Apple Reviews

I have been working at Apple

Pros – Fast paced environment, nice modern surroundings, all the latest gadgets to play with, feedback given at all times, the days go quick.

Cons – The work/life balance Apple keep banging on about is non existent, barley a moment to take a break, let alone your lunch, too secretive, the internal database and systems aren't fit for purpose - makes ud look stupid in front of the customers.

Advice to Senior Management – Be more open, sort out the databases and deliveries of stock so your staff don't feel like banging their head on a brick wall.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Apple

Pros – High pace, high energy, change is the norm. Working for a successful company is exillaratimg. Proud of what we do and how we do it. A strong identity, hence clear directions. Room to express yourself. Clever and motivated people. And my kids love the Apple T-shirts.

Cons – Very demanding, without time to step back and take some distance. As soon as any process or project reaches maturity, we change all over again and start from scratch. Hard to build on experience under such conditions. Tiring, to not say exhausting sometimes.

Advice to Senior Management – Calm down, take a long breath, take time to sit down. Change is not always great.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Apple

Pros – Meeting some amazing people
Bragging rights
Apple on your CV really does open doors, I can't lie.

Cons – Some of the management team are so terrible at their jobs (product-knowledge, social skills, experience) it's shocking that they have such a position of power within the store.
It is HECTIC. You may be excited by this, but even on days when you feel terrible, there is absolutely nowhere to hide. This may be great for the first month or two, but down the line, it's a horrendous feeling to be bombarded by customers non-stop for a whole shift, especially when questions are always the same!
As an employee of Apple Retail you are the lowest of the low.. You know NOTHING, and never will! But customers just won't believe you...
The discount isn't even good!!! When you consider how much money you're bringing into the company every shift, which you get 0 commission for (or so they say...), you'd think the discount would be MUCH better.
16hrs is the minimum contract, no matter how good you are! If you're thinking about going into the company then dropping down hours, they WILL get rid of you before your 3month probation ends, again, no matter how good you are.
Having to sell different add-ons with products is patronising, and such a con, because you get nothing for it... Unless you're looking to be promoted, in which case it means everything, because your sales figures are taken into account. Hilarious! This is why nobody ever gets to easily access management from a sales position, because if your sales figures are THAT good, why would Apple not want you active on the shop-floor? It's a vicious Apply circle.
Apple constantly hire people, because they can. Ultimately, you mean nothing to them. If you're not happy with something, they'll get rid of you, and hire a shiny new specialist into the business.
Apple Retail UK is NOT Apple Inc. You're working in a shop, which happens to be called Apple, selling computers for an hourly wage. Don't think you're anything special, because you're really not.

Advice to Senior Management – Recognise the potential of your Red-Zone team, and be grateful that such skilled and potentially-brilliant people throw themselves at the opportunity to work for your company. If you want Apple Retail UK to BE different to other retailers, don't act like other retailers!
Recruit management from within. A huge number of people only join the company as Specialists in order to move up the chain, then realise this won't happen, but remain in their roles because something's better than nothing, right? Wrong. Don't dangle a carrot in front of your employees faces, just be straight up with them. You WILL NOT progress to management from being a Specialist. You MAY get to Family Room though, if vacancies are available.
Pay better, and give a better discount. I was stunned that both were so low for Specialist positions.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Apple

Pros – A great door opener to jobs elsewhere, particularly early on during your career.

If you're young and inexperienced, they chuck loads on your shoulders which is good for making you into something.

Other than that, it's difficult to find anything which was great about my time at Apple.

If you want to work at Apple, make sure it's short and sharp. Use Apple on your CV as a door opener.

Cons – Don't be blinded by the sheer shine of Apple in the UK. As someone on the inside, I've seen a lot of colleagues go through nervous breakdowns, breakups/divorces, strops, bitching, and dismissals for minor things. Apple has very little sense of humour, and its employees frequently overworked and stressed with little support for career progression work life balance.

If you work for Apple in the UK it's one of the most uncreative, dull and miserable places to work. In truth, it is more of a call centre with a load of project managers regurgitating the tightly controlled creative from the US for a European audience. I can't vouch for Apple US or (Apple Worldwide/ the 'mothership' as we used to call it), I've heard that over there it's entirely different and lives up to its image.

If you're in the UK and are looking for a job with which you can grow and develop inside the company, with friendly people who are happy to help and give you progression don't come here. I've known several over qualified and amazing industry pros who moved to Apple hoping it would be the pinacle of their career (as it should be) and have left 2-3 years later, bitter about the lack of career development in their roles, having committed years of their time to Apple but staying stuck in the same role.

Advice to Senior Management – Look after the staff in the UK. They are people too with needs, feelings, hopes and desires. Not just robotamatons or serfs. They need career progression, support, recognition and a friendly smile once in a while.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Apple

Pros – Great colleagues, friendly and understanding managers, fast paced environment, personal projects, training, great stores, staff discounts and benefits, good on your cv.

Cons – Poor organisation, lack of communication between corporate and retail, constantly changing the game, benefits are getting less exciting now compared to the way they were.

Advice to Senior Management – You need to get back to your core principals, employing people cheap means you get cheap, if you pay well and incentivise people with benefits they will perform better and be happier, just try to listen as well.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Apple

Pros – JOB SECURITY in these current times of economic downturn apple have said they will not be letting anyone go.
The people within the company are great, thats the co-workers, everybody in the team brings something different. the atmosphere is great, at times demanding, but isn't every job? the discount perks are good, its nice to get a present from the company near xmas or at a product launch iphone/ipod. Looks great on a CV, working for a innovative company.

Cons – sometimes we, as mac geniuses are overworked and underpaid, except this happens nearly all the time, altho when signing up for the job "you are expected to work longer than needed without extra numeration". i can except this to a point but when one of your co workers who started the job 3 months before you and even after gets a few thousand £s more than you it really burns you up inside. some management never follow thru with requests, and apparently after speaking to hr, "you have to keep chasing them up". speaking to people who have worked in the US stores, there is a big difference in the way things are done, there is a divide between retail staff and other apple staff, something which isnt present in the US where everybody is apple. the lies you are fed during recruiting about career progression and paths you can take, its a retail environment you can only really move sideways in the store.

Advice to Senior Management – When recruiting staff please do not make false promises about career progression, or oversell the job to leave unrealistic expectations.

I worked at Apple

Pros – If you believe in the brand then working for Apple is a dream come true. The people are friendly, for the most part the managers are competent. The discount on Apple products is good - up to 27% - and the occasional free iPhone/iPod helps to sweeten the deal.

Cons – Beware - there is no career development at Apple Retail. Vague statements like "the company is expanding rapidly - there are so many opportunities" and "you have to make your own positions" are used to stave off any criticism. This is particularly bad for "Mac Geniuses" because their role is technical in a retail environment there is no where else to go.
Also, people performing exactly the same job earn different amounts. Because pay is considered confidential, if you raise this with a manager you potentially face disciplinary action for discussing your salary!

Advice to Senior Management – Look after your good employees better.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Apple

Pros – Probably the response you get from people when introducing you work for Apple. Thanks to the iPod Apple now is a company that touches almost everyone and generally people love the company.

Cons – The pay is awful compared to other companies. That is probably the biggest. Also there are no formal career development opportunities e.g. courses, MBAs etc that you might get at other places.

Advice to Senior Management – Pay everyone more ! .. Apple is sitting on a lot of cash and the employees generally are working extremely long hours simply for the love of the company.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Apple full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Apple invests more in their people then any other company I have worked with. There are endless development opportunities and a huge opportunity for career advancement and development.

Cons – Retail environment and less then ideal hours.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep up the good work.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Apple full-time for more than a year

Pros – It is a great work environment with a great team. You get to sell incredible products to other people that are passionate about them, and you aren't paid on commission. This allows brutal honesty, and also a high level of trust between sales person and the customer. Apple really emphasizes the customer experience, and wants to treat every customer as if they were in a 5 star hotel.

Cons – The store was always incredibly busy, and frequently understaffed. It was a generally stressful environment, but being that the team was so close, it really wasn't that bad. The worst part about this job is that they force feed you the Apple Kool Aid, which in and of itself I am not opposed to. I love Apple, I love their ideals, and I love their products. However, the unfortunate consequence is that every person there is basically a die hard Apple employee, and many of them believe if you stay long enough you will move high up in the food chain. After 2-3 years, you realize you won't. I had some friends that were around 4-5 years in my store, and they were incredible people...fantastic with customers, knowledgable about every aspect of the business, and constant over performers. However, at some point they realized...wow, there really isn't anywhere to go. Apple frequently hires store managers from other chains (like Gap, Starbucks, Banana Republic), and infrequently promote directly within. It is a great place to work, but there is a VERY large ceiling there that is virtually impossible to break through without leaving and working elsewhere for experience first.

Advice to Senior Management – I think in general the team is great, but as is always stressed in the consumer side, I think you need to manage the expectations of your employees better. Yes their is some mobility in terms of roles within the store, but you have to be more upfront and honest with talented employees about the likelihood of legitimate career sustaining advancement.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company