Salesforce Developer resume keywords
The skills, tools and certifications Salesforce Developer job descriptions ask for, with current certification names first and former names alongside.
The role in 2026
What Salesforce Developer postings look for
Developer postings are specific. They ask for Apex and triggers that respect governor limits, SOQL that stays selective as data grows, Lightning Web Components, and test classes that do more than reach the coverage threshold. A resume that says "Salesforce development" without naming these gives a reviewer, or a keyword search, very little to find.
The certification names moved in July 2025: Platform Developer I became Platform Developer, and JavaScript Developer I became JavaScript Developer. Platform Developer II kept its name. You will still see PD1 and PD2 in postings and resumes, and the checker matches all of these forms.
Beyond the core, the things that separate candidates are integration and delivery: Named Credentials and OAuth for callouts, Platform Events, Salesforce CLI and scratch orgs, Git-based CI/CD, and newer work such as invocable actions that Flow and Agentforce agents can call.
Core
Core Keywords
Listed as required in our sample Salesforce Developer job description. Name the ones you have in your Skills section and show them in a bullet.
- Apex
- Triggers
- SOQL
- SOSL
- Lightning Web Components
- Test Classes
- Code Coverage
- Governor Limits
- REST
- SOAP API
Common
Common Keywords
Listed as preferred in our sample, and seen often in the public postings we reviewed. Add the ones you genuinely have.
- Batch Apex
- Queueable Apex
- Schedulable Apex
- Aura
- Visualforce
- Platform Events
- Change Data Capture
- Salesforce CLI
- Salesforce DX
- Scratch Orgs
- Git
- CI/CD
- JavaScript
Differentiators
Differentiators
Also preferred, and less common. If you have this experience, it can set you apart from candidates who only match the core.
- Platform Developer (formerly Platform Developer I)
- Platform Developer II
- JavaScript Developer (formerly JavaScript Developer I)
- Named Credentials
- OAuth
- Trigger Frameworks
- Copado
- Gearset
- OmniStudio
- Invocable Actions
- SLDS
Certifications
Certifications for this role
Current names first. Postings use both the current and former names, and our checker matches both.
| Current name | Former name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Developer | Platform Developer I | Renamed July 2025 |
| Platform Developer II | — | Name unchanged |
| JavaScript Developer | JavaScript Developer I | Renamed July 2025 |
| Platform App Builder | — | Name unchanged |
| Agentforce Specialist | AI Specialist | Renamed March 2025 |
Examples
How to show this on your resume
Replace each [X] with your real figure, or leave the number out if you don't know it. Never guess a metric.
Before Developed in Salesforce.
After Built [X] Apex classes and triggers on a single trigger framework, keeping transactions within governor limits for loads of [X] records.
Before Made UI components.
After Replaced [X] Visualforce pages with Lightning Web Components used by [X] service agents every day.
Before Wrote tests.
After Raised org code coverage from [X]% to [X]% with test classes that assert behaviour, not just lines run.
Before Integrated systems.
After Built REST API callouts to [system] using Named Credentials and OAuth, and replaced [X] scheduled sync jobs with Platform Events.
Placement strategy
Where to Put Keywords on Your Resume
Where a keyword appears matters to people reading your resume, and some checkers weigh it too.
Summary & Skills sections
Put your top required keywords here. Recruiters scan these first. Our checker adds up to 8 points to the overall score when the job's required skills appear in your Summary or Skills section, scaled by how many of them are there.
Experience bullets
Keywords in experience bullets provide context and evidence. A skill listed in Skills plus proven in experience is stronger than either alone. Use natural phrasing — don't keyword-stuff.
Acronyms vs. full terms
Many checkers treat “ML” and “Machine Learning” as the same keyword, but not all do. Use both forms at least once each.
Exact phrasing matters
Use the exact keyword forms shown above. If the JD says “PostgreSQL” don't only write “Postgres” — include both forms. Minor variations can fail exact-match ATS filters.
FAQ
Questions about Salesforce Developer resumes
Is PD1 the same as Platform Developer?
Yes. Platform Developer I was renamed Platform Developer in July 2025, and Platform Developer II kept its name. The checker treats PD1, Platform Developer I and Platform Developer as one certification, and PD2 as Platform Developer II.
Should I still list Aura and Visualforce?
Yes, if you maintain or migrate them. Many orgs still run both, and postings often list them as a plus. Lead with Lightning Web Components and show the older frameworks as supporting or migration work.
How do I tailor an admin resume for a developer role?
Show the progression from declarative to code: Flows you replaced or extended with Apex, triggers and test classes you wrote, and version control or deployments you ran. Only add Apex or LWC if you have written that code yourself.
Should "governor limits" appear as a keyword?
Name it inside a bullet rather than a skills list: say how you bulkified a trigger or moved work to Queueable Apex to stay within limits. That shows the skill and still matches the keyword.
Check your resume against a sample Developer job description
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Check my resume for this roleFree, no sign-up. See plans for AI tailoring.Method: keywords come from a sample Salesforce Developer job description we wrote from common patterns, checked against a handful of public postings and analysed by ResumeTailorAI's deterministic keyword checker (no AI). Certification names and dates were checked against Salesforce and independent sources. Last reviewed October 2026. Your target posting may differ.