How to Be SharePoint Developer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Mar 22, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The use of SharePoint Developer has drastically improved productivity in business organizations. By providing a centralized platform for storing and sharing data, documents, and other content, SharePoint enables teams to easily collaborate on projects and tasks. Additionally, the ability to customize and create additional features makes SharePoint a powerful and flexible tool for many different types of organizations. As a result, organizations have seen increased efficiency and better communication among their employees, leading to improved customer service and higher levels of employee satisfaction.

Steps How to Become

Learn the Basics of SharePoint. Before you can become a SharePoint developer, you must first understand the basics of SharePoint. You should be familiar with the features and functions of the platform, its architecture, and the different types of SharePoint solutions available.
Get Certified. The Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification is a good starting point for SharePoint developers. This certification validates your knowledge and skills in SharePoint and will help you stand out from the crowd.
Develop Your Coding Skills. The next step is to develop your coding skills. As a SharePoint developer, you need to know how to write code that interacts with the SharePoint platform. This includes knowing how to use both server-side and client-side technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, ASP. NET, C#, and PowerShell.
Get Familiar With SharePoint Development Tools. As a SharePoint developer, you must also be familiar with the various development tools available for creating SharePoint solutions. This includes Visual Studio, which is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) for creating applications. It also includes other tools such as SharePoint Designer, which is used for creating custom webpages, workflows, and other solutions.
Learn About Office 365 and Azure. As a SharePoint developer, you should also be familiar with Office 365 and Azure. Office 365 is a suite of cloud-based applications, while Azure is Microsofts cloud computing platform. Both of these platforms are becoming increasingly important for developing SharePoint solutions.
Get Involved in the SharePoint Community. Finally, getting involved in the SharePoint community is a great way to stay up to date on the latest trends and technologies related to SharePoint development. There are many online forums, blogs, and conferences dedicated to SharePoint development, and being active in these communities can help you stay ahead of the curve.

One of the most effective ways to stay updated and competent as a SharePoint Developer is to continuously learn new technologies and approaches related to SharePoint. Keeping up with the latest SharePoint releases, staying informed on industry trends, understanding the latest best practices, and learning new development techniques can have a positive impact on a developer's career. Additionally, staying engaged in the SharePoint community, participating in forums and webinars, attending conferences, and staying active on social media can not only help developers stay informed, but also provide networking opportunities with other developers and potential employers. All of these activities can lead to a deeper knowledge and understanding of SharePoint, making a developer more valuable in the current job market.

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Job Description

SharePoint Administrator: Responsible for the installation, configuration, development, and maintenance of SharePoint components.
SharePoint Developer: Responsible for designing and developing solutions for SharePoint such as web parts, custom applications, and workflow solutions.
SharePoint Consultant: Responsible for providing technical advice, guidance, and support to clients on SharePoint related topics.
SharePoint Solution Architect: Responsible for designing, developing, and implementing SharePoint solutions.
SharePoint Business Analyst: Responsible for translating business requirements into functional specifications and providing technical guidance to development teams.
SharePoint Designer: Responsible for creating and customizing user interfaces and designs for SharePoint solutions.
SharePoint Trainer: Responsible for providing training and education on SharePoint features and products.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Experience with SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online
Expertise in developing custom solutions using SharePoint APIs, C#, ASP. NET, and JavaScript
Knowledge of Windows PowerShell
Proficiency in HTML, CSS, XML, and other web technologies
Familiarity with Microsoft Office products and platforms
Understanding of popular development frameworks, such as Angular and React
Ability to integrate SharePoint with other software applications
Knowledge of database design principles and SQL
Ability to troubleshoot and debug issues
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Having strong SharePoint development skills is critical for any developer working with the platform. SharePoint is a powerful tool for businesses, allowing them to store and manage data, documents, and employee information. To make the most of SharePoint, developers must be able to understand the platform's functionality and workflow, create custom solutions, and deploy applications quickly and efficiently.

With these skills, developers can develop custom solutions that meet the needs of their clients, improve the overall user experience, and build a more efficient business. developers must be able to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems, integrate SharePoint into other software, and optimize performance. SharePoint developers also need to be familiar with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other coding languages in order to customize the platform to meet specific requirements.

With the right skills and knowledge, SharePoint developers can create solutions that help businesses achieve their goals.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with SharePoint?
How familiar are you with SharePoint Designer?
What challenges have you faced while developing with SharePoint?
Do you have experience developing customizations and solutions in SharePoint?
Describe how you would approach a new SharePoint development project.
How do you stay up to date on the latest SharePoint technologies?
Describe the most complex SharePoint development project you have worked on.
What experience do you have working with SharePoint APIs?
Have you ever worked on integrating SharePoint with other systems or databases?
What techniques do you use to troubleshoot SharePoint issues?

Common Tools in Industry

Microsoft SharePoint. Web-based collaboration and document management platform used to create websites and store, organize, and share information. (eg: Microsoft Teams)
Visual Studio. Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used to create applications and services for web, mobile, and desktop. (eg: Visual Studio Code)
PowerShell. Command line interface used to automate tasks, create scripts, and manage system settings. (eg: Windows PowerShell ISE)
InfoPath. Forms-creation and data-gathering tool used to create data connections and forms. (eg: InfoPath Designer)
SharePoint Designer. Development tool used to create custom SharePoint solutions. (eg: SharePoint Designer 2013)
Azure DevOps. Cloud-based development environment used to manage code, build and deploy applications, and collaborate with other developers. (eg: Azure DevOps Server)
BCS. Business Connectivity Services used to connect external data sources to SharePoint. (eg: External Content Types in SharePoint Designer)
Office 365 APIs. API used to integrate Office 365 data into custom applications. (eg: Office 365 API Explorer)
. NET Framework. Framework used for developing web, mobile, desktop, and gaming applications. (eg: . NET Core)
CSOM/JSOM. Client Side Object Model and JavaScript Object Model used to develop custom applications using JavaScript and . NET Framework. (eg: SharePoint CSOM API)

Professional Organizations to Know

SharePoint Saturday
SharePoint User Group
International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners
SharePoint Experts Network
Microsoft Collaboration User Group
The Professional Association for SharePoint
SharePoint TechFest
SharePoint Summit
Microsoft Ignite
Microsoft MVP Program

We also have Embedded Software Developer, Salesforce Developer, and Big Data Developer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

SharePoint Framework (SPFx). A development platform for creating client-side web parts and extensions for SharePoint Online and Office 365.
Web Parts. A feature of SharePoint that allows users to add, modify, and customize content on a page.
Client-Side Rendering (CSR). A technique for creating dynamic web pages that render quickly and efficiently by performing all the processing within the browser.
SharePoint Designer. A tool used to create and modify SharePoint sites, workflows, and customizations.
REST API. A set of rules and standards used by web developers to communicate with web services.
JavaScript Object Model (JSOM). A library of JavaScript functions that allow developers to interact with SharePoint from within their code.
CAML Query. A simple query language used to query a SharePoint list for specific items.
PowerShell. A command-line scripting language used to create and manage Windows components.
Server Side Object Model (SSOM). A library of . NET classes used to programmatically access, manage, and update SharePoint sites, lists, and content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SharePoint Developer?

SharePoint Developer is a specialized type of software development professional who designs, builds, maintains, and supports custom web applications, websites, and other tools using Microsoft SharePoint technologies.

What skills do SharePoint Developers need?

SharePoint Developers need a strong understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web development languages, as well as a basic understanding of SharePoint-specific features such as the Service Application Framework, .NET Framework, and SharePoint Object Model.

What types of projects do SharePoint Developers work on?

SharePoint Developers are responsible for designing and developing custom web applications, websites, and other tools using the Microsoft SharePoint platform. They also work on integrations with external systems and customizations of existing SharePoint features.

What is the estimated salary for a SharePoint Developer?

According to PayScale, the average salary for a SharePoint Developer in the United States is $86,945 per year.

What certifications can a SharePoint Developer obtain?

SharePoint Developers can obtain certified professional credentials from Microsoft, including the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications.