The run down...
Long post alert!!! lol
I remember coming in here hoping for as MUCH info as I could get on this whole process. So I hope that having been put mid way through the Apple recruitment wringer, I can help those about to be put through it themselves and share my experiences.
Okay...
The group seminars seem to differ depending on country / location and the role you're applying for. But generally you get several stages...
1: A group interview
You get fed the Apple propaganda via snazzy videos of employees at Apple stores around the world saying how wonderful it is to work for Apple. You also have to introduce yourself (Your name? What are you currently doing? Why you want to work for Apple?) do a couple of role plays and a little Q and A.
2: A smaller group interview and a 1 on 1
The group interview is pretty much the same as the first on a smaller (more tense) scale. You introduce yourself again (a good chance to get in what you might not have at the first stage). The choice of either doing another role play or a presentation on an Apple product of your choice. And then you go off and have a 1 on 1 interview with an Apple person.
3 (and sometimes 4): 1 on 1 interviews
The stages where they'll (sometimes) offer you the job if they want you. (From what I've been told) this is usually with a higher up: store manager or the field recruiter who dug your CV and invited you to the group seminar.
Different people
I'm not sure if it's a deliberate thing on Apple's part or just MY experience. But no same Apple employee's were at the different stages. So you're pretty much having to sell yourself from scratch each and every time. So you need to go into each stage like it's the very first. You can't bank on that one Apple employee you REALLY got on with at one stage, being there at another. And that when they huddle together over their MacBooks to select candidates that THAT one person will lobby for you. You need to win EVERY PERSON over so that they want to pick you to go through to the next stage and ultimately hire you.
Dress code
This may differ from country to country as I noticed from past posts that dress code
was highlighted in the seminar invites. But for seminars in the UK, there isn't really a dress code for the Apple seminars / interviews. Just think of what the staff wear in the stores. As long as you have an Apple t-shirt, pretty much whatever else you wanna wear is fair game! *lol* My advice would be not to go too smart. One guy showed up in a suit and looked really, REALLY out of place. A shirt / sweater and some jeans and a pair of Converse / Plimsolls or clean trainers will do. Dress code is the least of your worries. Just wear what you'd wear day-to-day. Wear what YOU feel comfortable in. Just as long as it's not a birthday suit
Experience
Work experience doesn't seem 100% necessary with Apple. It obviously helps some. But it's not solely what EVERY employer goes on. Especially one like Apple who will train you on everything you need to know and program you with how
Apple does things for a month before you actually hit the sales floor. A couple of the people who I went through to the second stage with had zero retail experience. But most of us in the group interview had degrees / were studying for a degree. So education may be a key angle to push if you're lacking the work experience. If it's in something creative like Graphic design, Audio, Animation - even better!
CV
The fact it could be months until somebody from Apple's recruitment department gets in touch with you doesn't help gauge how good or bad your CV is neither. Do the best you can with it and just hope for the best. Apply for other jobs with it. If you get responses from other places, you know your CV is obviously doing something right for you and that there's every chance Apple will look twice at it if other potential employers are doing the same. Chances are you could get a job and gain months of the work experience you feel you lack in the time it can take Apple to get back to you! lol
There are no rules
The crappy thing about Apple interviews (all interviews for that matter) is that there is no fail safe. No steps to guarantee you'll get through it all. Even with great places such as this forum. You will find that people go through to later stages who you never thought would. And people who you think have the job in the bag don't get it. You never know EXACTLY what Apple are looking for. So the best thing to do is just be yourself and do everything you can to help yourself. You don't have to show you know everything about Apple and their products. But you have to show you're personable and willing to learn and that you don't just want to work at Apple
"Because it's a job!" One guy said this during a group interview, and I thought
"Bye!". Although on second thought; he might be all up in the Apple store as a Specialist now! LOL
It goes without saying that you should obviously read up on the company. Not just Apple as a company in itself, but Apple's impact on retail in particular.
The experience of an Apple store is a BIG thing that comes up often. So it might help to go into a store the day before your interview (or the very same day depending on what time it is) just so your experience of an Apple store is fresh in your mind and your thoughts of it can just roll off the tongue.
The formal questions you get asked in interviews don't push for Apple knowledge. But when you're bantering with the Apple staff, they'll often bring up something Apple retail related; and it looks good if you can offer insight that goes beyond
"I love my iPhone / iPod!" (though that is a sentence you should squeeze in at some point.
) In my second interview, everybody was just chit chatting away about how cool the stores are and us interviewees were gassing on about how much we wanted the job. It's in THESE moments where it's easy to slip and let your guard down that you need to be on the ball and really shine. Remember: everything is on the record. Something you or do off the cuff in these moments may help balance out an iffy interview. And it works both ways.
Make an impression
This is key. If you make a positive lasting impression, you'll be remembered. Even if it's something silly like cracking a joke or making people laugh during a role play. Making a good lasting impression can really save your ass if your self introduction sucked. It shows you have personality and person-ability - something
everyone gravitates towards. Don't try too hard though, as this can have the opposite effect. And if testing humour isn't your thing, but you know your stuff where Apple products are concerned; kick ass with your knowledge in the role play.
I wish all of you going for jobs at Apple the best of luck, and hope you do a better job than I did. You may not wanna take my advice given I didn't get the job (which IS fair do's LOL). But I hope this helps with what to expect. I'll also need whoever gets a job at Apple as a result of my help to hook me up with some discount if they get hired
