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]

ON my 3rd interview

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!

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

 

[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.

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.