Getting a job at an Apple store can be difficult, but there are some sound tips to improve your chances significantly. How do you do it?
The best way to increase your chances of getting hired at one of Apple’s stores is to have a referral and then practice the interview questions to show off your personality. A referral will guarantee you’ll get the 1st interview, and the practice will make sure you get the 2nd one.
To get theApple store job, you should be knowledgeable of Apple products, but more importantly, you need to be a somewhat interesting person who can talk to people. Anyone can memorize the products, but not many can actually sell them.
You get a job with Apple retail by being good with people, being yourself, and practicing the STAR method to pass the interview. By showing enthusiasm, positivity, and willingness to help people, you’re projecting a nice personality which is what most Apple managers in retail are looking for.
To get hired at Apple, you need to focus on the things that Apple recruiters look for in employees for a retail position. These include a nice personality, ability to work in a team, positivity, and good communication skills. If you keep this in mind when doing your interviews, you’ll significantly increase your chances.
Applications at Apple are only to screen people out. Unless you’re overqualified or have tons of experience, to get a job at Apple you need to reach out and find people who need employees. Start with LinkedIn and look for Apple managers who changed their name or description to “We’re hiring!”
Just like getting hired at a Costco or Walmart, you could go down to the store and see if they’re having a hiring event soon. While some may not recommend this approach with Apple, you may be able to demonstrate your skills directly while there, but try to be yourself.
If you can speak two languages, that’s a huge plus with some Apple hiring managers. But the most important thing when working for Apple retail is to be able to resonate with customers and show a nice personality. You need to show them how you can connect with customers and answer their questions.
Similarly, to get hired at Apple genius bar you need to be good with people, but also technically inclined. If you aren’t comfortable with screwdrivers and very fragile electronic components, you weren’t cut out for the job.
Keep in mind that if you can’t pass Apple’s retail personality tests, there are independently owned Apple specialist stores that may be perfect for you.
How Hard Is It to Get a Job at Apple Retail?
Getting a job at an Apple store can be difficult, but it can be done if you improve your resume and prepare for the interview. For the store position, your best bet is to get a referral, learn to be relaxed, and improve your communication skills. For a Genius bar position, you need a bit more technical knowledge.
If you’re a natural, then all you need is to just be yourself, show positivity, and pay attention during group interviews. They will notice if you pretend to be someone else, so just be friendly and personable. This applies to the Apple Genius and Creative positions as well.
Requirements to work at Apple Retail
To work at an Apple store, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma. A degree or prior experience may not be mandatory, but it can give you a competitive edge.
When it comes to working in a technical role, such as a Genius or Creative, Apple will look for individuals with good communication skills, the ability to work well in a team, and technical knowledge. However, having a strong personality and the ability to connect with customers and sell products can be just as important, if not more so, as technical knowledge can often be taught.
It’s worth noting that the requirements for getting hired at an Apple store can vary, depending on the position and location. Additionally, having a strong GPA or previous experience may be preferred in some cases.
What is Apple Retail Hiring Process?
Apple hiring process for a retail position consists of these steps:
Attend 2-6 in-person interviews (group or individual)
Undergo a background check
Get hired and start work
Hiring events are more prevalent for retail/store positions because it’s much easier to screen people out and see them role-play with potential customers.
The Apple store hiring process can take a few weeks or a few months, depending on the store and the number of interviews. You may have anywhere between 2 and 6 of these interviews, usually in groups of 10 people doing roleplays and watching videos.
Apple Application Process
First, you need to apply online and get your Apple job application into their system. Most of the time, Apple stores filter these and use them to select a few groups of people for the hiring events.
Applications take a while, and in the end, you might never be called at all if they don’t select you. This is why an inside referral is so important. If you get referred, you can guarantee yourself at least one interview or a group event.
Apple store application process will depend on the store, but they usually collect all the resumes and hold hiring events, with a few group interviews per week with a dozen people each. They usually happen several times a year, typically for product launches and the holiday season.
Here are some useful tips when applying at Apple:
Find someone to refer you before you apply
Use good keywords in your CV to get noticed
Focus your resume on skills involving interaction with people (leadership, teamwork, sales)
Apply online, and start preparing for an interview
How to apply for a job at Apple?
You can apply at Apple by going to their website and searching for an open position at Apple jobs. You can also check out the Apple retail jobs and search for one of the roles you want to apply for in retail such as a Specialist, Creative, or Genius.
How long for Apple to contact you for a job interview after applying?
With most of the base positions, such as specialist or sales, the application is always available to apply but you’ll hear back once they start actively looking into it. If they’re actively hiring, they might get back to you for an interview after about a week or so.
Since most of Apple’s job advertisements are filled out by internal candidates, most people won’t get an interview at all. You should have an employee referral to guarantee you get the first interview.
Apple Interview Process
Apple interview process is about 1-2 months long and consists of 2 to 6 rounds of interviews, sometimes one-on-one, and others in a group. The hiring managers mostly look for personality, customer service skills, and how well you work in a group.
The most important thing for Apple’s retail interviews is customer service skills. This is because soft skills can’t easily be taught, compared to technical knowledge, which almost anyone can learn.
What happens at the Apple phone interview?
In general, a phone interview at Apple will just be a casual chat with the hiring manager or a recruiter. They will ask you some basic questions but nothing difficult. The interview is often easy to pass and will mostly revolve around your personal experiences.
For a retail position phone interview, you may get questions about yourself, why you chose Apple, when you tried to sell to a customer, or dealt with a difficult customer. You can easily pass the phone interview if you try to remain personable and relatable.
Apple store/retail interview questions
Most of Apple’s questions for a retail position are competency-based behavioral interviews. These aren’t unique to Apple, and you’ll have a slight advantage if you’ve had any customer service experience. About 90 seconds per answer is a good length, not too long or too short.
You’d want to talk about your passion for helping people find the right solution because that’s what Apple is looking for. What you need is to strike a balance between being semi-professional and being pleasant. So try to smile, laugh, and be comfortable.
Since most of the questions for a position at the Apple store are behavioral interview questions, you may get something like:
What is your favorite Apple device and why?
You need to show how you love Apple products, so pick one or two of your favorite ones, and tell a few useful features about them relaxedly. This will show how you know what you’re talking about, but you can also explain this to a potential customer in a way that’s easy to understand.
Why do you want to join Apple?
You need to learn about Apple and its products to answer this properly. You should then list things required for that job position then connect that to your skills and personality. This will influence the hiring manager and show you’re the right fit for that job.
Tell me of a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer
The hiring managers want to hear a story where you met the angry customer with composure. A good way to answer this is by following the general formula and explaining what the situation was, what actions you took to resolve it, and what the result was. This is a STAR method that you can (and should) practice.
Have you ever simplified a complex concept for another person?
The hiring managers for the Apple store jobs are looking for people with nice personalities who can explain Apple products to a customer in a simple way. You can answer this by saying how you sometimes use analogies to explain, or you look for a way to connect to a person with a joke or a story to be able to explain this.
Other interview questions for Apple retail include:
Tell me of a time you had to give feedback to a peer.
Give me an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer.
Tell me of a time when you had to disagree with your manager, and how you handled it.
Explain a RAM or modem/router to an 8-year-old.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Here’s a good video on how to answer typical Apple interview questions:
You may even have a WebEx group interview with other people, which will be nicely organized and asked a standard sort of customer service questions.
To pass the Apple WebEx interview for a retail position, you must show a nice personality and good customer service skills. You probably won’t get any technical questions, other than “what is your favorite Apple product?” The bottom line, try to be personable and well-spoken.
Interview tips for Apple group interviews
During the Apple interview process for a retail position, you may do some interviews in teams, where you’ll do role-playing so they can test how you’d deal with the customer. During this Apple hiring event, you’ll sit down with a group of other people, watch videos about Apple, talk about products and answer questions.
Make sure to show enthusiasm, be alert, responsive, and show interest. Here, you must show how you can connect to the customer and help them, not simply show off your technical knowledge. Be sure to speak loud and clear, listen to others, and stay relaxed.
To remain relaxed, you may want to chat with some staff before the interview or do breathing exercises. There’s no need to pretend, so just be yourself, and try to remain conversational. This will prove to them that you can talk to customers, help them and sell products.
How long to hear back after Apple’s interviews?
In general, the Apple interview response time is about a week or two, depending on the position you’re applying for. Usually, the response times after the 2nd interview at Apple are much shorter than after the first one.
How Do You Know if Apple Hired or Rejected You?
If you only applied but never had an interview, Apple won’t let you know if you aren’t selected. However, if you had an interview, Apple will most probably let you know if they’re moving forward with you or not.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Get Hired at Apple?
The entire hiring process at Apple usually takes about 1 to 2 months, from filling out the application online to getting hired. The time will depend on the location, the need for new employees, and the position you’re applying for, so the entire process can be even longer.
Does Apple respond to job applications?
Apple doesn’t usually respond to applications unless you get selected for an interview. This is normal for most retail jobs, not just Apple. Unless your application was unique, or you were overqualified or applied for a corporate job, they may never respond unless it’s for an interview.
Does Apple tell you if they reject your application?
You may never hear back if you haven’t been called for an interview because Apple doesn’t usually tell you if they reject your application. One way to guarantee at least one interview is to have someone on the inside refer you.
What should I wear to the Apple interview?
Usually, the best advice is to dress business casual for the Apple interview. It’s casual but dressy enough to show you respect and value the opportunity. Unless you’re interviewing for upper management, do not wear a suit.
How long does the Apple background check take?
A background check at Apple can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how many companies and education institutions you listed. If HireRight is doing the checks, it should come back in a week or so but could stretch out to 3-4 weeks.
How long does Apple’s retail training last?
The length of Apple’s retail training program may vary, but typically it lasts from 4 to 6 weeks. The exact duration of the training will depend on the specific role and store location and may be adjusted to fit the needs of each trainee.
How difficult is an Apple interview?
Apple’s interview process can be challenging as they focus on finding individuals with technical skills and great personalities who can connect with customers. The interviews typically involve situational and behavioral questions to assess the candidate’s customer service and problem-solving abilities.
How many interviews are required to land a job at Apple?
The number of interviews required to land a job at Apple varies but typically includes one or two phone interviews followed by 2 to 6 in-person interviews. The length and number of interviews can depend on the store location and position.
What is the highest-paying retail job at Apple?
Apple does not publicly disclose salary information for its retail positions, but it is known that management positions tend to offer higher salaries than entry-level roles. Some higher-paying roles at Apple’s retail stores include store leader, senior manager, and department manager.
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