Wow, so it really is that hard to get a job at the Mac store. I know of so many people that work there (not personally) -- they make it look easy.
What kind of achievements? Should I highlight some of my experiences to make me stand out more. Specifically ones that involve Apple. What if I don't have that many professional experiences that involve Apple. Like I use to work as a technical support specialist, but I mostly fixed windows based computers.
It depends on the recruiter. Majority of Apple's recruiters are regular specialists who have decided to take up extra responsibilities. They pick possible candidates and are then given feedback regarding the candidates they picked and fine tune their searches to find people that are best for the job.
It varies from person to person. When I worked at Apple, the former recruiter liked picking people with experience in technology - so those from Best Buy, Radioshack, etc usually got called. The interview process is solely based on personality though - experience plays little part in that. Getting the call is the hardest part.
The job IS easy. It's possibly the easiest job I've ever had - with the best pay - at least for retail. You find that getting hired at apple, staying there for a while and looking for a new job people tend to snatch you up.
Good luck!
P.S: As someone mentioned, I would probably befriend a specialist and get them to refer you. You'll get a call and if you get hired they get a nice $250 referral bonus.