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iHeath

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 5, 2010
7
0
I recently applied online to several jobs at the Chicago Apple Store. I was curious as to how long it takes before a person hears from the store regarding a job? On the website, it said that these jobs were currently open, so I would assume they would have to be making a decision soon. Just looking for some advice. I also applied to the 2nd Apple Store that is being built in Chicago. I do not live in Chicago but am moving there this summer for school, so I am trying to prepare for life in the city. Figured finding a job is the first important item.
 
There's not really a standard amount of time before they get back to you unless that's in the job posting. Don't expect them to get back to you at all since you don't actually live in the city yet. Almost every company I know will give local candidates first consideration.
 
What school are you going to? Just be aware that Chicago is a big city. If you are counting of public transportation, it could take you a looonnngg time to get across town. Plus, bus service was recently cut, so the wait times are much much longer.
 
My school is located in downtown Chicago across from Millennium Park. I will not have a problem with transportation. I figured with not living in Chicago, that would limit my chances. I absolutely love Apple products and would give anything to work for Apple.
 
If you plan on living in a dorm, then get accepted into school and then put that address on the application.
 
My school is located in downtown Chicago across from Millennium Park. I will not have a problem with transportation. I figured with not living in Chicago, that would limit my chances. I absolutely love Apple products and would give anything to work for Apple.


Then, you should be just a bus ride up to the Michigan Ave. store... ;)

Good luck!
 
Then, you should be just a bus ride up to the Michigan Ave. store... ;)

Good luck!

haha. That could take 1hr + even if it is only .75 miles away. Take the red line to Chicago or the stop just before it and walk there. That's what I did in the winter. Otherwise, I would just walk up michigan ave. from jackson. It's a little less than a mile, but a good walk.
 
I recently applied online to several jobs at the Chicago Apple Store. I was curious as to how long it takes before a person hears from the store regarding a job? On the website, it said that these jobs were currently open, so I would assume they would have to be making a decision soon. Just looking for some advice. I also applied to the 2nd Apple Store that is being built in Chicago. I do not live in Chicago but am moving there this summer for school, so I am trying to prepare for life in the city. Figured finding a job is the first important item.

My most recent application to an apple store took them less than 4hrs to call me. I submitted the app at about 8am, went for a bike ride, and almost at the top of my local mountain, received a call, and scheduled an appointment that week while I was out of breath trying to hop off my bike.:rolleyes:

The other two times I received the calls within the week.

My experiences with the hiring process is quite pleasant. If you surf the web, you can find many pros and cons to working at Apple Retail. I was seeking the Apple genius position which seems to be very bi-polar. As a retail job, the positions, even the holy grail Genius, do not pay very well in the IT world.
 
Well I just found it funny that several of the jobs that were listed were from like January and February. I cannot imagine that these jobs wouldn't be filled immediately. Is this normal? I can understand the idea of them hiring people who actually live in Chicago instead of people that do not. Unfortunately, I do not currently live in Chicago, but can move as soon as I am offered a job. I mentioned this in my cover letter of my resume. But who knows.
 
haha. That could take 1hr + even if it is only .75 miles away. Take the red line to Chicago or the stop just before it and walk there. That's what I did in the winter. Otherwise, I would just walk up michigan ave. from jackson. It's a little less than a mile, but a good walk.

haha - good call...

Shows what we suburbanites know... :eek:
 
I will be attending Roosevelt University. I tried receiving information about being a Campus Rep, but the Apple Campus Rep office informed me they currently didn't have a campus rep job for Roosevelt University. I wonder how a University goes about receiving an official Campus Rep? My dream is to one day work for Apple Corporate and wanted to begin ASAP and figured working at the Apple Retail Store in Chicago while going to school would be a great experience. Any ideas or assistance would be much appreciated.
 
I got a call from my local Apple store about 2 years after I first applied...

Does that count? :rolleyes:

Ok ok, so they also emailed me about 4 months later for the x-mas hiring spree, but I was already employed at the time.
 
I will be attending Roosevelt University. I tried receiving information about being a Campus Rep, but the Apple Campus Rep office informed me they currently didn't have a campus rep job for Roosevelt University. I wonder how a University goes about receiving an official Campus Rep? My dream is to one day work for Apple Corporate and wanted to begin ASAP and figured working at the Apple Retail Store in Chicago while going to school would be a great experience. Any ideas or assistance would be much appreciated.

...dammit. didn't see your post below
 
Yes that is too bad!!!! Did you work at the Apple store or just for the manager while at a nother location? I still haven't received any kind of response from the store. Probably because I do not live in Chicago. Again, I posted on my cover letter that if I were offered a job I could move immediately, but I guess that didn't persuade anyone. I tried to be prepared as much as possible for the job by getting Apple Certified in iLife'09 and iWork'09 and using or purchasing every Apple product that is available within my budget.
 
Even if you said you would be willing to move right away, what about when they call you for an interview. Would you be able to drop $800.00 on a flight to get out there ASAP? Also, would you be able to start when they want you to? Most likely not because you will have to find a place to live first and then move (unless you are living in a hotel).

So, even if you put that you would move on your cover letter, there is still an inherit risk for them in trying to hire you. It's best to not even bother with so many applicants already living in the area and available that day.

Also, cover letters are just a way to show you know how to communicate. What you put in them really doesn't mean much to them. As Apple is a big company, they probably put it through a computer screener and only look to see if you included a few keywords that they are looking for. They also do this with your resume. If someone actually reads it, they don't spend any more than 10 seconds reading your resume and cover letter. So, most likely, they didn't even see that information.

I would recommend going on a trip to Chicago, getting a hotel room, and just walking around to find a job. Ask to talk to managers and tell them you are interested in working for them. And don't put all your eggs in one basket. Apple shouldn't be the only place you apply for. They probably got at least 700 applications for the single job that you applied for. How did you make yourself stand out? Other applicants may of had years of retail experience already.

I don't really know what you want to do for Apple. However, you don't have to be so devoted to them. You could get a job at Best Buy, or any other retail store to gain experience and then try the apple store again later. If you want to work for Apple at the corporate office or something (years down the road), any experience will really help. The times of moving up slowly within one company is pretty much gone in today's world. It is expected that the next generation has 10 different jobs by 35 or something like that. And retail is a very hard business to move up in. Every year, retail stores go through a restructuring (usually around this time) and get rid of managers, staff, and bring in new ones.

Basically, what I am saying is that you wanted to work for apple is good and all, but expand your options.
 
^^^^ Great post....keep your expand your options...

I essentially cried when I got the rejection from Apple (I got the second interview at the store and everything, and even had to wait as I was seriously being considered.). I was hoping to move up to a full time Genius.

But, things worked out differently and I got a full-time job in IT elsewhere. Low pay with good benefits, but I ended up not adjusting well and got dumped with even more work due to the lay-offs there.

I did get a part time retail job at a shop I love and now it's going to be full time - MUCH better than Apple!
 
There seems to be a lot of open job applications open around the world for Apple Retail Stores...I recently applied for a specialist position at a future opening store about 10 minutes from me. Submitted my resume in Pages '09 format and got a little confused - do you think I should have done it in .doc format like all the other online job applications I've done? On the other hand, it IS Apple...

Like what others are saying...keep your options broad, and if even if you do get a job elsewhere, at least you have the experience to show on your resume for Apple! :)
 
No I totally agree that I cannot keep my options limited. I would be intrersted in doing anything associated with Apple. Whether it be at a BestBuy or other technology outlet. However, for as long as I can remember I have wanted to work for Apple. There is just something about the atmosphere and attitude of Apple employees. I come from a small town where technology is not at the top of the list of people's wants and yet people in town call me the Apple Guy. People call me all the time with questions regarding Apple products and even make comments to me asking if I ordered the new Apple product that was released lately. I just want to be surrounded by Apple.
 
It's not all it's cracked up to be. I spent 3 years in Apple retail, and while it was the best retail job around, it was still pretty...blah. Dealing with the same questions all day, and having to deal with the same kinds of customers. Spending hours swapping product out overnight. It's kind of cool to be around the product all the time, but for the pay (usually less than $10/hr), definitely not worth it.
 
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