Almost Got A Job With Apple!

[RossoA]

I am a current applicant for the Retail Store in Regent Street, London, I have to attend a seminar this week and am quite excited about the whole procedure of working for Apple.

Anyone have any experiences they can share and/or details about the interview stages etc. would be very much appreciated!

Thanks :)

[edesignuk]

be ready to say good bye to MacRumors.

[xUKHCx]

I once got a job with apple based soley on a telephone interview that i had while shopping. So don't know much about their procedure but unfortunately in the end it turned out I couldn't commit to the job so didn't take it up.

I would go into the store before the seminar and spend some time in their so you feel comfortable and observe how the current floor staff work.

[studentmac]

which position did you apply for?

Good luck.

[RossoA]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

I applied for both personal shopper and mac specialist positions.

Thanks, hopefully they'll like me, I'd love to work for them!

[GM'z]

I applied for a Mac Genius position at a local Apple store, and I was invited to a job seminar that’s being held next week. (I’m in the same boat as you are)

Although, I do know that at the seminar the recruiters will divide all the possible candidates into small groups and have ya’ll give a short presentation about god knows what, during which we will be judged and critiqued.

So prepare yourself! You better be outgoing and friendly!

That being said GL.

[RossoA]

Damn, okay thanks!

You too!

[GM'z]

RossoA

Just wanted to give you an update. I had the seminar today for a Mac Guni position, and although I can't get into the specifics, it was so much fun. The screen test wasn't too difficult but defently worth studying for.

I hope your encounter was just as fun as mine. I'm not overly confident I got the job, but even if I didn't get it, it was worth the effert.

Gmz

[acearchie]

Well its nice for now BUt how are you going to SAY GOODBYE TO MACRUMORS?

[MovieCutter]

You don't have to say goodbye to MacRumors. Everyone at my store when I worked for Apple Retail, including myself, surfed all the rumors sites and some even posted. As long as you don't go around saying "I posted this thing on MacRumors" or post here saying "I work for Apple, yada yada yada" nobody cares or has any way of detecting it. We even used to look at MR on the Mac in the backroom.

As for working at Apple Retail...it's the best retail job you'll ever have...but it's still crap retail. Be prepared to deal with VERY mundane questions from VERY stupid customers, and answering the SAME questions...over...and over...and over...Not to mention the know-it-alls who come in to test you about your Mac knowledge (mostly from MR probably) and the people (again, mostly from MR most likely) who ask you when the new Mac Pro is coming out, or when the new iPod is coming. You won't know any of this information.

That being said, there are definitely some perks...like being the first to touch new product, the discount is phenomenal, the freebies that pop-up from time to time (iPod shuffles, iPhones, various other swag and merchandise, not to mention the shirts) are definitely cool (note how I mentioned nothing about customers in there?). But again...it's only retail. Don't drown in the Kool-Aid.

EDIT: Some advice for the seminar-thingy...be very customer-centric. They're not going to care all that much about how you know every nook and cranny of every Apple product ever made. They want you know iLife, be able to explain how it works to a customer, and sell them a Mac.

[twoodcc]

if you wanted to be a mac genius, would it help to be certified in anything?

[notjustjay]

My experience from being a customer is that you definitely want to be able to sell the Mac as a TOOL and not as a TOY.

The other day a new Best Buy opened in my city so I dropped in to have a look. I walked up into the Mac section and someone was eyeing the 20" iMac. Unfortunately, some wag had previously pulled the shift-cmd-optn-8 trick so the screen colors were completely wrong. I was like, "Wow, that's not right" and fixed it so the other customer wouldn't be completely unimpressed. He figured I must be a Mac guy, and started asking me questions about buying a Mac, switching from a PC, what I would recommend, etc.

I was answering his questions based on practical experience, and trying to show him the ways that a Mac would make his life easier. For example, I went through iPhoto and iDVD, demonstrating how easy it would be to take photos from his digital camera, bring them into the computer, make a slide show, and burn it onto a DVD (complete with motion menus).

By this time a sales guy had come and was starting to try to take over the "sales pitch". I had things to do so I left them. I could hear them talking, though, and the sales guy started trying to impress him with technical features and "toys" -- like how the Dock was reflective, or how Spaces would animate in and out. He didn't seem too interested.

Demonstrate how the Mac will make your life easier, or increase your social standing (e.g. the first time you pop in a DVD you made and those motion menus start). Don't try to sell them on flashy glitz.

[FF_productions]

I applied for a job with apple. I had 2 interviews, once in the summer and recently interviewed me again to no avail.

There's lots of applicants for every opening, I seem to just barely miss it everytime (at least I try to think that way).

It's the one retail job I wish I could have because, truthfully every other place sucks.

The fact that I actually know what product I'm selling makes it even better.

I agree with the poster above me, they don't care how much you know. The goal is to sell to the customer. Selling Applecare, .Mac, etc with the computer is the ultimate goal.

[GM'z]

Hello all,

Unfortunately, as it's been said before, Apple isn't really looking for IT experienced candidates.

On my first interview with Apple I was disappointed to notice the type of people I was competing against. There were some that had never used an Apple Computer before, didn't know what Verbose Mode is or what reseting PRAM does.

(During the screening test I had some guy actually ask me what "Safe mode" is. I just looked at him with disappointment and shook my head.)

During my second interview the recruiter showed me my test result and I was kind of shocked to find out that I had 4 questions wrong out of 29, but what was even more shocking was how excited the recruiter was. She was surprised I got so many correct.

By all means, the test was difficult but I think Apple sets their expectations so low to fill these positions.

Anyway, all being said I am excited!

I'm not really worried about posting on forums. What are the odds?

By the way, how many more interviews are there, and how much money should I ask for? The pay range for a Mac Genius is between $15 to $20 hr. Knowing how impressed they were with my results and personality I would like to shoot high, but I don't want to come on too strong and lose the job.

Thanks for the help.

[notjustjay]

I'm not really worried about posting on forums. What are the odds?

Apparently higher than you think. No firsthand experience here to back it up, but I know there are stories... Be careful.

Also, I may be out of place here but the general tone of your post smacks of the sort of Apple Genius Arrogance that a lot of people here like to rant about after a bad experience at the Apple store. Why were you shocked to discover you (gasp) actually got a few questions wrong? Or disappointed at your fellow applicants for not being as smart as you?

When I go to the Apple store I definitely like to talk with someone who knows what he's talking about. But, on the chance that I actually did my research and know something relevant that he doesn't, I want him to listen, not be all "you don't know what you're talking about, I know so much more about these things than you do, that I'm always right". How many times have we all had this experience? In fact I'd choose a nice guy that doesn't know, but is willing to learn on the spot and is going to offer me helpful customer service, over an arrogant know-it-all. Every time.

Don't take these words personally. I'm not accusing you of anything. Just be aware that this is the stereotype Apple store employee that everyone on MacRumors hates, and this is what you're up against. Don't be that guy! :D

As for pay, if you want to play it safe, $17.50 to $18.00 is smack in the middle of the range, but you might go for $19.00 if you think they're really that impressed with you. Remember that your people skills need to be as good as your technical skills, because that's what they (and we) want!

[question fear]

Re: Retail pay, go in asking for the higher range, so if you think the range is 15-20, aim for 18.50-19. Put that down if you can, not just 19. Also, negotiate a little bit. Don't shoot way higher than you think the pay range is. And if they clearly tell you they can't pay above X, don't push it too far. Ask what your raise options are and take it up once you're hired.

I speak from experience, I was a sales manager for Borders for several years, and we sometimes had to turn away applicants who were really good but wanted to be paid more than we could offer. We were willing to negotiate up .50-1.00/hr, but if you're pushing for 2.00+ over what the normal rate is, don't. There's a point where payroll just can't take it, and the likelihood that you're the only candidate they could ever consider hiring is not high enough to gamble and push too hard.

[GM'z]

Notjustjay, it’s not my arrogance you witnessed in my previous posting as much as my acceptance or disenchantment of what a Mac Genius really is. I don’t know about you, but for me the name “Genius” sets a level of expectation, that I didn’t think many of the candidates on the second interview had.

That being said, I’m the most outgoing and friendly person you’ll meet, and I’m not going to hold the same expectation from the customers.

Anyway thank you for the advice. My hope for pay is going to be 19. I may let her talk me down to 18, but anything lower then that is a stretch.

I’m still attending school for Business Management so I’m hesitant about taking on "40 hours" a week job.

[question fear]

Anyway thank you for the advice. My hope for pay is going to be 19. I may let her talk me down to 18, but anything lower then that is a stretch.

I’m still attending school for Business Management so I’m hesitant about taking on "40 hours" a week job.

Good luck! Let us know if your negotiations are successful. Just remember to negotiate DOWN, not up. I interviewed a guy once who asked for 12 (starting for the job he was applying for, no experience, was 8.) I told him we could do 8. He asked for 11. I said 8.25, he asked for 14. I said absolutely not, he asked to speak to whoever could authorize that. I told him that was me, that the highest was 8.25. He asked for 13. I told him the interview was over. :)

[maestro55]

By the way, how many more interviews are there, and how much money should I ask for?

From my personal experience, I have put down on applications the lowest amount I would want to be paid and generally the only problem there is that some places will throw an application out if they are not willing to pay that much. In your case you know the amount that a Mac Genius would normally get paid, and since you did impress them I would go ahead and ask for the Maximum $20 if they say no take whatever they are willing to give if you can be comfortable with that amount.

I recently took a job with a company and I asked for $10.00 an hour (I know it sounds low, but I am still in school and around here that is pretty good pay for a student) instead I was offered $8.50, wanting the job and knowing I am going to get 3 credit hours through a Co-Op with my college I took the job. Mind you that the cost of living here isn't very low and I also decided to keep my other job at Wal-Mart part-time so I am not doing poorly, but was a bit down about the lower pay considering I am expected here to do and know a lot more than in a retail position.

But enough about me and good luck to you and hopefully you get the pay that you want. For the OP, also good luck to you. Working at Apple I am sure is a great experience, and if we had an Apple store in my area I think I would seek a job with them. I know I couldn't be a Mac Genius as I haven't been using Macs on a full time basis long enough to know very much about them. I know Verbose mode from my UNIX knowledge but as for resetting the PRAM I honestly wasn't sure what that would do to the system until I looked it up a few minutes ago. For those who are trying to get retail jobs with Apple, good luck and have fun.

[Slip]

OK, this is probably just a student dream, but I would love to work for Apple. Maybe in the design and manufacture side rather than retail, though even that would be ace. It'll probably never happen, but I can aim high :rolleyes:

[twoodcc]

if you wanted to be a mac genius, would it help to be certified in anything?

so i saw that some one on here was trying to become a mac genius. like i asked before, would it help to be certified in Leopard?

[ReanimationLP]

so i saw that some one on here was trying to become a mac genius. like i asked before, would it help to be certified in Leopard?

If you actually get the job, they ship you to Cupertino to be certified in all areas.

[CashGap]

...my acceptance or disenchantment of what a Mac Genius really is. I don’t know about you, but for me the name “Genius” sets a level of expectation, that I didn’t think many of the candidates on the second interview had.

I've always thought of it as meaning (in the context of an Apple Store Genius):

- Can handle 99% of the technical issues that come through the door. That sounds like a tall order until you realize:
- 5% of the problems are technically challenging
- 10% are hardware diagnosis
- 10% are hardware "repair" (parts swapping in a limited product line)
- 10% are hardware replacement (swap bad iPod shuffle for good iPod shuffle, etc.)
- 20% are explaining basic features, functions
- 45% are listening to people say "No, I didn't drop it, I don't know how the screen cracked and I don't know how it got frappichino residue in the optical drive. And isn't that why I bought AppleCare?"

Or

- Sharper than 99.9% of the folks who have handled your previous retail computer service encounters at other establishments. Not a tall order.

[twoodcc]

If you actually get the job, they ship you to Cupertino to be certified in all areas.

i highly doubt that

[GM'z]

Good luck! Let us know if your negotiations are successful. Just remember to negotiate DOWN, not up. I interviewed a guy once who asked for 12 (starting for the job he was applying for, no experience, was 8.) I told him we could do 8. He asked for 11. I said 8.25, he asked for 14. I said absolutely not, he asked to speak to whoever could authorize that. I told him that was me, that the highest was 8.25. He asked for 13. I told him the interview was over. :)

"question fear" absolutely hilarious.:D:D:D:D

Slip & twoodcc, I know for a fact their going to send me to Cupertino. Thats the first thing they tell you during seminar. I get 3 weeks of full paid training. First week is in home training and the remaining weeks in Cupertino. (definitely
looking forward to that)

CashGap, That's a really nice explanation.

Thanks, for the advice! (all) I'll definitely keep you guys posted. I'm just waiting for them to complete my background check.

[Slip]

"question fear" absolutely hilarious.:D:D:D:D

Slip & twoodcc, I know for a fact their going to send me to Cupertino. Thats the first thing they tell you during seminar. I get 3 weeks of full paid training. First week is in home training and the remaining weeks in Cupertino. (definitely
looking forward to that)

CashGap, That's a really nice explanation.

Thanks, for the advice! (all) I'll definitely keep you guys posted. I'm just waiting for them to complete my background check.

I stand corrected :)
Its alright for some ey ;)

[pamon]

good luck and keep all posted... cupertino for 2 weeks would be nice

[Eric Lewis]

I am a current applicant for the Retail Store in Regent Street, London, I have to attend a seminar this week and am quite excited about the whole procedure of working for Apple.

Anyone have any experiences they can share and/or details about the interview stages etc. would be very much appreciated!

Thanks :)

did u get it

[GM'z]

It was the most stressful situation I had ever been in. And Jesses Christ the question they ask are absolutely radicals...

Like: Explain what a hard drive and a Ram is to a grandmother, and you can't use any technecal words like FILES - DATA - PC - GRAPHICS..... Then use analogy for them!

O yea I loved this question. What does "Is you life detailed?" mean? do they want to know if I'm organized....

He asked me to describe what a Mac Genius does, with out using the word customer serves.

Than he asked me what my goal is right now in-regards to everything thats going on with my life. He said "where would you like to work at right NOW give the opportunity! So I replayed "to be a Mac Genius" - i thought to my self "Oveously thats why I'm here" - and the GM of Apple laughed and said "I mean seriously?". What the hell was he expecting me to say?

They were lees interested in knowing anything about my IT experience, my certifications or even the experience I had working fro AppleCare. It was unbelievable!!!

We talked about pay but it wasn't to detailed of a conversation. I said I was open for negotiation, than he asked me what my prevues pay was and i replayed with great disappointment. I have a part-time job now and i get paid ****. I know If I was to get the job there going to offer me a low pay!!!!

Anyway I wont know their decision until next week, which is going to be my 5th dreaded interview.

I know I ****ing bombed it! I stumbled on some of the questions. As I was describing what a Hard Drive was they kept saying "you can't use that word isn't too advanced" and the word i was using is ICON for god sakes.

W/e if i don;t get the job I can concentrate more on my school work.

Although, it would suck going through all these interviews for nothing!

[Darkroom]

Like: Explain what a hard drive and a Ram is to a grandmother, and you can't use any technecal words like FILES - DATA - PC - GRAPHICS..... Then use analogy for them!

As I was describing what a Hard Drive was they kept saying "you can't use that word isn't too advanced" and the word i was using is ICON for god sakes.


humm... interesting question... i guess i would have said a harddrive is like a basket or a purse/wallet, where you put your personal thing into it for safe keeping... but instead of those things being real tangible objects, they are like digital objects. and ram... wow... uh... i would have said that ram is like your brain. the more ram you have, the more brain power you have so that you can remember where all your objects in your purse are and therefore retrieve them faster and more efficiently...

i'm interested in what you said during your interview.

[Slip]

Like: Explain what a hard drive and a Ram is to a grandmother, and you can't use any technecal words like FILES - DATA - PC - GRAPHICS..... Then use analogy for them!

I think nearly all of us here could explain that in a heartbeat, but with no technical details, now that's tricky...

[GM'z]

After being interrupted so many times and stumbling a couple I finally said a hard drive is like a house, where you keep your personal belongings. Unfortunately he didn’t like my answer. At the end I asked him to give me an example and he replayed….

Well … (paused for a second) A computer is like a house. A hard drive is like a closet. The more drawers you have in your closet the more things you can put in it.

As for a RAM I said it was a part of your computer that things are stored on temporarily.

He also didn’t like that answer!

He said RAM is like a desk, where you keep things on it temporarily. The bigger the desk is the more items you can have on it at one time.
It was a brilliant analogy, but how the hell was he expecting me to come up with that in such a stressed out environment. I was interviewed by the recruiter, the GM and DM!

After the conversation he said “Thank you for proving the difficulties of my questions.” I don’t know if he meant that sarcastically or not.
I hope they focus more on my personality, certification and experience, and not so much on the interrogation. I felt that I sounded like an idiot trying to explain what RAM is. I kept my composer, but I did stumble on my words

Anyway, I had never thought that my last interview would be more difficult then the first 3. Knowing what I know now the previous interviews were walk in the park!!!

There is so much more I could talk about that pissed me off, but I’m optimistic. If by miracle I get the job I don’t want this post to haunt me.

[lucky3killer]

What's average of wage per hour at Apple store in USA for stocker or help consumers to explain about Mac? I don't think it would be ow wage that's similar to Wal-Mart.

[CashGap]

They were lees interested in knowing anything about my IT experience, my certifications or even the experience I had working fro AppleCare. It was unbelievable!!!

Lots of lessons here.

They are not interviewing to determine the skills/attitudes/experiences that YOU THINK are important for the job.

They are interviewing to determine your skills/attitudes/experiences and comparing them to characteristics that they have PROVEN correlate with success on the job.

They skip certifications, IT experience etc. for one of two reasons:

1. Those are not proven to correlate with success on the job.
2. Those are proven to have a NEGATIVE CORRELATION to success on the job. The more "prepared" you are based on our definition, the less success you have at the job based on their experience.

Based on my experience in business, running IT, and shopping (including at the Apple store), I'm betting it's the second reason.

[TBi]

I was offered a job on the spot for apple after my first interview with them (End 2001). Turned it down though because i got a better offer elsewhere :)

[LeeTom]

I thought everyone knew the desk/filing cabinet analogy.
RAM is like the top of your desk - it's what you're working on at the time.
HD is like the filing cabinet - it stores what you're not working on, but can hold more.

[TBi]

I thought everyone knew the desk/filing cabinet analogy.
RAM is like the top of your desk - it's what you're working on at the time.
HD is like the filing cabinet - it stores what you're not working on, but can hold more.

Unfortunately the desk analogy is already taken by the "desktop" :)

[GM'z]

CashGap, that makes sense!

If I was looking for support I rather talk to someone competent, who is polite, then a prick that's a genius!

O well, it's not over for me until the fat lady sings. (She's not scheduled for an appearance until next Friday)

On the contrary, if I don't get the Mac Genius position maybe I can try out the Mac Specialist! That's equail as fun right........? Kind of...........?

[GM'z]

Bad news

I didn’t get the Mac Genius position, because they didn’t think I could handle a full time job and school.

The last question they asked me during the interview was whether or not I am currently working a full time job. Although I put in 40 hours a week, I still have a part time status. So, I answered NO and didn’t bother to explain!

Good news

They gave me a full time position as a Mac Specialist; in hope that if I manage my time responsibly I could advance to a Mac Genius. The recruiter said, that there is no time table for this process, so it could take as little as a month or as long as a year.


One thing I haven’t gotten a definitive answer on is the PAY. I would prefer not to wait until the day I start to find that out. Should I be bold and just ask?

[JoeKarame]

Oops. Posted in the wrong thread!

[joefinan]

I'm amazed there is so much excitement about getting a low paid job in a shop.

Maybe I'm missing something...

[pezza]

Get the pay issue sorted, don't start until you have a full understanding of the package.

In my experience the recruiters will give you a vague idea of the salary range, but it is often confirmed by the HR dept, after the offer has been made all over the phone.

Don't be dazzeled by the free t-shirts and staff discounts, this is a job and you need to be happy with the salary.