I applied online and received an automated email for a coding challenge. I was given 1 hour and 45 minutes to fix bugs in an iOS project. The challenge had three tasks. Task 1 was debugging an iOS app with two tabs (Projects and Analytics) that had UI bugs, memory leaks, and potential crashes while keeping all features working. Task 2 was fixing concurrency in a reminder service using three paradigms (callbacks, Combine, and Swift Concurrency) to fetch reminders in parallel and pass all tests. Task 3 was finding and fixing a single bug in a login screen to progress to the next part. Some files were marked as do not modify and changing protected code resulted in automatic failure. The time limit was tight for the amount of debugging required across multiple tasks. it's hard, but I would say it's too bad if you're prepared really well, I didn't know some of the api's well (like dispatchGroup, TaskGroup, NavigationStack with path parameter) so I was figuring it out while on the test.

Initial Communication: My experience with Speechify's hiring process was disappointing due to its lack of personal interaction. After submitting my application, I received an automated email several weeks later inviting me to a technical challenge. The optional recruiter screening was skipped, leaving me without any discussion about role alignment or company expectations. Challenge Setup: The invitation gave me just two days to schedule the challenge within a week. Unfortunately, the confirmation email lacked essential details like the date and time. The setup promised an employee presence during the challenge, but there was actually no online meeting, so no person at all. Instead I was asked to record my screen, and enable my camera and microphone. Technical Challenge: The challenge itself felt poorly organized. The instructions were scattered across a README file, a folder with screenshots, and code comments. For a one-hour task, this felt excessive and inefficient. Admittedly, I wasn't at my best that day, so maybe the task would've felt a bit more achievable on other days. Despite this and the disjointed guidance, I managed to complete as much as I could before the deadline. Feedback: It took two weeks to receive any feedback, which arrived as an impersonal email suggesting I read several books and reapply in 60 days. The recommendations (at least those relevant for an iOS Engineer) were for basic resources, several of which I had already reviewed in the past, some of them critically. Conclusion: I've never encountered a hiring process that felt less human. I highly recommend Speechify reconsider their automated approach and invest in personal engagement, streamlined instructions, and prompt, tailored feedback. This would ensure candidates feel valued and that the company presents itself as a desirable employer. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I will not be reapplying.