How to structure the interview to assess skills and cultural fit for {role_name}

Work sample test (Home assignment)

Assess the candidate’s practical skills by assigning a real-world task similar to the work they would do if hired.

Title: Develop a Simple To-Do List iOS Application
Objective: The goal of this task is to evaluate the candidate's ability to design, develop, and test an iOS application, demonstrating their proficiency in Swift, UI/UX design, and app functionality.
Requirements:
- The app should allow users to:
  - Add new tasks with a title and description.
  - Edit and delete existing tasks.
  - Mark tasks as completed.
- The app should be built using Swift and UIKit.
- Include a user-friendly interface and basic error handling (e.g., preventing empty task submissions).
- Bonus: Use CoreData for data persistence.
Time Frame: 4-6 hours (with a 3-day window to submit)

Questions based on home assignment :

Once done with work sample test evaluate the candidate’s technical proficiency based on the work sample task.

Technical questions

Duration : 10 minutes/question

Question: Explain how you implemented data persistence in the To-Do List app.
- Expected Answer: Candidates should describe using CoreData or UserDefaults for data persistence, explaining how tasks are saved, retrieved, and deleted.
- Sample Answer: "I used CoreData to persist tasks in the app. I set up an entity called 'Task' with attributes like 'title,' 'description,' and 'isCompleted.' For saving and retrieving data, I utilized NSManagedObjectContext, and I also implemented delete functionality to remove completed tasks."
Question: How did you handle UI updates when tasks were added or deleted?
- Expected Answer: Candidates should explain how they used table views or collection views to update the user interface dynamically.
- Sample Answer: "I used a UITableView to display tasks. Whenever a new task was added or deleted, I updated the data source array and called tableView.reloadData() to refresh the list."
Question: What approach did you take to ensure a smooth user experience?
- Expected Answer: Candidates should discuss UI/UX design principles, ensuring that the app is intuitive and responsive.
- Sample Answer: "I focused on creating a simple, user-friendly layout with clear buttons for adding and editing tasks. I also ensured that actions like task deletion had confirmation prompts to prevent accidental deletions."

Behavioral questions

Duration : 10 minutes/question

Question: Tell me about a time when you faced a challenging bug during development. How did you approach fixing it?
- Expected Answer: The candidate should describe their problem-solving process, such as debugging techniques and seeking help from documentation or colleagues.
- Sample Answer: "During the To-Do List project, I faced an issue where tasks were not being saved properly. I used breakpoints to debug and realized that I was not saving the managed object context after adding tasks. After fixing this, the problem was resolved."
Question: How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple features for an app?
- Expected Answer: Look for time management and prioritization skills.
- Sample Answer: "I prioritize tasks based on the project's timeline and the criticality of each feature. For the To-Do List app, I focused on core features like adding and deleting tasks before working on extras like error handling and CoreData integration."
Question: Describe a time when you had to collaborate with a designer or another developer. How did you ensure effective communication?
- Expected Answer: Focus on teamwork and communication.
- Sample Answer: "In a previous project, I worked closely with a designer. We held regular check-ins to discuss app features and UI layout. I ensured that their designs were feasible from a development standpoint and implemented their feedback iteratively."

How to evaluate and compare candidates after interviews?

After interviews, it's important to evaluate and compare candidates based on a set of predefined criteria.Use scorecard to evaluate each candidate.

Sample scorecard based on pre-defined criteria. Here’s an example:

Criteria	Rating (1-5)	Comments
Technical Skills		Did the candidate demonstrate strong iOS development skills?
Work Sample Completion		Did the candidate complete the work sample as expected?
Code Quality		Was the code well-organized, clean, and readable?
Problem-Solving Skills		How effectively did the candidate solve challenges?
Communication		Were they able to explain technical concepts clearly?
Cultural Fit		Does the candidate align with company values?
Teamwork/Collaboration		Did they show experience working with teams?

What criteria should be used to make the final hiring decision?

Final decisions should be based on the candidate's overall evaluation score, with a focus on important qualifications. Prioritize technical skills above everything else for a {role_name}, but do not forget about communication and cultural fit.

How to communicate the decision to candidates

Sample offer letter for {role_name}

Subject: Offer Letter for iOS Developer Position at [Company Name]

Dear [Candidate Name],

We are excited to offer you the position of iOS Developer at [Company Name]. After careful consideration of your skills and experience, we believe you will be a valuable addition to our team.

Your starting salary will be [salary amount], and your employment will begin on [start date]. We have also attached details regarding benefits, working hours, and the employment contract.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to your confirmation and welcoming you to the team!

Best regards, [Your Name] [Company Name]

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Sample rejection letter for {role_name}

Subject: Outcome of Your Application for the iOS Developer Position

Dear [Candidate Name],

Thank you for taking the time to interview for the iOS Developer position at [Company Name]. After careful consideration, we have decided to move forward with another candidate for this role.

We greatly appreciate your interest in our company and the effort you put into the application process. We encourage you to apply for future positions that may better align with your skills and experience.

We wish you the best of luck in your job search and future endeavors.