The Practical Coding Interview
This is the most important interview that we do, as it is meant to reflect how well the applicant will perform at the job. We give the applicant an app we call The Dragon’s Test, which is broken in known ways. We then give the applicant a list of bugs and grade the applicant not only on the solutions they use but on the time it takes them to complete the task.
Since our company provides iOS development services to large corporations, we aim to deliver solid results to our customers with a quick turnaround. So the coding interview is a crucial evaluation for us because it lets us determine what the person can be paid to remain profitable. Finding developers who can implement solid solutions very quickly is the holy grail of software interviews.
There is a delicate balance to be struck between attention to detail and completion time, but I’d rather have someone who gets us 95% of the way there in 1/3rd of the time than someone who gets us 100% of the way there in more time. If there is one secret to how we consistently choose the top tier of our employees, it is this practical coding exercise.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the best way to prepare for a practical coding interview is just experience. The more apps you make, the more likely it will be that you can develop code quickly and solidly. So keep practicing and learning! :]
Where To Go From Here?
Let’s sum up:
- Practice the basics of the computing language and make sure you are well-rested for your interviews. During the interview, talk about the company to which you are applying and its products. Keep your interview answers brief and on-topic.
- When doing any kind of coding, keep turnaround time in mind. The speed at which you complete the task will make or break a project. The faster you can put out good code, the more valuable you are, and the more valuable you are, the more the company can afford to pay you.
Ray and I hope you enjoyed this series! Let me know if you’d like to see more articles along these lines – we could discuss how to build your skills as an iOS developer, how to find iOS jobs, or how much you should expect to be paid as an iOS developer. Let us know what you’d like to see if any! :]
Also, do you know the answers to any of the iOS interview questions I mentioned above? If so, join the forum discussion to compare your results!
