Anatomy of the mobile interview

Welcome to the playbook. I couldn't find a dedicated resource focused on the full mobile interview loop, even in 2024. Most blogs focus on specific questions you may be quizzed on such as:

Can you describe the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture?

But this is far from how you're assessed today.

DISCLAIMER

This playbook reflects my experience interviewing for mobile roles in NYC and SF. I've been rejected from dozens of companies and have so much to learn. Take my experience and advice with a grain of salt.

It didn't take long in 2024 to realize landing an offer is much harder than in 2022. Failing just one of five onsite interviews can be a dealbreaker. In 2025 I suspect it's still an employer's market. I won't admit the number of companies I applied to in 2024, but I interviewed with many companies. From this experience, I encountered seven common interview types.

The 7 types of mobile engineering interviews

1

Data Structures & Algorithms

Still as relevant as ever in 2024. Here's what you need to know:

Still as relevant as ever—especially at larger places like Meta, Duolingo, Airbnb, and Snap. Smaller companies often run similar tests, just packaged differently (like a quick Swift/Kotlin function instead of a classic algorithm puzzle). The idea is to filter people out early; otherwise every candidate would hit onsite, and teams would be swamped.

Because of that, these coding screens are standardized. Some teams test algorithms; others lean on iOS or Android frameworks. Either way, there’s usually a “right" answer that signals a pass. This format emphasizes speed and correctness—if you blow through the first question, expect a follow-up. Creativity and past achievements won't help much for this interview. Fast pattern and knowledge recall is the most important factor for this round.

DSA Questions

Name shortener
Character cipher
Meeting rooms
Island counter

Sweet Spot

Implement view alignment function
Build a multiset
Pretty print nested hierarchy

Platform Specific

Fetch data from API, render on a list
Implement a feature / UI
Platform trivia + challenge (views, concurrency, generics)

For that reason alone, I recommend Leetcode practice even if you're only applying to smaller companies. It sharpens your ability to see common patterns for similar problems and returns clear pass/fail feedback.

2

Behavioral Questions

These are not just 'soft' questions - they're critical technical assessments in disguise.

Key areas you'll be assessed on:

  • Technical Decision Making: Expect questions about architecture choices and tradeoffs
  • Project Impact: Questions about metrics, user impact, and business outcomes
  • Team Dynamics: How you handle conflicts, especially technical disagreements
  • Mobile-Specific Scenarios: Performance optimization decisions, API design choices
PLAYBOOK

• Tell me about a time you had to optimize app performance • How did you handle a disagreement about technical architecture? • What's the most complex mobile feature you've shipped?

GAME PLAN

Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), but keep it concise and focused on technical details.

Past Projects

Core Values

System Design

Coding

Behavioral

Anatomy of the mobile interview