Job at Apple Store?

[DAZZD88]

Has anyone here worked at an Apple Store? I visited the one in the MetroCentre in Gateshead last night and I felt I would be better than half the people there (cocky I know but I've always felt like that). Anyway, it got me thinking that there must be jobs going there plus there are bound to be benefits such as staff discounts etc...

 

I realise this may not be the best career move but I think it may provide me with opportunites and experience I'd not get otherwise. The thought of working there excites me, moreso than most things.

 

So, has anybody worked there?

Any pointers on knocking up a CV (with examples or directions to a decent website)? As it's years since I last knocked one up.

Any other thoughts?

[LosOjos]

Now I don't mean this to be offensive, as we've all done (well most of us) minimum wage jobs to get by when we were younger, but why on Earth would you want to quit your job to go and be a sales rep in an Apple store? What do you think you need on your CV to get a job there? I imagine the criteria to work there is a pair of shoes and the ability to speak English... It's not a "bad career move", it's career suicide (or am I totally missing the point?)

[RabbieBurns]

The person who took over from me in my last job at a school in scotland left his position to take up a job at an apple store as it was better pay...

[tech_guy]

The daughter of a family friend is working at the Solihull store and doing very well, so much so she's deferred going to uni for a year.

[DAZZD88]

I'm not getting paid a whole lot anyway. Lol. Ii just figured there are a fair few routes of progression. I could move on to a different department within the store or I could train and then move into the corporate side, involved in manufacturing, design etc... I understand the negative points of view but even if it's not that good, it'll still be a bonus on my CV for the job after.

[Zenden]

i worked there for one day and left. Even if you want to go down the "Apple Genius" route, it is 100% sales driven. I found i knew far more than their most experienced Apple Genius' yet they couldnt give me any assurances i wouldnt be a sales monkey for as long as i worked there. Criteria to get a job there is that you "sell the apple image" IE. You have a cool hairdo, an iphone and that you can convince windows users that macs are the light at the end of the tunnel. There were nice people at that store, dont get me wrong but unless you want a job in sales, I would avoid it.

[Hightower]

I have a cack hairdo, I love my android phone, I code in C#, and to top it all off I love Microsoft products. Oh, and I have a big nose and hate Apple with quite a deep burning passion for some reason.

 

Reckon I could land a job there?!

[DAZZD88]

Personally honest, I don't think I'd mind the selling aspect all that much. My job at the moment is going nowhere and ss far as I can see it'll continue to do so. I've only ever had this one job. I'm 22 (23 in Feb) and I really think that almost any move away from my current job would be a step forward.

[somabc]

Apple Stores are all about sales, and there is zero chance of moving over to corporate / design. However it could still be a fun place to work if you love Apple Products, are 18-24 have the right haircut.

 

A job at an Apple Retail Store is a chance to use your hands and heart. To use your knowledge and experience. To contribute meaningfully to people’s businesses – and to people’s lives.

 

Pure Marketing Speak, it all sounds very Cult like. This would also technically be true.

A job at Tesco is a chance to use your hands and heart. To use your knowledge and experience. To contribute meaningfully to people’s businesses – and to people’s lives.

 

 

Apple - Jobs at Apple - Retail (uk)

Apple - Jobs at Apple - Corporate

Edited December 14, 2010 by somabc

[Zenden]

to be honest it isnt that bad if you can hack it. My problem was that i didnt want to lie to people, allow me to give an example. I am a "Mac Specialist" in an apple store and a mother comes to as for my guidance:

 

Mother: "excuse me, My daughter is going to uni to study graphic design and i dont really know what she will need, can you help?"

Me: "sure, what is your budget?"

mother: "well, i cant really afford a mac but i will find a way if that is what she needs".

 

Unfortunately, it is the apple way to recomend she buy a mac, even though i know she could spend a third of the price, get a machine which is just as capable and probably get the Creative Suite aswell. This is something i just could not see myself doing and I ended up leaving my apple career before it started. Just be careful to diferentiate between loving Apple products and loving Apple Stores, i have learnt that they are two very different things.

[aerospacemango]

@DAZZD88

 

Thing to remember is..........

 

Follow your dreams!

 

It may not be the greatest job in the world, and may well be entirely sales driven, but if YOU feel you need a change of direction, and you FEEL that this might be a good step to take, then don't listen to anyone else!

 

Take the plunge!

 

You can always come back to this sort of thing....maybe not in education, but maybe in Private Sector.

 

At 22, you have another 40+ years of working....Don't let that figure depress you, but look at the positives. You will want to find something that you would like to do for the next 5 years. This could be that job. No-one, when they are 22, wants to think of the next 40 years....you're just interested in the next 5....so do what you feel is right!

 

And the very best of luck to you!!!

 

 

*EDIT*

P.S. To everyone else...Please don't think that I am belittling your comments, as I do not mean to cause offence. I did a year working in a McD's, at 16, so I know what it's like to work for a pittance! Every person's opinion IS valid, and should not influence DAZZ too much, either way.

Edited December 14, 2010 by aerospacemango

[Zenden]

@DAZZD88

 

Thing to remember is..........

 

Follow your dreams!

 

It may not be the greatest job in the world, and may well be entirely sales driven, but if YOU feel you need a change of direction, and you FEEL that this might be a good step to take, then don't listen to anyone else!

 

Take the plunge!

 

You can always come back to this sort of thing....maybe not in education, but maybe in Private Sector.

 

At 22, you have another 40+ years of working....Don't let that figure depress you, but look at the positives. You will want to find something that you would like to do for the next 5 years. This could be that job. No-one, when they are 22, wants to think of the next 40 years....you're just interested in the next 5....so do what you feel is right!

 

And the very best of luck to you!!!

 

couldn't agree more and I hope it isnt percieved that i am trying to talk you out of it. Just thought i should pass on my experiences to give you another perspective. I hope it all works out for you mate

[DAZZD88]

Oh, I know you guys wouldn't do that. I asked on here because I knew there would be people with varying experiences of working in Apple Stores. I appreciate every comment here because I have gained a better insight into the whole situation.

 

There is one possible problem to getting a job at an Apple Store...if they want me to prance around with an iPhone instead of my HTC Desire they can go and shove it. I do like the iPhone but I like my HTC much more with it's interface.

[aerospacemango]

There is one possible problem to getting a job at an Apple Store...if they want me to prance around with an iPhone instead of my HTC Desire they can go and shove it. I do like the iPhone but I like my HTC much more with it's interface.

 

That's no way to look at it!

 

You'd have the iPhoney as your work phone...so you could prance around with a big smile saying how great it is....and then when you finish....you go back to your first love....the HTC!

 

It'll be like having an affair, without the worry of getting caught with your pants down!!!

[DAZZD88]

That is very true. I kind of would like an iPhone even though I'd rather not really admit it. Just the ease of being able to use it with itunes and not having to worry about where to store my music as it's all taken care of.

[Duane_Dibbley]

I think it comes down to one thing...are you willing to tell people that apple stuff is "magical"?

[aerospacemango]

I know that I'd find it hard............

 

It would be like "selling out".

 

After all the people that I've spoken to over the last couple of years, saying "Style over Substance" and all that kind of thing....I think it would be rank hypocrisy!!

 

Thankfully, I'm not looking to go there!!!

 

(......although......) LOL!!!

Edited December 14, 2010 by aerospacemango

[AyatollahPies]

VAT is rising in January

Local government is facing huge cuts

Disposable income is going down

 

Ask yourself if you think your current job is relatively safe, compared to one that relies on sales of a "Trendy Brand" product.

 

Sounds like your minds made up though, so I wish you luck and success.

[teejay]

VAT is rising in January

Local government is facing huge cuts

Disposable income is going down

 

Ask yourself if you think your current job is relatively safe, compared to one that relies on sales of a "Trendy Brand" product.

 

Sounds like your minds made up though, so I wish you luck and success.

 

Sounds like the Apple job would be safer tbh!

Just go for it, your young and by the sounds of it could do with a change of scenery. Retail can be good fun and rewarding with the right employer.

[DAZZD88]

@AyatollahPies: You're right, it kind of is made up. I feel I'd benefit from new experiences and dealing with a different aspect of IT. I've been at my current job since I left school and I can't help but feel there's more out there for me.

[LosOjos]

@AyatollahPies: You're right, it kind of is made up. I feel I'd benefit from new experiences and dealing with a different aspect of IT. I've been at my current job since I left school and I can't help but feel there's more out there for me.

 

I'd think about it very carefully, it sounds like you want to work in IT just a different area: I can pretty much guarantee you won't be doing a lot with IT in an Apple store: you're there to sell product, not fix it.

[tech_guy]

I think even in a recession people will still go out and spend money, an Apple know this. I was in their Birmingham store last Saturday and in 30 minutes I counted roughly 50k in purchases simply by watching and listening to what was going on around me.

[aerospacemango]

I'd think about it very carefully, it sounds like you want to work in IT just a different area: I can pretty much guarantee you won't be doing a lot with IT in an Apple store: you're there to sell product, not fix it.

 

But that may be the point?

 

Maybe DAZZ would like to try a different sphere entirely? Something that still involves working with IT and Gadgets, but in a different environment?

 

At 22, it has to be worth a go....I just wish I was still 22, and could take a risk like that. It was hard enough taking the dive into IT at 39!!

[DAZZD88]

@LosOjos: I understand that, I'm just looking to move on to somewhere else. My plan is to take a sort of break from tech support for a while and then get back into it later, once I've done a couple of basic certifications. I'd hope that being a part of Apple, they would maybe look kindly on my doing Apple certifications and that I might be able to advance myself to another job role this way. My way of looking at this is, that even if it doesn't work out the way I hope then I'm young enough to go wherever I want.

 

@aerospacemango: You're right, I would like the gadgety aspect of things and that's one of the things that appeals to me. I am a self-confessed gadget-freak.

[srochford]

Just the ease of being able to use it with itunes and not having to worry about where to store my music as it's all taken care of.

 

I think if that's your attitude, you'll fit in nicely at Apple :-) Personally, I want to be in control of things and hate software which takes care of stuff for me because, invariably, it's not doing things the way I want them :-) (and, no, I do not have OCD :-))

 

I'd say go for it - if the money's OK it could be a good place to work. As @somabc says, you're not going to get into designing the new iMac working there but I'm sure there is scope for progression and that always looks good on a CV when you decide to move on.