Hire Objective-C developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Objective-C developers are skilled professionals who use the Objective-C language to build, test, and maintain high-quality apps for Apple devices.

Unfortunately, locating and hiring experienced Objective-C developers can be an uphill battle. Moreover, in 2014, Apple introduced Swift — a modern and intuitive programming language — as a successor to Objective-C. As a result, employers have had a much harder time locating developers with up-to-date Objective-C expertise and knowledge.

This guide explains Objective-C development, what Objective-C developers do, their salaries, how to write a job description to attract industry-leading talent, and how to write engaging interview questions for Objective-C developers. It also discusses how Revelo can help you hire top-tier talent.

What Is Objective-C Development?

Objective-C development uses Objective-C to design, code, test, and maintain macOS, iOS, tvOS, and watchOS apps. Objective-C is a high-level, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language, a superset of the C programming language.

Objective-C was the standard programming language used for developing iOS and macOS applications until the introduction of Swift in 2014. Because Swift is easier to maintain, safer, more concise, and easier to read than Objective-C, many Objective-C developers have shifted to Swift.

However, some companies still prefer hiring Objective-C developers for the following reasons:

• To maintain legacy codebases: If a company has existing projects or a large codebase in Objective-C, it may want to hire an Objective-C developer to maintain, enhance, and support these applications.
• To access third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) and libraries: Companies may want to hire Objective-C developers to use third-party libraries and APIs only available in the Objective-C superset.
• To hire professionals with greater experience and skill sets: Objective-C developers are usually seasoned professionals with many years of experience with the language, especially if they have worked with macOS and iOS apps since before Swift's introduction.

Companies can also use Objective-C for the following projects:

• Frameworks and libraries that provide APIs and functionality for macOS and iOS development
• tvOS and watchOS apps
• Cross-platform apps
• System-level programming, such as custom interfaces and integration with specific Apple frameworks
• Large enterprise applications, including legacy systems and architectures

What Does an Objective-C Developer Do?

Objective-C developer duties vary, but most are responsible for the following tasks:

• Crafting well-tested, clean code for native Apple apps
• Designing, testing, and shipping new features and modules
• Building custom interfaces and architectures
• Staying on top of Apple development trends
• Creating and maintaining detailed documentation
• Re-architecting, improving, and optimizing legacy Objective-C code
• Collaborating with a team of dedicated engineers and programmers

Objective-C Developer Salary

According to ZipRecruiter, the average U.S.-based mid-level Objective-C developer earns $127,167 annually.

While Objective-C developers in Latin American countries are equally skilled, their lower cost of living means they usually earn 30% to 50% less than their U.S. counterparts, with salaries varying based on location and experience. Revelo gives you access to highly qualified, pre-vetted Latin American developers, offering a cost-effective solution without compromising quality.

How to Write a Job Description for Objective-C Developers

You must write a concise and engaging job description to attract qualified Objective-C developers. Here are some key elements to include:

• A specific and concise job title: Include key phrases that accurately describe the position. You should also include the desired experience level (i.e., whether you're hiring a junior or mid-level developer). You can gauge the required experience level by assessing the position's skill set and responsibilities. Senior and mid-level positions usually involve leadership, specialized skills, and higher-level decision-making, while junior positions require less experience and responsibility.
• A company bio: Tell readers about your company's values, organizational structure, project management methodology (i.e., Scrum or Waterfall), and employer brand.
• Duties and responsibilities: Outline the hire's core responsibilities and emphasize any duties that may be unique to your business.
• Qualifications and skills: Specify the education, certifications, previous job experience, and technical skills required for the role. You should also include the ideal hire's personality traits and soft skills.
• Salary and benefits: Quality candidates want jobs that meet their salary and benefits expectations. Examples of competitive benefits include flexible hours, the ability to work from home, vacation opportunities, and tuition reimbursement.

Interview Questions for Objective-C Developers

After posting your job description, you should prepare interview questions to assess applicants' skills and experience. Be sure to ask questions that reveal their technical expertise, problem-solving skills, collaboration skills, and Objective-C development experience.

Below are some sample Objective-C developer interview questions to get you started.

Do you prefer Objective-C over Swift? Why or why not?

Ask this question to gauge the candidate's familiarity with Objective-C and Swift. The ideal answer should demonstrate the following:

• A solid understanding of Objective-C and Swift's strengths and weaknesses
• Extensive Objective-C programming experience (especially if you're hiring a senior Objective-C developer)
• Passion for Objective-C development

How long have you been using Objective-C?

This question evaluates applicants' Objective-C development experience. The ideal amount of experience depends on the seniority. Here is an example of a good Senior Objective-C developer answer:

I have been using Objective-C for over 10 years. I started working with Objective-C as a fresh grad in 2010 when I worked at [company name] as a Junior Objective-C developer. Throughout my career, I have designed, tested, delivered, and maintained numerous Objective-C projects, including [app and project names and description]. My familiarity with Objective-C allows me to troubleshoot issues effectively, re-architect legacy code, write clean and efficient code, and ship high-quality Apple apps.

Why would you use categories in Objective-C?

This technical question evaluates job seekers' Objective-C knowledge. A strong answer should sound like this:

I usually use categories to add methods to existing classes even when I don't have the source. For example, I can use categories to add methods to categories defined in the Cocoa frameworks. Categories are a great way to extend the functionality of existing classes without subclassing.

Why Hire Objective-C Developers With Revelo?

Hiring experienced Objective-C developers can be difficult due to the language's declining popularity and the increasing demand for Swift programmers.

But Revelo can help. As Latin America's premier tech talent marketplace, Revelo provides access to a large pool of highly-skilled Objective-C developers. Our developers have been thoroughly screened for English proficiency and soft and hard skills, so you can focus on building your business while we manage payroll, compliance, and onboarding.

Interested in learning more about how Revelo can help you hire Objective-C developers? Contact us today to get started.

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