can you explain the role of Power Automate in SharePoint development?
Answer: Candidates should describe automating workflows like document approvals, task assignments, notifications, onboarding processes, and connecting SharePoint to other services (e.g., Salesforce, Outlook) with pre-built connectors.
9. Describe a scenario where you had to troubleshoot a broken SharePoint site. How did you approach it?
Answer: A methodical approach is key. Look for steps such as checking site collection health, reviewing error logs, inspecting custom scripts/web parts for issues, validating permissions, testing in different browsers, and restoring from backup if needed.
10. How would you approach migrating a legacy SharePoint 2013 system to SharePoint Online?
Answer: A strong answer would mention assessment and inventory (using tools like SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool), planning (site structure, permissions, customizations review), executing using migration tools (ShareGate, SPMT), phased migrations, thorough testing, and user training to ensure adoption.
Summary
Hiring a SharePoint Developer is about much more than just ticking off technical skills. You need someone who understands business needs, champions collaboration, and can build solutions that actually get used.
Focus on candidates who demonstrate a blend of technical proficiency, business acumen, and a user-centric mindset. With the right developer, SharePoint can evolve from a "document graveyard" into a dynamic digital workplace that drives your organization forward.
