iOS Developer Candidates Score Lowest in Tech Interviews, Analysis of 83,000 Sessions Shows

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A study by Final Round AI analyzing 83,421 live interview sessions across 14 tech roles from October 2022 to September 2025 found that iOS Developer candidates averaged the lowest answer-quality score at 50.6 out of 100. The data attributes this gap to a mismatch between general software engineering preparation resources and the deep, Apple-platform-specific knowledge that iOS interviews demand. In contrast, Product Manager candidates scored highest at 59.0, likely because a well-developed prep ecosystem around frameworks like STAR and CIRCLES helps them structure answers more effectively. Software Engineer scores have also declined by 2.6 points since 2023, possibly reflecting a higher technical bar at major companies and more candidates entering live sessions without structured preparation. The dataset average across all 14 roles stood at 55.3, suggesting that preparation alignment — not raw interview difficulty — is a key driver of candidate performance.

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