Apple At-Home Advisor...

[MrMacMack]

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[AngryGerbil]

I'm quite the opposite. I wake up, brush my teeth and can't wait to clock in. I eat while I take calls. It fuels me. The job is a rush. Each call is a quarter inserted into the coin-op video game. Since I've started the job, I've gained weight. I sleep better. I need more. I want more. I gag when I'm not working.

Seriously? 1 year in and I don't hate the job as much as I used to but I don't ever see myself becoming the Shamwow guy of AHA like you.

I will agree that age has nothing do with an AHA's success though. I'm over 50 and had no clue what iOS was when I started. The job has never been stressful but that's only because I never gave a damn about metrics or much else for that matter, I was just looking to fix stuff. I did come close to quitting - more than once but stuck it out as I'm not one to walk out on a job without another to walk into. Again, I'm just not a customer service kind of guy. Anyway, things seemed to get a little more tolerable at the 6 month mark but had I been full time going into this instead of part time I would have quit for sure. I'm still adjusting to the Tier 2 40 hour work week but on the plus side, I haven't ripped off the headset and thrown it on the floor since April.

 

[soi]

Just curious:
Was anyone hired with little to no customer service experience?
Was recently laid off from a newspaper after 15+ years in that industry. I did have a 6-month stint in a Radio Shack about 10 years ago and 10 years in a grocery store many years ago.
I know my way in and out of any Mac or Windows machine and I'm great at explaining how things work. I own an iMac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Airport Extreme and Apple TV. I'm the go-to tech guy for friends and family and I often solved tech problems at work. I explained all this in my cover letter.
I applied Monday and haven't heard back yet, but I guess that it sometimes takes awhile. I also applied for a Retail Specialist position, so maybe that's what's holding it up.
I hope my cover letter makes up for the lack of customer service experience. What do y'all think?

Good luck, It can take a while so hang in there.

 

[soi]

So here is what I learned in my brief time (6 weeks) as an Apple At Home Advisor. First, what happened to me: I'm 56 years old and it was more than I could handle on many levels. I have never had a job that stressed me out so much. I lost my appetite along with about 20 pounds (not a recommended way to diet), I lost sleep, I lost my sanity as every waking moment was invaded by thoughts of the job, the customers, the metrics, the unbelievably complicated corporate bureaucracy and more. I developed an enhanced gag-reflex that made it hard for me to brush my teeth without choking to death (which I have learned is brought on by extreme stress). So I quit today and they didn't want me to go. Couldn't even give them 2 weeks - I think a psychotic event would have resulted if I stayed.

The job itself seems somewhat simplistic - on the surface. The nightmare is trying to figure out the KBases, the SOPs (pages and pages long) and on top of that selling Applecare to the customers and being empathetic to a fault. And of course you are doing this in real time with a customer breathing down your neck. And the company is breathing down your neck to keep your call time low and the selling of AppleCare high. Plus, the always important Customer Satisfaction metric is hanging over your head like a sword. Having never worked in a call center or had a job at a giant corporation, none of this was a fit for me.

If you have done call center work before and are youngish then you can probably do this. If not, enter into this with careful consideration of what you will be doing. It's not for everybody, me in particular.

Don't get me wrong - this is all on me. Apple has their own way of doing things it's true, but I was the one who cratered here. Just wanted to give all of you newbies a heads up.

You make several good points. Call center work is not for everyone. Having worked in call centers doing tech support / customer service and help desks for years, I've seen some people that absolutely love it and others that hate it.

For me I love the customer interaction and thats why i'm looking forward to starting with Apple but if this job is not the right fit I will move on.

 

[nhhendu]

The posting I applied for was dated 7/26. I applied on 8/13. I notice now the job posting date was changed to 8/15. Hope I didn't slip through the cracks.

 

[xquarkofborgx]

Age or prior experience has nothing to do with the success or failure in this job role. Co-workers on my team range between early 20's to late 50's and have an array of diverse experiences.

I've concluded that either you're pre-wired for this type of job or you're not; the interviewing process and the first 90 days of employment act as a filter. You're obviously not fit for this job. And that's okay. This job isn't geared for everyone.

I'm quite the opposite. I wake up, brush my teeth and can't wait to clock in. I eat while I take calls. It fuels me. The job is a rush. Each call is a quarter inserted into the coin-op video game. Since I've started the job, I've gained weight. I sleep better. I need more. I want more. I gag when I'm not working.

The job is simplistic, but challenging and rewarding at the same time. It's absolutely amazing. It's the best job I have ever had. And one I protect daily on keeping.

The time In between calls I jog on my treadmill, I go outside and get fresh air and breath summer air. When I'm in a call I have the sun beating down on me thru the window where I have my desk.

Job stress? I have none. I'm at home, 20 ft from my kitchen and bathroom. I can eat when I want, use the bathroom when I want, listen to music when I want, check in with my family when I want. See my family when I want. And when I take calls I get to help people. I make their day. I convert frustrations into positive and memorable moments. In most of my calls I am a hero. Customers appreciate me. They are thankful. And the remainder of their day becomes amazing because I resolved their issue.

Metrics? Apple doesn't force you to sell anything. It's all about informing customers of their support options and letting them decide on what works best for them. Additionally I have the freedom to speak my mind. I am not forced to read from a script. I can talk in my voice. I can be me.

Don't get me wrong - you're obviously not wired for the job. It's been awhile since I have contributed content on this thread. I just wanted to etch another post for the folks that are like me and send a message saying to work hard thru the hiring and interviewing process. Once you get the job you'll find yourself in an amazing position to where you can be at home among the love and joy of your family while at the same time get rewarded with a very decent compensation for helping people over the phone with their iPhone and MacBook issues.

This is a great post! I understand this type of work is not for everyone that's why I appreciate MrMacMack and AngryGerbil being as honest as they have been on this thread. I am excited to start something new and like any job there will be roadblocks and hard times along the way but as long as you stick it out things usually get better and other opportunities in the company come along.

 

[TheHibernian]

Seriously? 1 year in and I don't hate the job as much as I used to but I don't ever see myself becoming the Shamwow guy of AHA like you.

I assumed that his post was satirical in nature, given how over-the-top it was. But then the punch line never came, so I had to conclude that he was serious. In that context, anyone who finds himself "convert(ing) frustrations into positive and memorable moments" has definitely found the right job.

It's safe to say that my experience has been different.

 

[AngryGerbil]

I assumed that his post was satirical in nature, given how over-the-top it was. But then the punch line never came, so I had to conclude that he was serious. In that context, anyone who finds himself "convert(ing) frustrations into positive and memorable moments" has definitely found the right job.

It's safe to say that my experience has been different.

I see and hear so much "over the top" stuff since joining Apple that it's become difficult to separate satire from serious.

 

[iPhonagain]

Wow i guess we just don't hear about them, I would reapply again in 6months to a year. If not sooner I'm sorry to hear that I wish you the best. Can you tell me was the email quick or did it take a few days for you to get it?


Can anyone tell me if they get emails from Apple on the weekends.
I also wonder if they do a profile of you over the 3 interviews you do. Like interview one is qualifications interview 2 is tech skills interview 3 is customer service and tech skills
Then they make a decision on if they wish to continue.

Well, the interviewer told me a decision would be made in two days, a Thursday, and around 1pm on Thursday I got the email.
So pretty quick.

 

[Stoodo]

After my third interview my guy said check back in a couple of weeks if you don't hear anything.

Feeling nervous.

 

[imjoee]

Well, I received the dreaded rejection email. Good luck to everyone else though!!

Hi, sorry to ask. what do you think went wrong during the interview?

thanks, i want to learn from other peoples' experiences.

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My position is that if I'm going to be stuck doing phone work I'd at least like a queue that is NOT consumer level iOS. As far as Apple the company, I neither love it or hate it... it's a tech company and I just happen to work there at the moment. My 2 biggest gripes with Apple at this point are 1. prices and 2. the cult like atmosphere. The kool aid drinkers drive me nuts at times. I'm not really knocking it but rigid devotion to an ideology of any type does not sit well with me, be it political, religious or tech.

If i may ask, what are "kool aid drinkers?"

 

[mblogsd]

Well had my 3rd interview yesterday and received my HireRight email this afternoon. No reason anything bad should show up there, so hopefully ill have a job soon. Would be nice since I've been out of work for 7 months now.

 

[TheHibernian]

If i may ask, what are "kool aid drinkers?"

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid

 

[RydiaRelm]

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[mblogsd]

Congratulations. If they send the background check email you're in, unless of course you've got a criminal record you're hiding from them...

Thanks. Looking forward to getting back to work.

 

[1AppleNoOrange]

has anybody in the August 26 training classes been contacted by team managers? im trying to figure something out, I remember in our paperwork session they said we would go live oct 25th?? has anybody found out if that still holds true, because i planned on trying to do something one of those weekends, but if we end up going live before that, then i wont be able to go because its a good chance we will be working a weekend.

 

[TheHibernian]

has anybody in the August 26 training classes been contacted by team managers? im trying to figure something out, I remember in our paperwork session they said we would go live oct 25th?? has anybody found out if that still holds true, because i planned on trying to do something one of those weekends, but if we end up going live before that, then i wont be able to go because its a good chance we will be working a weekend.

I've never heard of anyone being in training for two months. Somewhere around the end of September should be when you start your regular schedule; possibly a week later if you're in CPU.

 

[RydiaRelm]

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[yoo7898]

Atlanta AHA

Hello,

I currently live in the metro Atlanta area. I applied for the AHA position on August 5, I have not received anything back yet. Can someone tell me, maybe who lives in the metro ATL area, how long did it take for a recruiter to reach you about the position?

Thanks!

 

[Applefan456]

.

 

[Stoodo]

I was told the 23th.

I had my third interview Monday and haven't heard back... It is probably too early to be nervous, but I am....

 

[mblogsd]

Anyone here in the hiring process that was told their training date would be sept 16th or the 23rd or even later

I was told 23rd.

 

[Carpe-Apple]

Pretty sure they said BY October 5th, not 25.. meaning we finish our training schedule on the 4th.

I can confirm. October 5th was on my training schedule from my team manager. See you guys on Monday!

 

[yoo7898]

I was told 23rd.

When did you apply for the job and how long before they contacted you?

 

[mariapplesauce]

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