Hire Swift developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Swift is a programming language created by Apple to build apps for the operating systems in the Apple environment. If you want to develop lightweight, feature-rich applications in Apple, you’ll need a skilled Swift developer.

However, there is a bit of competition in hiring Swift developers, so plan to devote a good bit of time and energy to the search. Hiring tech talent can be particularly challenging if you’re not a developer yourself. Although you don’t need to dive deeply into Swift, understanding a few basics will help you better evaluate a candidate’s knowledge and skills.

This article provides the basics of Swift development, how much Swift developers earn, how to write a job description to attract Swift developers, and how Revelo can help you with your search.

What Is Swift Development?

Developers use Swift to build apps that run on Apple operating systems, such as macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. As a secure, fast, and interactive language, it’s ideal for creating dynamic, high-performing, and efficient apps.

With the performance and efficiency of a low-level language combined with the readability and ease of a high-level language, Swift generates code that’s fast and easy to understand. Developers use Swift to create mobile, desktop, and server-side applications.

As a general-purpose language, developers use Swift to create all types of programs. Some of the most well-known apps developed with Swift include Lyft, Airbnb, Khan Academy, and Kickstarter.

What Does a Swift Developer Do?

Swift developers design, build, and maintain software for iOS and macOS applications using the Swift programming language. On any given day, a Swift developer might do any of the following tasks:

• Design and develop new apps or features using Swift and associated tech stacks
• Test and debug software to ensure security and performance
• Meet with other developers, designers, and stakeholders to identify application requirements
• Update and maintain existing Swift code to add new features, fix bugs, or address security issues
• Conduct regular code reviews to ensure it meets standards and guidelines
• Use code-version management tools like GitHub to track and document code changes
• Solicit feedback from end users and clients to improve an app’s design and function
• Research and implement new technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to stay up to date with innovations in software development

Swift Developer Salary

The tech talent shortage and the high demand for Swift developers drive high salaries and competitive benefits packages. Mid-level Swift developers with four to six years of experience in the United States earn an average annual salary of $93,464, which aligns with the typical salary for a software developer. 

While Swift developers in Latin American countries are equally skilled, the lower cost of living means they’re usually paid 30%-50% less than their US counterparts, with salaries varying based on location and experience. Revelo provides a cost-effective solution while offering highly qualified, pre-vetted Latin American developers.

How to Write a Job Description for Swift Developers

The search for a qualified Swift developer begins with a well-crafted job description. Nowadays, everyone is in a hurry, so you want to write a job description that will quickly capture a candidate’s attention. The best way to do that is to keep it short, specific, and scannable.

First, determine what level of developer you need. You’ll need a senior-level developer if you want someone to head a department or lead a project. If they’ll be working under the supervision of another engineer, a junior developer may be more appropriate. Once you’ve decided on the seniority level, your job description should include the following sections and information:

• Job title: Go with something short and to the point that includes the level and tech stack you seek, such as a “Junior-level Swift Developer.” You can also include a salary range in your job title.
• Job description: Write a one- or two-sentence overview of what they’ll be working on and their primary objective.
• Job responsibilities: Format this as a bulleted list for easier reading. Include their most essential day-to-day tasks and duties.
• Required education and skills: This section is a bulleted list of the education and skills applicants must have to be considered for the position.
• Preferred education and skills: This is a bulleted list of the skills and knowledge your ideal candidate would have. If you’d prefer a candidate with a master’s degree but you’ll settle for a bachelor’s, list it here.
• About your company: Write a short section about why a candidate should want to work for your company. You can describe your company’s culture, values, and benefits here. If you haven’t included it in the sections above, you can also put salary information here.

Interview Questions for Swift Developers

Although you’ll need to combine your interview with a more formal and thorough skill evaluation, asking relevant technical questions can help determine if you should move forward with a candidate. These questions will help you gauge an applicant’s problem-solving and communication skills in addition to their technical knowledge.

What are the main benefits of Swift?

You can ask this question to understand a candidate’s high-level knowledge of Swift and programming. If their answer is vague or sparse, they might have a surface-level knowledge of writing Swift. A more thorough explanation shows they understand programming concepts and when Swift is the best tool to solve a problem. Responses should include factors such as:

• Swift performs and functions like a low-level language, allowing you to build faster apps, hence the name.
• It’s designed to be secure due to features such as options and automatic memory management.
• It’s interoperable, so it works with other languages and existing codebases.

What are the best design patterns to use with Swift?

Design patterns are methods for approaching design problems. The best one to use will depend on your problem, but some of the most popular ones to use in Swift include:

• Creator: Allows you to create complex objects from simple objects and reuse code
• Adapter: Allows incompatible objects to work together
• Decorator: Allows you to cover an object in a wrapper so you can dynamically attach new functions

Tell me about a recent obstacle you’ve faced and how you dealt with it.

This behavioral question can tell you about a candidate’s hard skills — it will also tell you a lot about their soft skills, particularly collaboration, leadership, and resilience. Software development is an iterative process. There are always unexpected hurdles, and nothing goes entirely according to plan.

Developers must be able to recover from failure quickly and pivot in a new direction based on feedback. Look for a candidate who demonstrates these abilities in their answer.

Why Hire Swift Developers With Revelo?

Revelo understands the challenges of hiring tech talent in a competitive market. We’re committed to making the process easier. We help you source and hire world-class remote engineers in all tech stacks. Contact us today to learn how we can help you build the team to take your business to the next level.

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