Steps to Find and Hire an IOS Developer for Your Organization

iOS devices make up just under half of all U.S. mobile phones, with more than 105 million iPhone users, which means iOS developers are a key part of your software team.

Developers have a deep affection for iOS, mainly due to its simplicity and minimalist aesthetic. Because there is a small and exclusive number of devices that use the platform, the UI is unified and easier to troubleshoot.

It, therefore, goes without saying that any competitive software firm must have iOS in its wheelhouse, and that starts with a killer development team. Below are some best practices to keep in mind as you build it.

Know What You Want

Before you commit to a team of iOS experts, first look at what you really want from the Apple market. How many of your current and potential customers use Apple products? How many are loyal to Android?

Assuming the demand is there, why is your product idea perfect for iOS? Does it provide significant value for the user, in addition to simply being cool? Do Apple products have specific characteristics that make your app a perfect fit? Do you have detailed mock-ups of the design and functionality? Your development team should be able to hit the ground running with all of these questions answered.

Vet Candidates’ Technical Skills

Once you fill them in on the specifics of the project, let your candidates take the lead. How would they approach it from a technical perspective? What tools would they use for logging, UI, authentication, caching, testing, and network handling?

Although the skills you’ll need from a developer will vary from project to project, there are some general abilities that you’ll want them to have under their belts. These include:

• Multiple approaches to UI layout, including storyboard and programmatic
• Xcode, the most common environment for iOS app development
• Swift, which Apple now prefers over Objective-C
• Design integration, whether it’s programmed with Swift or dropped in as a graphic asset
• Common database formats such as Realm, MongoDB, and Firebase
• Third-party APIs such as JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
• Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) and the inner workings of iOS concurrency
• Software development kits that integrate with third-party libraries
• A comprehensive approach to unit testing that spots broken functionality early in the process
• Bitbucket and GitHub team tools

Look at Past Projects

Before you commit to a specific developer, be sure to look at their past work. Open-source projects, for example, show how motivated they are to keep up their skills, and you can use them as a jumping-off point for in-depth interview questions. What challenges did they face during development and after the app’s release? What improvements could they make to their process and to the final product?

Developers should always look to expand their knowledge base. What was the most recent talk, book, or blog that inspired them? What impact did it have on their work? How do they stay current with the latest tools and trends, including iOS tools such as WatchKit and HealthKit?

Push Them Beyond Code

The full responsibility of an iOS developer goes well beyond code. Their involvement should begin at the planning and design phases, including building the UI and blocking out the wireframes, and extend all the way to testing and publishing.

Design is a key element that requires developer involvement. However exciting and smooth the design may be in the mock-up, it won’t deliver on its promise to the user without a savvy developer. Your candidate should be ready to stick by a designer’s side as a partner in crafting a unique and thrilling app experience.

In short, your ideal developer should be familiar with all elements of app creation and be comfortable at every step of the process.

The Best Developers at Your Fingertips

iOS is one of the most influential and dynamic platforms in tech today. Your business needs someone at the top of their game who can jump in and be an organic extension of your team from day one.

Jobsity has a skilled lineup of developers in your time zone, ready to step up and create top-notch products for your customers. Drop us a note and let’s chat.

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