Difficult Interview – Overall Positive Experience – Yes, and I accepted – 3 of 3 found this helpful – Fri, 29 Apr 2016
Interviewed Jun 2012 in Los Angeles, CA
I applied on an iPad at a job fair. About 10 days later I received an email inviting me to attend the "Apple hiring event" and there was also a link to fill out more info about myself and to choose a position to apply for, etc. The hiring event was a few weeks out, so I researched the company and their products to familiarize myself. The hiring event was at a large hotel and there were about 80 people there to participate. It was VERY overwhelming.
They sat us at tables and we watched a film which was very Apple-esque, it was exciting, endearing, and it drew you right in! Boy I was already hooked! There were a LOT of super geeks there, and a LOT of people who eat, slept and breathed Apple and Steve Jobs, etc. Honestly, it was kinda creepy. I thought for sure I didn't stand a chance against these super fans!
Next, we had to "interview" the person next to us, and the WE had to give a 2 minute presentation to management "about" that person and "why" they want to work for Apple.
Next, we were put into groups of 8 with an Apple manager, or mentor, and we sat on chairs in a circle and played the game where you pass a cube around. The cube had interview questions on each side. But guess what? They were the SAME QUESTIONS I got off GLASS DOOR!!! It was awesome! So I knew all my answers because I had gone over the list several times beforehand. THANK YOU GLASS DOOR and whoever posted them!!!! I was PREPARED, so I was more confident!
After that exercise we were dismissed and asked to keep an eye on our phones because if we were selected we'd get a call by a certain day, and that only a small percentage would get this call. They make sure you know it's easier to get accepted to an Ivy League school, like Harvard, than it is to be hired by Apple, which IS true...Ivy Leagues accept 3% of applicants! Apple accepts 1%. I did get a call back, so I was excited that I made it through. You actually feel special :) and I got another interview which was a week later.
The interview was at the same fancy hotel. When I got there, there were about 20 people waiting to be interviewed. The interview consisted of 3 applicants and 2 Apple employees. However, you have no idea what their roles are. They would ask a question to the 3 of us and we could answer at will. It lasted about 40 minutes, and then it was over. Again we were told to watch our phones, and in did get another call for another interview. This was like the next day, and I met one on one with one of the 2 reps I had met with yesterday. Again, I still had no idea if this person was a manager, a mentor, or in HR. At the end if my interview, she told me to keep an eye on my phone that I'd probably be getting a call. I "felt" like it was "code" for something, lol. Sometimes you do get a "feeling" right?!! Also, we were made to fill out a handwritten application, and we had to choose FT or PT any days we're unable to work etc. your basic application style stuff.
A week later I got a call from HR, the same girl I met at the job fair, and she was also at the first group interview. She offered me a coveted Full Time position ( they are rare) and I was elated! I was the 1% and it was an incredible feeling! Later, I found out that the 2 people I interviewed with were the store leader and the market leader! Wow! I'm glad I didn't know that during the interview. I would've been WAY more nervous!
Next was 5 weeks of 9-5 paid training at the same hotel, then we opened our new store together. We literally unloaded the trucks that brought the products, and built the table displays, etc. This process is very "bonding" along with the "Core Training" and have made lifelong friends trough this process. Clearly this process was for an NSO (New Store Opening) but it is similar when applying to an existing store. I will say THIS: most people hired into an existing store, 80% are FRIENDS of existing employees. That's just how it goes, but you can be one of the 20%!!
-Bring a LOT OF ENERGY
-Be Happy
-Be Yourself
-You don't have to be a total geek
-You do have to be INNOVATIVE
-You can be young or old
-Be professional but HAVE FUN
-They REALLY care about you CARING about the CUSTOMER and that RELATIONSHIP
-It's not about sales as much as RELATIONSHIPS (but sales rock too!)
-They care about how their products ENRICH LIVES! Have a personal feel good story to tell about how a product enriched your life, ie...Grama watched little granddaughter blow out her birthday candles through FaceTime from New York...
-Show you're all about the TEAM
Interview Questions
HERE ARE THE TOP 18 QUESTIONS for an Apple Interview:
1) If you could start your last job, or career, over again, what would you do differently?
2) If you were on a team involved in a secret Apple project, how would you refrain from telling your significant other, friends, family, etc.? (This is important btw...)
3) Do you work well in teams?
4) What aspects of your work ability would you like to improve upon?
5) ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK OVERTIME, nights, weekends?
6) Would you say you are a creative person?
7) Do you consider yourself successful?
8) Name 3 positive traits you already possess and would like to build upon?
9) Are you innovative? Tell me about a time you thought outside the box?
10) What would your coworkers say about you?
11) Why do you want to work at Apple?
12) If explaining how to use a Mac to a PC person, where would you begin?
13) What qualifications do you feel a person applying for this position will need to have to be successful?
14) Give me an example of how you handle a crisis?
15) Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
16) How can you relate the goals you have for yourself to the goals of the company?
17) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
18) Why did you leave your last position?
Answer Question
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, Group/Panel Interview, Background Check and a Presentation