Working for apple as a genius or creative (UK)

[sim667]

I've been asked to attend one of apples recruitment days after I registered my interest for roles as a genius or creative.

In on respect its perfect timing as im facing redundancy, in another respect I haven't worked in a retail environment for a long while.

What im interested in is whether genius and creatives are expected to push hard for sales too in apple stores, I'm well aware they may be expected to suggest peripherals for purchase during consultations, but I'm not the type of person who's a seller, im a troubleshooter/fixer/hands on type guy.

Can anyone give me any insight as there is literally no information available from apple themselves, and I dont want to get dragged into a cringeworthy 'selling a bowl of fruit' group exercise like I did when I went for a sales position with them (at that moment I instantly decided I was enough of an arsehole to sell stuff).

There's no info about how much they get paid, working hours, holidays etc etc...... Can anyone tell me anyhting?!?!

 

[WHOLEHEARTED]

There's such info about wages and other things because you have to sign a non-disclosure agreement at these seminars.

Mine was yesterday. It was cool, no 'sell me a bowl of fruit' or anything like that. Everything is very balanced and pleasant. Have no fear, just be yourself and have fun. Even if you don't get selected it's a pretty cool experience.

 

[miles01110]

Wages and holidays are in line with any other higher-end retail outfit in the area. Geniuses get paid a little more, but they're still "just technicians."

 

[Queen of Spades]

Typically you don't start off as a Genius/Creative, you begin as a Specialist and get promoted up to those roles. I think one Genius I knew while I worked at Apple got recruited from somewhere to be a Genius, in every other case they worked toward it. Even people who put Genius/Creative down as their preferred position on their applications got hired as Specialists. It's like the starting point in the company. The only exception I ever saw was the store manager position, which often brought in people who had managed other large retail stores.

In order to get promoted, you have to hit sales numbers, plain and simple. Once you're a Genius/Creative, your sales goals are less important.

So the answer depends on if they're hiring you as a Specialist, or if you're one of the rare people who get hired on as Geniuses or Creatives to begin with.

As for wages/hours/holidays - Specialists get screwed, Geniuses and Creatives get much better options.

 

[sim667]

Typically you don't start off as a Genius/Creative, you begin as a Specialist and get promoted up to those roles. I think one Genius I knew while I worked at Apple got recruited from somewhere to be a Genius, in every other case they worked toward it. Even people who put Genius/Creative down as their preferred position on their applications got hired as Specialists. It's like the starting point in the company. The only exception I ever saw was the store manager position, which often brought in people who had managed other large retail stores.

In order to get promoted, you have to hit sales numbers, plain and simple. Once you're a Genius/Creative, your sales goals are less important.

So the answer depends on if they're hiring you as a Specialist, or if you're one of the rare people who get hired on as Geniuses or Creatives to begin with.

As for wages/hours/holidays - Specialists get screwed, Geniuses and Creatives get much better options.

Specialists are basically sales people aren't they?

If they offered me a specialist role, I wouldnt take it.

 

[bizzle]

Unless you are desperate for a job, I'd stay far far away. The treatment and compensation is sub-par and that's being generous.

 

[britboyj]

Unless you are desperate for a job, I'd stay far far away. The treatment and compensation is sub-par and that's being generous.

You've clearly not worked in Retail. Apple pays a good $2-3 more for the same positions than other companies, with better benefits and holiday packages than any other retail place out there.

 

[Queen of Spades]

You've clearly not worked in Retail. Apple pays a good $2-3 more for the same positions than other companies, with better benefits and holiday packages than any other retail place out there.

The benefits and holiday packages only come when you're full time, and most Apple stores make you "earn" full time status by working part time for about a year. So, no, they're not better than other places. In fact, for how much profit they rake in, I'd argue they're worse.

And to the OP: Specialists are the people you see on the floor, yes. They're the salespeople. You have to start there, and I'm almost certain it's the same in the UK, as our regional manager came from the Regent St. Apple Store in London. They pretty much keep protocol and policies the same as rule. The reason you start as a Specialist is so you'll know all the basic stuff, and Creative/Genius are higher up positions anyone can choose to pursue and train for, so you have to climb the ladder, you can't jump over people.

I worked for Apple while I was in school, for the experience, but I wouldn't do it again. Then again, I didn't drink the kool aid in terms of thinking Apple was synonymous with utopian paradise.

 

[WHOLEHEARTED]

Well my second interview was yesterday,
It was more like a regular interview but really relaxed and with one-one.

Today I got the call, I was offered the jobs, full-time Specialist, and my training is starting very soon.
Siked!