Hire Top iOS (Swift) Developers

iOS is a more standardized platform than Android, and creating apps for it requires less time. There are also fewer types of Apple mobile devices (compared to the aforementioned Android), making it easier to create thoughtful UI and UX designs for iOS applications.

According to statistics, users spend almost twice as much money on paid programs and premium features for iOS than on Android apps ($21.5 billion vs $12.1 billion). Additionally, iOS is the dominant platform in advanced economies.

To meet user needs and remain competitive in the market, companies from all over the world are hiring experienced iOS developers. We’ve put together tips on hiring top specialists covering the following points:

• what an iOS developer needs to know;
• where to look for experienced iOS programmers;
• how the ITExpert team will help in finding an iOS developer.

What is an iOS (Swift) Developer and what do they do

The mobile app industry is rapidly growing and developing. Nowadays, fewer people are willing to order food or courier services with the website’s desktop version. In addition, we actively use smart devices and check potential purchases in VR/AR before actually ordering something — all this using a smartphone.

An iOS developer is an IT specialist who creates apps for iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and WatchOS. The main development tool is the Swift programming language, introduced in 2014 to replace Objective-C.

What an iOS (Swift) Dev should know

Previously, iOS developers created software for Apple in the Objective-C programming language. Nowadays, the main development language is Swift.

Objective-C has a graphical user interface (GUI). The language also differs in its functional frameworks. However, Swift is more unified, much faster, easier to read, and more secure.

An iOS developer should know both programming languages. Although Swift is gradually replacing Objective-C, many programs and their technical support require Objective-C knowledge, so it’s too early to talk about a complete transition to Swift.

When hiring Apple software developers, keep in mind these must-have points:

• proficiency in Objective-C and/or Swift;
• experience with Xcode IDE and Xcode components;
• knowledge of UI/UX standards;
• knowledge of SOLID design principles, KISS, DRY programming, and others;
• knowledge of design patterns, GRASP, and Clean Architecture templates;
• knowledge of databases (SQLite, Realm) and SQL query language;
• knowledge of frameworks and libraries: Apple UIKit, Foundation, and CoreAnimation (the main frameworks in iOS development), GCD and NSOperation (frameworks for asynchronous work that allow you to manage running tasks and processes), Moya, Alamofire, RxSwift, and RxCoa that are often used in commercial development, as well as SnapKit, Swinject, and Kingfisher;
• knowledge of version control systems (Git);
• knowledge of unit testing;
• experience in building an MVC, MVVM, MVP, or VIPER architecture.

A highly skilled iOS developer should also have the following knowledge and skills:

1. Core Data is a framework for interacting with a database.

2. SPM, CocoaPods, and Carthage — dependency managers and tools for connecting utilities, libraries, and dependencies to the project.

3. Push Notifications — tools for sending notifications to an Apple device from an app.

4. App Store — rules and conditions for preparing a program for publication in the App Store, updating and supporting it, as well as evaluating performance.

Mykola Kliestov

CTO and co-founder at ITExpert

“Some employers require skills in publishing apps in the App Store, such as knowledge of publication conditions, setting up a payment system, etc. This skill can indicate a senior-level specialist.

It also happens that companies are looking for cross-platform app developers who’ll write code not only in native Swift, but also using React Native, Xamarin, and others.“

You might be interested: learn what questions to ask a tech specialist during an interview to identify a qualified candidate.

Where to look for developers with iOS (Swift) skills

Where to find an iOS developer? We’ve highlighted the main platforms where you can find information about iOS developers, their portfolios, and details on their experience:

LinkedIn 

Searching on LinkedIn is simple: search for “iOS AND Swift,” set up filters (by profile language, location, etc.), and start searching. However, the platform has its limitations: for instance, in the number of requests you can send, or even whether you’ll see the profiles of all relevant specialists if your network of contacts is significantly limited at this stage.

GitHub

This platform allows developers to store their code, share it with colleagues, and collaborate on open-source development. With its help, you can select the right specialist for a team of over 65 million developers.

StackOverflow 

It is the most convenient way to search for IT specialists using a Boolean search (a Google query using specified parameters). Thanks to these settings, recruiters can exclude irrelevant query results and target profiles that meet basic requirements.

Key challenges when hiring an iOS (Swift) Dev

According to Statista, iOS users are less likely to delete or unfollow apps than Android ones. If you hire an iPhone app developer, you’ll expand your target audience with loyal users. In addition, large financial gains can be expected: iOS devices dominate in countries with strong economies such as Japan and the US.

However, finding an iOS developer and hiring a qualified specialist is a task with an asterisk. Although Swift’s popularity is growing, the number of developers who work with the language remains relatively small compared to others. According to survey results, only 5.1% of more than 83 thousand respondents reported using Swift.

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This creates a candidate shortage and an overheated jobs market. Additionally, the rate of an iOS developer with experience in some areas — like e-banking, healthcare, and cybersecurity — is higher compared to iOS specialists in, e.g., eCommerce.

Mykola Kliestov

CTO and co-founder at ITExpert

“When searching for a developer, it is often difficult to understand whether the candidate has experience working with complex apps (where user data is stored/loaded from the company server, etc.), or whether he’s only worked with so-called simple information websites.

To do this, the recruiter should conduct additional screening before showing the CV to the hiring manager. Not every recruiting team can withstand such an additional load and this is why product and outsourcing companies engage IT recruiting agencies to enhance results.“

Hire the best iOS (Swift) developers with ITExpert 

Are you interested in creating a highly competitive and effective product for iOS and, accordingly, in hiring iOS developers? ITExpert helps large companies and small startups with full- or part-time recruitment in the IT field. We have a team of tech recruiters and a CTO who carry out high-quality screening and selection of candidates.

Our IT recruiting agency specialists have been hiring tech/non-tech IT specialists for companies all over the world since 2015, from the USA to Israel. Our clients include Sony, Deloitte, and Depositphotos.

Identifying a highly skilled candidate is only half the battle. We sell vacancies by analyzing the candidate’s needs and the company’s offer, and also have an individual approach to each client. Hire qualified iOS (Swift) developers with ITExpert!