Difficult Interview – Overall Positive Experience – Yes, and I accepted – Wed, 26 Jul 2017
Interviewed Jul 2,017 in Chicago, IL
I applied online through Apple's job website. I did not have an referrals, so I applied for multiple positions in multiple stores to up my chances. I received an email invitation for a phone interview about two weeks later, which allowed you to select a 20 minute time slot.
In the meantime, I went to the store closest to me to introduce myself to the managers so I could try to get an interview there (my interview was at a store farther away). The manager welcomed my resume and gave me his business card, but told me the hiring process is done online and a lot of people are also hired internally.
To prep for the interview, I went through every single question on Glassdoor and also watched several videos people posted online about their interview experience. I've never prepared for an interview more because working for Apple was a dream for me, and practicing answering the questions out loud made so much of a difference. I also really recommend practicing the "tell me about yourself" part, as every interviewer asked me this and also gave me an answer about themselves. They don't want to know about the you on your resume, they want to know your passions, if you have a pet, if you're a runner, if you have a really cool hobby, how long you've been in the area, etc.
When it was time for my first phone interview it started off with the interviewer telling me about himself, and then him asking me for my blurb. Each question he asked me I found on Glassdoor so I was really happy with the results. We seemed to really connect, which is another really important aspect. The more chatty you and your interviewer are, the better your chances. I also referenced back to my favorite retail experiences a lot, and talked about how happy I was in those jobs.
I received an email later that night about two hours after inviting me for an in person interview, which happened the next week. I arrived 30 minutes prior to the interview and looked around the store, and also chatted up 2 or so employees, mostly because I'm sure I looked super lost just standing there so they came to check in on me thinking I might be a customer. Use this to your advantage! The interview was with a different person, and we chatted about our hobbies and music tastes etc, leaving her with time to really only ask me two real "interview" questions. This really worked to my advantage, as she got to know me as a person and saw my personality fit Apple. She told me that she'll have the hiring team reach out to me to schedule a third interview, and that there would be 2 or so more most likely.
However, later that afternoon, about 4 hours after, I received a call from the original interviewer saying the person I had interviewed with today really connected with me and would like me to have a final interview over Facetime that night, in about an hour and a half.
The third, final interview ended up just being over the phone because the interviewer was on her to another meeting, but I think this worked to my advantage. I will say things can be a bit repetitive at this point, so I understand why people could get frustrated after going through 5 or 6 interviews. I really tried to highlight things that were unique about my life, because the interviewer felt passionate that everyone who worked at Apple had a really interesting life. I also made sure to mention the names of the employees I had talked to in the store. She asked me a lot of questions about my faults, which I prepared for but it did throw me off a bit. She also asked me what I thought the Specialist position was, so make sure you're knowledgable about the role (ask questions about it in previous interviews). She thanked me for my time and told me I'd hear back no later than the end of the week (it was the beginning of the week).
About 30 minutes later I got a request for a background check and a call from the original interviewer saying they were making me an offer. I will say I am lucky each of my interviews were one on one, especially since I applied with no referrals. I was prepared for 5 or so interviews, or just a denial, since I am a lot younger than a lot of the applicants. Apple is my dream company to work for and I am ecstatic.
Interview Questions
What are two of your best qualities and two qualities that aren't your best?
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Other Details
The interview consisted of Phone Interview, 1:1 Interview and Drug Test