Apple Recruiters Tempt Exemplary Employees

F*** Apple retail and their recruiters!!!!! Don’t do it people, trust me, I know first hand.

Retail is retail….even for Genius’ (like I was). I can’t say what has changed but I was called/offered a re-hire a few months ago and turned it down b/c of how bad the schedule was.

Don’t fall for it folks! I worked for Apple Retail four years (2002 to 2006). When I started it was fun, then got progressively worse: Sell more with less coverage, and attach, attach, attach! I quit because it got too “retaily” for me. Pay sucks even if you have a position with high responsibility (like inventory management), and forget about getting bonuses every quarter as the performance goals become more and more unrealistic. I saw so many good workers leave because they were so disillusioned, like me. The reason why they attract young people is because they don’t know any better and can be pushed around.

I kind of have to agree with everyone here. Having worked for just under a year for Apple, I am just now leaving to pursue other things…

You will be able to work with some great people, some not so great. At it’s core it’s still the same bullsh** you would find at any other retailer, except apple likes to take the corporate bull to a whole new level, with training, meetings about meetings, incredibly stupid attendance policies, ie, if you are 15 minutes late you get a warning; do it again and it could cost you your job. You will literally have all store meetings where not a thing could possibly ever get accomplished, and talk about talking about new ideas.

It’s all about metrics… all apple retail cares about are seeing how many people are buying shitty attachments like .mac, while they do really mean good, the methods of measuring performance and providing “feedback” are severely flawed…

And yes, it’s retail so you will deal with the most annoying people of your life (you will learn to hate the consumer), work long, hard hours, not get paid for your lunch breaks, and be forced to forego your 15-minute breaks when management screwed up staffing/there’s lots of people in the store, which is more often than not.

Oh, and you only get reviewed once a year, that review is based on your metric attachments, so if your attach rates suck, you get no more money. Again, this is only done yearly, and anyone who knows anything about retail knows that is a loooong time to be in one place.

And the confidentiality stuff gets annoying, there is definitely an heir of superiority.

That all being said, it’s probably better than most retail outlets, but not saying much.

It’s sad to read these comments. Maybe it’s based on the particular store you worked in or the management you had. I’ve worked for Apple for close to two years in one of the larger stores and we’ve essentially had the same team since opening day (with some additions as the business has grown, some subtractions as people moved throughout the company).

I’ve never had so much fun and I think most people I work with can say the same. There’s parts of it (like any job) that aren’t great, but I really have no complaints. I won’t get rich on my pay, but it’s MUCH higher than you’d get in any other retail — hands down.

Yes – sales matter. Metrics matter. It’s a business! But it’s not hard to sell/support/train when the product is good.

If you look at it as a retail job, it is. If you do your job right, and have the right people looking out for you, it’s awesome.

Wow. I find all of the comments above to be very interesting.

I have to say, when did “accountability” become a 4-letter word? 15 minutes late and you get written up? Wow, I know what a horrible policy. I guess everyone would just much rather work in an environment where, it doesn’t matter if you can’t show up on time.

And the truth is, having worked at Apple Retail for a number of years, not only the skill set, but also the work ethic does vary from person to person. That is why they have standards.

Personally, I would find it appalling to work in an environment, where everyone just sold what they wanted to sell. We had a Specialist who simply sold MacBook Pros. Whether they needed it or not, he just decided that he would convince everyone he could to buy the pro because one day the technology will become “outdated” and the customer will be happier in the long run.

Total crap. Its just a different version of selective selling. The one that costs significantly more money.

So lets analyze for a second and digress. Gateway…remember them? Why did they close? Oh yeah, its because they offered no other value than gateway.com did. People would come in..and buy the same damn thing they bought online. Why does a company need a store for that?

Truthfully, Apple isn’t begging or even having to convince anyone, any longer to buy the Mac. It is superior and the product speaks for itself. The store is there to add value to that experience. Whether it be repair, training, or simply a knowledgeable bunch to ask questions to. Please note, I said knowledgeable, not all-knowing. It is people like the above who are the ones who treat others as second class citizens. Simply because they aren’t “cut from the same Apple cloth.” Well that cloth looks bad, smells bad, and has a ton of wholes in.

The people who work in these stores, work there because they love it. Not more or less love than anyone else.

And to be honest. It isn’t about metrics at all. The best judge of someone’s character is how that person acts when they are tested, and pushed. Do they A) Blame everyone else and create excuses for their poor behavior or performance, or B) to they step up to the plate and actually seek to change and modify their performance.

It isn’t always the person with the best metrics. They are performance requirements to ensure everyone is giving equal effort to the common good. Its called Teamwork. Look it up.

The person who is successful at Apple Retail is the person who can actually accept this feedback and criticism and not run and cry to their friends and the web about it. They are the ones who say, hmmmm..maybe there is something about ME that I NEED to change in order to be more successful, whether it be at Apple or later in life.

Keep making excuses. Look at the bar graphs of their growth. Any company who has had growth like that and continues to invest and demonstrate their commitment to grow and change their culture to keep up with that growth…is a winner. If you can’t see that, its a good thing you left.

Josh,

I would absolutely contact the store.

However, I would print off a resume, and bring it into the store and ask to speak with a manager.

Please be prepared, you will probably only have 30 seconds to a minute, due to the current volume in the store to get their attention and make them want to call you for an interview.

Ever heard of an elevator speech? Basically, if you were getting on an elevator with a extremely powerful individual that you wanted to convey your value to, how would you do it between the first and 10th floors. Not a long time, but you need to make a lasting impression.

[...] employee head counts between Microsoft (91,000) and Apple (21,000), it’s essential to note that at least half of Apple’s employees work in its retail [...]

Anon,

If you are applying for a job at Apple Retail with the sole hope of moving out of Retail, than you probably will not be successful. Apple Retail wants people who not only love Apple, but who also love to assist and have fun with Apple’s customers in a Retail Setting. It is this closeness with the customers that really makes someone qualified and ready to move out of the Retail Box an into corporate opportunities.

There are many opportunities for Retail employees to branch out into corporate. Whether it be training opportunities, or the corporate exchange program. Both are designed to provide the opportunity to high performing retail employees who A) have an interest, and B) possess an in-demand talent , to work at Apple corporate.

I hope this answers your question.

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OK I wasn’t going to comment, because I really don’t care. But … uhh … hey Dude? I gotta nominate you for the “Biggest Douche of the Universe Award” for that comment.

That’s not called being whiny. That’s called being human. If you go into work expecting to get a 15 minute break at some point and you’re told “NO” you’re probably not going to be a happy camper. Just because you and the management view it as a golden “opportunity” to squeeze just that little extra but of productivity out of your employees, by denying them the one respite they get while at work is an opportunity is for you & you alone. The lowly peon selling doesn’t get a raise or a bonus by foregoing his break, so why should he care?

(I know there’s a question mark there, but that’s a rhetorical question. I have no desire to hear another corporate BS answer to any questions I ever ask.)

I’ve never worked for Apple … never would … I’m a PC guy and y’all tend to be a pretentious bunch of characters, but I did sell retail PCs for 2 years back when I was in college (1997-1999) and the same crap you’re spouting off is the same crap my bosses were spouting off about as well, “Yea Go Team! Sell Sell Sell! Win the cupie doll! You get what you put into it! If you’re not happy then it must be your fault! The management is never wrong! Let’s all hold hands and sing the company song!” … LOL … your problem isn’t that “teens are whiny and don’t want to work” your problem is that teens are smarter now and see through the corporate BS that used to work on a much more naive generation (most likely their parents!) and you haven’t updated your game plan since I was in retail (over a decade ago). So don’t be surprised when the “flock” fights back. I guess you’ll just have to start treating people like human beings or come up with a new game plan to mind @#$% the current generation into believing that what you tell them “the company” wants is actually in their best interest.

Anyone who is considering joining the retail sales force just needs to be wary of the realities of what they will encounter. You’re never going to get a retailer to be honest & upfront about the job. They’ll always paint the rosiest picture. You should talk to the employees of the store before you give it serious consideration. If there’s dissension among the ranks, rest assured it’s being brought on by the douchey management and you are about to subject yourself to those exact same working conditions.

Retail is fine as a college job, but please don’t be deluded into thinking it’s some utopia where everyone is happy & looking out for your best interests, and that you’re about to make a million bucks and can pay off your student loans before next fall. It’s just a ‘filler job’. Something to pad the resume until you can get to a real job, or until you graduate. None of the jobs I’ve held since then have even bothered to look into the retail job on my resume. I even had one interviewer, years ago, tell me I should actually just take it off because most interviewers take retail jobs with a grain of salt … for many of the reasons that have already been mentioned they’re a poor standard to judge an applicant by. Your boss may be a douche, or incompetent and as a result gave you bad reviews when you are in fact and excellent employee … so like I said … it’s a college job. After that you grow up and get a ‘big boy job’.

In spite of layoffs and buyouts, I’m still glad I’m in the world of international corporate banking … LOL. Stability, regular hours, interesting clients, low stress, the occasional free beer & better pay than any piddly retail job I ever did … it’s win freakin’ win baby :)

A big boy job? so I can go flash it around on websites like i’m a bigshot? ‘by the way, i’m a corporate banker. my job comes with free beer..’ wow. talk about biggest douche in the universe.

I have a degree. Two of them. I’ve shuffled papers around and recruited new clients and wore suits every day and kissed my boss’s ass. Company car, flying first class, fancy hotel rooms. I did it for over five years and I was good at what I did; I kept getting promoted. I made loads of money.

I was unhappy.

I’m not saying you’re unhappy – you could very well find corporate banking to be the most fascinating and electrifying thing in the world, and I sincerely hope you do. What I’m saying is maybe that isn’t for everyone.

I work as a retailer. I love my job, and I’m fantastic at it and proud of what I do. I make substantially less money than I used to, and I don’t care – for me money doesn’t affect happiness. I work a wide variety of hours and I like it. I believe in the products I sell, and my customers love what they buy. Some of the best people I’ve ever met are people I work with and some of my regular customers.

You remind me of the guys I used to work with – constantly reminding themselves how much more important they are than people who make less money than them. People who don’t have as many brands in their closet or the Italian leather package on their SUV. Remember – without people working these jobs you wouldn’t have a tailored suit, a starbucks coffee, a PC, your blackberry, socks, underwear, fast food, kleenex, a TV, etc etc. All the possessions that you keep around to remind you of your success, and all the luxuries that keep you feeling like the VIP that you are would be obsolete without the people to market and sell them to you. So before you take a p*ss on people that have different priorities than you, please understand that some of us are doing what we do by choice rather than circumstance.

Its clear to me that a lot of people who commented earlier on this page are not cut out for retail. and it’s totally ok. anyone who says customers are a nightmare has got a rotten attitude – I NEVER have a terrible customer. Unhappy or agitated sometimes, but letting them know they were going to be taken care of and that you understand them goes a long way if you’re genuine. They want to be taken care of and get value for what they spend just like anybody does, so when they realize that you want the same thing for them the confrontation is over. angry customer suddenly is wowed that you’re going the extra mile for them – because so few retailers do.

I do not have a job working for apple. I’ve worked for a variety of companies and brands. Every retail job with an even remotely modern management structure promotes from within and uses individual sales goals to meet the store’s financial objectives. How else can someone’s productivity be measured in a sales role? any retailer who just opens his doors, stands behind a register and hopes for the best is doomed these days.

And penalties for tardiness? There’s a simple solution – show up on time. And frankly, I don’t believe that a company wouldn’t let you take sick time. if someone gets hassled about taking sick time, it usually means the company knows it’s being abused. After all, there is a difference between sick time and vacation time – one of those differences being that when you quit a job, vacation time gets paid out. sick time doesn’t.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is do what you excel at. do what makes you feel fulfilled at the end of the day, and take pride in it, whatever it is. and THAT’s win freakin’ win.

Anyone who complains about the B.S. involved with a retail job is in for a real surprise when they finally DO get their ‘big boy’ job in the real world.

P.S.S. PCzRok: Corporate Banker = Incompetent Douche. My 401K thanks you.