Tag Archives: how to hire ios developer

Top Skills Needed for iOS Developer in 2024: Learn How to Hire iOS Developers

Top Skills Needed for iOS Developer in 2024: Learn How to Hire iOS Developers

The global market for mobile apps has hit an astonishing $240 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 13.4%. The Apple App Store itself generated $24.6 billion in consumer spending in one quarter in 2024, up 11.3% from the same period last year. 

This shows how significant it is for a business to invest in an experienced iOS app developer. However, hiring iOS developers can be pretty confusing.

A good iOS app developer for hire requires much more technical skills. It is equally important to assess their problem-solving ability, design sense, and soft skills to understand if they are a good fit for your company’s requirements. 

Here is a guide to give you an idea about the top skills needed for iOS developers so you can make informed decisions about your company’s growth!

The Top Technical Skills to Hire iOS DevelopersThe Top Technical Skills to Hire iOS Developers

Source 

Let us look at the technical skills that hold the foundation of a successful iOS app developer. Following is the list of key technical competencies on which you must rely when hiring iOS developers:

1. Expertise in Swift and Objective-C

Swift has been the new standard for iOS application developers since Apple introduced it in 2014. Swift’s clean syntax makes its code even more readable, resulting in fewer bugs and easier maintainability. 

Objective-C can be used with Swift, and this code forms an integral element of the iOS app development process. This has been very useful for apps like Snapchat and Instagram, which were developed primarily on Objective-C.

2. Xcode and Interface Builder: The iOS Developer Toolset

Xcode is the critical package required for building, testing, and debugging applications in iOS. It comes with comprehensive tools that introduce code editing, deployment, and debugging all under one robust platform to boost developer productivity.

Interface Builder in Xcode helps users design interfaces visually within a given app, making the UI design process much easier. While hiring remote developer like iOS you must check if your talent is well-versed in its quick UI layout changes through rapid prototyping or not.

3. Knowledge of RESTful APIs and Integration

RESTful APIs are all about communicating the client-side app with the server-side backend so that data flows seamlessly. The new hire should be well-equipped with standard methods like HTTP methods and knowledge of API security techniques, including OAuth 2.0.

Effective API integration results in smooth communication of the application with external data sources via iOS-native tools. The iOS developer you hire must be aware of best practices, like reducing API calls and caching responses, for improved performance.

4. Understanding of the Core Data and SQLite

Core Data is Apple’s framework for handling large datasets and syncing them across various devices. You must ensure that the iOS developer is familiar with its key features, such as iCloud integration and undo or redo operations.

SQLite is best for small—and medium-scale data management. SQL-based queries support several complex data queries by handling data quickly and efficiently. Currently, apps like WhatsApp and Skype can function without internet connectivity by managing data locally using this technology.

Critical Soft Skills to Hire an iOS Developer

Critical Soft Skills to Hire an iOS Developer

source

Although technology skills are a given, soft skills define how an iOS developer will essentially assist your team to be successful. Here is a list of the key soft skills required:

1. Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving is one of the most important soft skills in iOS development. It helps developers craft efficient solutions that can make an app functional and user-friendly.

Analytical thinking helps developers break down problems into manageable pieces, pinpoint root causes, and design scalable solutions. This approach becomes significant when optimizing performance by implementing long-term fixes step-by-step.

For instance, developers with knowledge of different platforms are better at solving problems because they know how to use different techniques to get better results to get apps back on track if they run into a problem.

2. Effective Communication for Collaboration

Clear communication aligns a developer’s technical expertise with the broader business goals. It ensures that everyone involved in the project is on the same page for less confusion.

Developers must work closely with designers, product managers, and QA engineers. According to a study, 78% of leaders said that too many meetings and unclear decision-making processes are obstacles to cross-functional collaboration.

An iOS developer who can mediate across different teams and propose solutions will keep projects on track and increase productivity.

3. Attention to Detail

Detail-oriented ability is a critical skill that affects the quality of both functionalities and the design of the app. Detail-oriented developers minimize bugs, optimize performance, and create a seamless user experience. They should be able to produce clean, structured code. 

Testing and Debugging: The Essentials for iOS Developers

Testing and debugging skills enable the developer to deliver apps with flawless output:

1. Experience with Unit Testing and XCTest

Unit testing is very important for testing the code functionality on a small level because it tests the functionality of individual components within the code. It catches bugs very early in the development process, hence saving time and cutting down the cost of repair later.

As IBM puts it, the costs of detecting a bug through unit testing may reach up to 90%. The candidate should be familiar with XCTest, Apple’s native framework for creating and running automated tests for iOS applications. 

2. Debugging and Performance Tuning

Practical debugging revolves around finding and fixing code issues. Common debugging techniques include:

  • Breakpoints in Xcode allow developers to pause a code’s execution, inspect variables, and identify errors simultaneously.
  • Performance tuning is one of those areas that are essential for app responsiveness and the efficiency of resources.
Common Tools for Performance Tuning in iOS
  • Memory Leak Detection: In Xcode, such tools identify the memory leak condition that deteriorates the application’s performance and crashes.
  • Optimize app launch times
  • Minimize battery use 

Continuous Learning and Adaptability in iOS Development

Here are skills needed for iOS developers if they want to keep up with the emerging technologies and trends so they can help your company grow:

1. Keeping Up with iOS Updates and Trends

iOS developers need to keep up with iOS updates and trends so they know how to succeed in the industry. Guide the iOS developers to refer to online courses, tutorials, and other resources to update them on newer iOS versions and programming languages.

These keep developers up-to-date, and they know how to tackle newer technology so they work faster and better.

2. Adaptability to New Technologies

Effective iOS developers add new tools and frameworks to their applications, which enables them to achieve more functionality, save time, and keep abreast of recent trends.

With the phasing out of old technologies like Objective-C, developers move to new frameworks, such as SwiftUI and Combine, to ensure easier app development.

Here are some recent iOS innovations that developers must know about:

  • Apple made several major announcements at WWDC 2024, one of which was the updates to SwiftUI.
  • ARKit 6 took augmented reality experiences to some new heights.
  • Core ML allows developers of iOS apps to tap into machine learning to add, for instance, image recognition and natural language processing capabilities.

Final Thoughts

In the fast-growing world of mobile technology, you must vigilantly hire iOS developers with the best iOS developer skills needed for applications to succeed in this intense industry.

This guide covered the most significant skills that an iOS developer needs to know through this book and have technical and soft skills that are already a provider for your success. Key essentials, among others, include technical expertise, testing and debugging, adaptability and learning, and key soft skills.

Hiring the best iOS developer is more than checking their technical competencies; it’s getting a problem solver who is also a lifelong learner and a team player.

The Benefits of Hiring Remote iOS Developers for Your Startup

The Benefits of Hiring Remote iOS Developers for Your Startup

Startups are always on the lookout for innovative means through which they can scale their operations efficiently. The most prominent ones are associated with distributed teams and remote work.

Companies now understand that the more competition grows, the fewer geographical limitations should be considered, especially when hiring remote workers.

Modern organizations hire iOS developers because they are flexible, cost-efficient, and provide access to a talent pool worldwide. This guide will elaborate on why remote hiring is important for startups, with a special focus on the benefits.

Importance of Remote Hiring for Startups

Importance of Remote Hiring for Startups

source

The remote hiring concept changes how startups do business, especially in tech.

In 2023, around 16,000 startups were hiring remotely. In 2024, that number rose to 20,000+ startups actively recruiting for remote roles. By mid‑2025, the trend is continuing upward. This reflects a general global trend toward working remotely, largely prompted by a need for cost optimization and access to talent beyond local markets. Estimated figure for 2025: about 22,000-23,000 startups hiring remotely, assuming a roughly 10% growth from the 2024 baseline.

As Apple devices become more popular, the demand for iOS developers in tech startups is growing. Since iOS constitutes nearly 27.75% of smartphone users worldwide, startups target this broader user base, which tends to spend on in-app purchases.

In this guide, we will delve into how startups hire iOS developers to help organizations scale their teams flexibly. 

Top 6 Benefits of Hiring Remote iOS Developers

Top 6 Benefits of Hiring Remote iOS Developers

Here are the key advantages of hiring remote developers for startups:

Cost Efficiency of Hiring Remote iOS Developers for Startups

Probably the greatest incentive a startup has for hiring iOS developers remotely is that it’s cost-effective. Key areas where remote hiring saves money:

Lower Salaries and Operation Costs

Hiring remote iOS developers from India is more affordable than hiring local professionals. An iOS developer’s average salary is between $133200 – $211212 per year.

In comparison, businesses can outsource iOS app development to remote iOS developers from countries such as India, Ukraine, or other parts of Eastern Europe at much lower costs. 

This gives startups more leverage to access the same technical expertise but at a much more affordable price.

Lower Overhead Expenses

Another obvious cost advantage of hiring remote iOS developers is the savings on overhead costs. Keeping a physical office involves costs like rent, utilities, office supplies, and technologies.

These costs can easily add up, more so in large metropolitan cities, and become costly. By building a remote team, startups eliminate some or all of these overhead costs.

According to Global Workplace Analytics, a company can save about $11,000 per year for every remote worker if he or she spends half of their time working remotely.

By embracing remote work, a company can cut office space costs by between $12 and $13 million a year. Additionally, remote teams mostly use cloud-based tools and collaborative software, among many others, which means less physical infrastructure is involved.

Access to a Global Talent Pool

Hiring iOS developers remotely grants businesses access to talent that would otherwise not be easy to access globally. The advantages are:

Diverse Skills and Expertise

When a start-up learns how to hire iOS developers remotely, it has access to a wide spectrum of skills and expertise that it may not receive locally. With remote hiring, start-ups can reach out to developers from various backgrounds, bringing divergent perspectives and approaches to problem-solving.

For instance, Eastern European iOS developers are known for their expertise in Swift and Objective-C, while Indian developers are known for building scalable, cost-effective mobile apps.

Recruitment through this global pool allows startups to tap into such specific skills and build innovative solutions to fit the requirements of the target market.

Hiring the Best Fit for Your Project

One of the challenges that startups may face is finding iOS developers with special skills for the projects they present. With remote hiring, talent will open up with expertise in specific areas of Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, or blockchain technology for iOS applications. 

Higher Productivity While Employing Remote iOS Developers

Higher Productivity While Employing Remote iOS Developers

source

The advantages of hiring remote iOS developers for any startup company include a tremendous increase in productivity:

Flexible Working Hours

One of the most important productivity benefits for startups hiring remote iOS developers is flexible working hours. When companies employ remote developers in different time zones, they fully exploit the 24/7 availability model. 

These can develop a development system that follows the time zones, allowing for continuous development and quicker turnaround times.

Remote employees work 10% longer than office-based staff, or almost four additional hours a week. Therefore, remote iOS developers are not bound to the regular 9-to-5 daily schedule. Instead, they might work at whatever time best benefits them, meaning their work will be of higher quality, and project delivery will be faster.

Focus on Outcomes—Not Hours

Another main reason startups are recruiting more remote iOS developers is that the moment they recruit remote workers, the focus shifts from the number of hours put into outcomes and deliverables.

Even the culture of remote work operates with results-oriented performance, where a person is evaluated not by how many hours he has put in but by how much he has delivered in terms of mileage and code quality. 

Faster Time to Market

What can be released within days or weeks is the difference that accelerates market share and puts businesses ahead of competitors. Here’s how remote hiring speeds up a startup’s time to market.

Fast Scalability of Development Teams

When startups outsource iOS app development, they can rapidly hire developers without undergoing lengthy and costly local recruitment.

Organizations utilizing remote working models are more likely to scale up than others who maintain an in-house team. This scalability may enable startups to meet tight deadlines, take larger workloads, and introduce innovation at rapid rates without constraining their space.

24/7 Development

One of the most strategic advantages of hiring remote iOS mobile app developers is the possibility of creating a round-the-clock development cycle.

Thus, forming a team spread across different time zones ensures that their projects never stop being worked on, even when the developers are off at their local time.

This 24/7 development model cuts way down the time-to-market for new products and features.

Ability to Leverage Advanced Tools and Technologies

Hiring remote developers will help the startup leverage the latest development tools and encourage a learning culture. Let us look at some benefits:

Latest Tools

Remote iOS developers employ a diverse set of tools and technologies. This keeps the startup ahead with the latest trends in app development. They can incorporate newer technologies without making a vast investment in software training or infrastructure setup.

For instance, most experienced remote iOS developers code using an environment such as Apple’s Xcode. They also know and use frameworks like SwiftUI and UIKit to deliver solid, robust applications.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

The best thing when you hire a remote iOS developer is that they continuously learn and improve professionally. The app development space evolves so rapidly that many developers take it upon themselves to learn about the latest trends, tools, and best practices that surround this area.

Online courses and training sessions take 40% to 60% less time for employees than traditional learning practices. This helps them stay up to date with the skills needed to keep pace with existing and emerging technologies.

Improved Employee Retention

Improved Employee Retention

source

In the high-velocity tech industry, retaining good developers represents stability and future success in any startup. Here are some benefits:

Job Satisfaction

Remote iOS developers report a higher degree of job satisfaction because of the flexibilities remote work offers. Freelance workers can work anywhere and at whatever time they prefer, which helps them maintain healthier work-life balances. 

A survey by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics shows that 74% of employees feel happier with remote working.

This flexibility allows iOS developers who are working remotely to better manage their personal and professional lives, thus reducing stress levels while delivering superior-quality work.

Decreased Turnover Expense

Higher employee retention rate

source

High employee turnover is expensive for a startup, especially in the competitive and burgeoning tech industry. The costs of hiring, training, and onboarding new developers would start to add up quickly, along with a loss in productivity during the transition period. 

98% of remote workers want to work remotely throughout their careers. According to one study, 79% reported that they would be more loyal if an employer provided a more flexible setup.

Conclusion

When startups hire iOS developers remotely, they aim to be competitive and agile in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape. Remote hiring becomes an effective way to save costs and ensure access to a global talent pool, improved productivity, faster time to market, and better employee retention.

Hiring remote iOS developers has many advantages, such as sustaining a 24-hour development cycle that accelerates product release. Remote work is not just a trend; it’s a strategic competitive advantage that breaks through geographical boundaries.

As a way for startups to engage the best talent from all over the world, embracing remote work is no longer an option but a necessity for any company looking to scale operations.

The Ultimate Checklist for Hiring an iOS Developer

The Ultimate Checklist for Hiring an iOS Developer

The success of your mobile app project depends on the skills of your app developer. The global app economy is expected to reach US$781.70 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 7.84% from 2022 to 2029.

Thus, hiring the right developer is essential to creating a high-quality iOS app to deliver high returns.

A company employing structured hiring procedures experiences 50% higher retention among new hires. In this context, a comprehensive checklist for how to hire an iOS app developer is an essential tool.

By following a systematic checklist, one can ensure that the candidate’s skills are aligned with project needs. To hire iOS developers, you must follow a comprehensive hiring checklist! Let us learn more about it.

How to Hire an iOS App Developer: The Ultimate Checklist 

How to Hire an iOS App Developer The Ultimate Checklist

Source

Follow this step-by-step guide to hire the best iOS developers for your organizational requirements:

Step 1: Define  Requirements for iOS Development Success

The first thing to do before hiring an iOS developer is to define your requirements. Delve deep and think about core functionalities, target audiences, platform needs, and long-term goals. This includes:

  • Scope analysis of the project
  • Technical skills needed
  • Niche skills identification

Creating a Job Description

A clear job description creates room in the workplace for the right candidates. It includes:

  • All the responsibilities of a developer, daily tasks, and specifics of a role.
  • Required skills and experience
  • Benefits such as flexible working hours, professional growth opportunities, etc.

Budget and Timeline Expectations

Consider the current industry standard salary for iOS developers and set your budget accordingly. For clarity, create a detailed breakdown of the salary by location, country, and experience level.

Step 2: Sourcing Candidates

While sourcing for the ideal iOS developer, the strategic approach to sourcing is important because one has to hit as many sourcing channels as possible. Here are various methods to attract top talent:

Job Portals

One of the most powerful sources for hiring iOS mobile app developers is job boards and Internet sites. Here’s a preview of some of the most popular platforms:

  • LinkedIn: 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates.
  • Indeed: More than 250 million monthly employees use this site to find candidates with specific iOS expertise.
  • Glassdoor: A site known for its employer branding where more than 50 million people visit it every month.

Recruitment with Recruitment Agencies

You can always depend on specialized agencies to help you find the right iOS developer for your project, thus saving you time in pre-screening.

Hiring candidates from an effective iOS developer recruiting agency like Uplers can have several benefits. Let us look at why you should go for these agencies:

  • Hire top 3.5% AI-screened, deeply vetted talents for organic company growth.
  • Get in touch with around one million profiles of digital and tech talents that match your company’s requirements.
  • Get pricing models from recruiting agency that allows talents to see how much compensation they get from you. Hence, you find the right fit for your company faster.

Step 3: Proper Screening and Shortlisting

Screening and shortlisting help you hire talent who match your team’s technical and cultural requirements.

Reviewing Resumes and Portfolios

When you are reviewing CVs and portfolios, look to their technical skills, and practical experience and match the exact needs of your project. Key Elements to Look For:

  • Technical skills.
  • Problem-solving and debugging capabilities.
  • Practical experiences.
  • Soft skills.

Red Flags That Recruiters Should Look Out for

Recognizing early red flags helps you avoid big-time hiring mistakes in your business. Watch out for the following indicators when hiring:

  • Generic or vague descriptions.
  • Job hopping.
  • Lack of technical information.

Initial Interviews: Questions to Ask During Interviews

  • Technical Questions: Learn how candidates will handle API or technical failures to understand their level of knowledge. Ask about their experience in their last company and how they have contributed with their skills to its growth. 
  • Non-Technical Questions: Ask about the talent’s weaknesses and the steps they are taking to overcome them. Talk about their expectations from their role in your company so you know that they are on the same page as you.
  • Cultural Fit: Align the candidate’s goals with your company’s values and work culture by asking questions about how they react to criticism or how they see themselves growing at your company.

Step 4: Final Evaluation and Selection

Final Evaluation and Selection

Source

Weigh the Pros and Cons

A structured process of evaluation will be required to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate about the requirements of the project:

  • Measure a candidate’s strength in using key skills like Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, and RESTful API integration and compare it with the strengths of other candidates to see who better fits your requirements.
  • Assess how your applicants fit with your company’s values and whether they are enthusiastic about learning. Then, try to understand which candidates would be a better match for your company.

Making Data-Driven Decisions

A scoring matrix will help quantify candidate skills, experience, and cultural fit into metrics that could later be combined to make an objective selection decision. Assure weightage for every factor based on relevance to the project itself, for example:

  • Technical Skills: 50%
  • Soft Skills: 30%
  • Cultural Fit: 20%

Step 5: Onboarding and Integration

Onboarding and Integration

Source

Once you have hired the best IOS developer, the next critical step is to onboard and integrate them into your organization. This includes:

Welcoming and Training

Good orientation and training help new hires adapt to the company’s culture, technical requirements, and the goals of the project within the shortest possible time. Here are some strategic ways to impart training:

  • Structured Orientation: Begin with a systematized program that will familiarize them with the mission, vision, values, and goals of your company. Hands-on training activities on the tools and frameworks to be used. 
  • Assign Mentors and Buddies: 90% of employees report that they are satisfied with their jobs, and 23% of new hires feel supported if they have a mentor. Deploying a buddy for the new employee can enable him to become more socially integrated with the other team members.

Monitoring Progress and Giving Feedback

At 30, 60, and 90 days, some short-term, concrete goals should be set to measure just how well your new iOS developer is performing. You can:

  • Set a regular timeline for reviews that will enable you to assess the skills, adaptability, and contribution of the developer.
  • Engage your iOS developer in workshops, webinars, and industry-based events like Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
  • Continuously offer online courses, tutorials, and the social aspects of places for continuous learning.

Conclusion

Hire iOS developers using this well-structured checklist. This guide can help you attract the best talent that meets your technical requirements and company culture.

The process includes defining organizational requirements, proper candidate sourcing, screening and shortlisting, final evaluation and selection, asking relevant iOS coding interview questions, and onboarding and integration.

It is best to hire an iOS developer recruiting agency like Uplers to simplify hiring. Following such an exclusive and comprehensive hiring checklist puts you in an informed position to make the right decision.