Apple Retail Job

[AppleFanBoii]

Hey all!

Im in need of some help here! So i'm looking to lets say finally start a 'proper' job with a career, and that i hope is at Apple, Im 20 years old, I have GCSE's and 2 A Levels, (Uni was never really an option for me) I have been in a customer service job for the last 2 years, walked into it straight after 6th form, never took a year out of just lazed around, but now i feel the time is right to start applying for my local Apple store, i've been mulling over the idea since i was 16, but back then i didn't have near enough experience,

So can anyone who works/has worked/or has applied give me any tips please? I have a CV but i don't think written well, but i do have a friend who can help there, like to highlight my customer service and selling etc!

Any help from you would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[gkarris]

I had two interviews several years apart being asked to come back a few times ultimately being interviewed by the Store and District Managers. I didn't get the job (EVERYONE has to approve you for the job, I was interviewed by a total of a 12 people counting from the group interview to the interviews at the store).

I'm very honest and am myself. I, though, am not "trendy" and is probably the reason why I didn't get the job.

Just about all the males at the Apple Stores in my area have tattoos and beards (really "trendy" now here in the USA). (see pic)

My experience in Apple products (since the Apple II) and Retail Sales and Customer Service didn't really count in the end.

 

[12vElectronics]

Lol 12 people interviewed you for a minimum wage retail job?

 

[iLog.Genius]

Lol 12 people interviewed you for a minimum wage retail job?

Yup. It starts off with the group orientation/hiring event where you could see as many as 15 people (my experience) and then if you get lucky to get a callback to be interviewed by one of the stores in your area, you could have another 5 people.

 

[Jschultz]

Lol 12 people interviewed you for a minimum wage retail job?

I think it's incredibly crazy as well. But, the supply of applicants who want to work at Apple retail is so high, they can afford to be ridiculously picky. Think about it; you probably see a thread a week on these forums with the OP talking about how it's their life's work to work Apple retail.

 

[12vElectronics]

Yup. It starts off with the group orientation/hiring event where you could see as many as 15 people (my experience) and then if you get lucky to get a callback to be interviewed by one of the stores in your area, you could have another 5 people.

Thanks for sharing. I think that's super funny. 12 people lol.

I think it's incredibly crazy as well. But, the supply of applicants who want to work at Apple retail is so high, they can afford to be ridiculously picky. Think about it; you probably see a thread a week on these forums with the OP talking about how it's their life's work to work Apple retail.

Yup. Apple is laughing all the way to the bank. It's a crappy retail job. It's minimum wage. In fact, if I had to work a retail job, it wouldn't be at Apple. Other places are slower and the expectations are lower. Even In N Out Burger pays more lol. The employee discount is laughable to boot.

 

[phrehdd]

Lol 12 people interviewed you for a minimum wage retail job?

That's why South Park has had such a great episode with Apple at the center. Theater of the Absurd or iAbsurd.

 

[12vElectronics]

That's why South Park has had such a great episode with Apple at the center. Theater of the Absurd or iAbsurd.

I haven't seen that. Going to check it out for the lols!

 

[phrehdd]

I haven't seen that. Going to check it out for the lols!

I think it was called Human-centIpad or something like that.

 

[12vElectronics]

I think it was called Human-centIpad or something like that.

Thanks

 

[aristobrat]

Lol 12 people interviewed you for a minimum wage retail job?

I got a job as a part-time (0-15 hours a week) Specialist about 4-5 years ago, and it started at $11.25/hour. This is in a state where the minimum wage is still $7.25/hour. We made more as part-timers in the mall than many of the assistant managers in the other stores did.

 

[phrehdd]

I got a job as a part-time (0-15 hours a week) Specialist about 4-5 years ago, and it started at $11.25/hour. This is in a state where the minimum wage is still $7.25/hour. We made more as part-timers in the mall than many of the assistant managers in the other stores did.

I'll just say congratz to you (seriously). It is nice when you get a job you want and it pays reasonably well.

Hmm I remember my first "real" job in my teens - I think I made 1.35 an hour. Damn I am old.

 

[atticus27]

anytime I'm in an Apple store it seems that the management is more concerned of having employee's who have a hipster look, rather than having product knowledge.
Get some bad tattoos, hipster glasses, and grow a beard and they'll probably hire you

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Just to re-iterate, they really do not care about product knowledge. I was made redundant from a 2nd line support role involving Macs and looking around, I found my local store was recruiting.
They only wanted to know about my retail experience, anything technical I knew about Macs or iOS devices was completely overlooked.
They ended up hiring people ten years younger than me who had worked in shoe shops rather than anyone with experience.

 

[Septembersrain]

There is a girl who used to work there that works with me. She's got no tech saavy abilities. Even less empathy... It's amazing.

 

[Tsuchiya]

Hey all!

Im in need of some help here! So i'm looking to lets say finally start a 'proper' job with a career, and that i hope is at Apple, Im 20 years old, I have GCSE's and 2 A Levels, (Uni was never really an option for me) I have been in a customer service job for the last 2 years, walked into it straight after 6th form, never took a year out of just lazed around, but now i feel the time is right to start applying for my local Apple store, i've been mulling over the idea since i was 16, but back then i didn't have near enough experience,

So can anyone who works/has worked/or has applied give me any tips please? I have a CV but i don't think written well, but i do have a friend who can help there, like to highlight my customer service and selling etc!

Any help from you would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Apple Retail is OK but it isn't nearly as amazing as some believe. The stores are busy and for every good interaction you have with a customer there are half a dozen crappy ones. Your CV doesn't need to be anything special, just clear and to the point. The cover letter is important and should show some genuine enthusiasm for the company with specific mention to retail.

Your personality is a big deal, how you come across to the interviewers and work with others is key. Be enthusiastic, engaged and contribute. You don't need to overdo it.

Yup. Apple is laughing all the way to the bank. It's a crappy retail job. It's minimum wage. In fact, if I had to work a retail job, it wouldn't be at Apple. Other places are slower and the expectations are lower. Even In N Out Burger pays more lol. The employee discount is laughable to boot.

For what locations? What I was offered was far from minimum wage, and the discount was solid (but convoluted).

anytime I'm in an Apple store it seems that the management is more concerned of having employee's who have a hipster look, rather than having product knowledge.
Get some bad tattoos, hipster glasses, and grow a beard and they'll probably hire you

Probably doesn't hurt. Of course far from the truth.

Just to re-iterate, they really do not care about product knowledge. I was made redundant from a 2nd line support role involving Macs and looking around, I found my local store was recruiting.
They only wanted to know about my retail experience, anything technical I knew about Macs or iOS devices was completely overlooked.
They ended up hiring people ten years younger than me who had worked in shoe shops rather than anyone with experience.

This is true. You really don't need to know jack about the products. You get taught the basics which is fine for 99% of customers.

There is a girl who used to work there that works with me. She's got no tech saavy abilities. Even less empathy... It's amazing.

Yeah, there are fair amount of people who interview well and start well, but that enthusiasm just dies when it sinks in that behind the shiny surfaces, Apple is just another retail job.


Source: Worked there while completing my degree.

 

[question fear]

I've never worked for Apple but I worked in retail management for several years, and I am not surprised there's no tech experience required. Tech knowledge can be taught on the job, but if you lack basic customer service skills you're useless as an employee.

 

[Mr Rabbit]

The group hiring events are the most common but individuals can and do get hired without all of that fuss. I was one such example.

I found an opening for a Genius position at our local Apple store at jobs.apple.com. I signed up, filled out all of the info and submitted my resume. Some retail experience at an Apple Authorized Reseller, college degree in Web Development, experience in IT, etc. A few days later I got a call from an assistant manager at the store asking if I could come in for an interview. When I arrived I met the Lead Genius and one of the Assistant Managers. The three of us walked down to Starbucks and sat down for an interview.

The questions were primarily focused on customer interaction scenarios and team interaction. There was some tech focused questions (reset PRAM, difference between software and firmware, etc) but by far they were more interested in my overall personality and how I might interact with both customers and coworkers. After the talking was finished I was given a paper exam to run through on my own covering basic Apple troubleshooting and history. Stuff like "If a PowerBook powers on then repeats beeps in series of three, what is the likely culprit" and "What does DNS stand for". After turning in my quiz I met the store manager briefly for a quick intro then was on my way.

About a week or so later I got a call from the store manager with job offer (position, pay, etc) and was asked when I could start.

What I learned after I started was that many people DO get hired in that manner, though not necessarily with the tech questions unless they are heading towards the Genius position. The key is watching jobs.apple.com for openings and jumping on them when they become available. Be honest and personable during the interview, when asked about how you'd handle situations with customers try to find a balance where the customer would leave with the best possible impression of Apple, not necessarily what would be Apple's policy or whatnot.