Cities are where the money's at, and the trend is definitely populations moving into cities rather than populations moving into rural areas. I live in a small town, so I get it, and I too wish I had an Apple Store nearby, but I don't see it happening.
I didn't see in the article that the Lead position doesn't come with a raise. I also didn't see how this is a customer service manager position so much as an administrative position, like assistant manager, which is probably a good idea. And the Schedule Planner position doesn't sound customer-facing at all. Do you have a reference or are you just being cynical?
MacRumors has learned that Apple is introducing two all-new Apple Store positions named Lead and Schedule Planner. Apple today informed existing retail employees that applications open Monday, July 24, although it appears that select stores started interviewing candidates as early as a few weeks ago.
Apple says the Lead position will give team members the chance to learn the ins and outs of running an Apple Store firsthand. The majority of a Lead's time will be spent as the Support Leader on the Floor, responsible for managing employee breaks and zoning in the store, and addressing customer concerns.
Support Leader on the Floor also entails communicating daily objectives, reinforcing store policies, and motivating team members by delivering feedback for career development, according to one employee's LinkedIn profile.
Apple says Leads will also support opening and closing, and perform a number of other administrative responsibilities, suggesting these employees could be key holders, count and balance cash, and be able to perform overrides when necessary. These have typically been duties carried out by the Store Manager.
It appears that Store Managers will continue to perform some of those responsibilities, in addition to HR and store development.
Meanwhile, working closely with Store Leaders, Apple says the majority of a Schedule Planner's time will be spent planning and creating the weekly schedule for the entire store. Schedule Planners will also identify trends and make resourcing recommendations to improve team and customer experiences.
Article Link: Apple Stores Getting All-New 'Lead' and 'Schedule Planner' Positions
[doublepost=1500715473][/doublepost]Motivating employees and providing feedback. (kicking arses)
MacRumors has learned that Apple is introducing two all-new Apple Store positions named Lead and Schedule Planner. Apple today informed existing retail employees that applications open Monday, July 24, although it appears that select stores started interviewing candidates as early as a few weeks ago.
Apple says the Lead position will give team members the chance to learn the ins and outs of running an Apple Store firsthand. The majority of a Lead's time will be spent as the Support Leader on the Floor, responsible for managing employee breaks and zoning in the store, and addressing customer concerns.
Support Leader on the Floor also entails communicating daily objectives, reinforcing store policies, and motivating team members by delivering feedback for career development, according to one employee's LinkedIn profile.
Apple says Leads will also support opening and closing, and perform a number of other administrative responsibilities, suggesting these employees could be key holders, count and balance cash, and be able to perform overrides when necessary. These have typically been duties carried out by the Store Manager.
It appears that Store Managers will continue to perform some of those responsibilities, in addition to HR and store development.
Meanwhile, working closely with Store Leaders, Apple says the majority of a Schedule Planner's time will be spent planning and creating the weekly schedule for the entire store. Schedule Planners will also identify trends and make resourcing recommendations to improve team and customer experiences.
Article Link: Apple Stores Getting All-New 'Lead' and 'Schedule Planner' Positions
Apple shops are shops like any other, staffed by shop assistants who have a level of knowledge about the goods they're selling. There are only three goods (iPhone, iPad and Mac), so it's not that difficult. You can dress the job titles up however you like but "Geniuses" are still just shop assistants.
It's a real shame but what you're saying seems to be true. I was hoping technology would give people more flexibility about living and telecommuting from more rural locations and small towns, but I'm just not seeing that happen and if anything that trend died and reversed. Life in the suburbs and cities has gotten eerily "Orwellian" for lack of a better term to describe how we live under so many cameras under more and more rules and scrutiny.
