Company: Apple
Date: 2016-11-21
Overall rating: 5/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Confirmed

Specialist
Pros: - Best company I ever worked for.  In terms of motivation, peer relationships (the people that work there are incredible and some of the smartest people I ever met)

- BEST medical, dental, vision, life insurance benefits I ever came across.  Compared to every other company  I worked for no one comes close to Apple's benefits.  The dentist I used actually mentioned that they never had any patient with as high dental coverage as the plan Apple ensures.

- Very challenging.  If your going for a promotion your NOT competing against nobodies.  These are some of the most intelligent, innovative and hard working people I know in my life.  It made promotions a real challenge but that's a good thing I think.  Makes you work harder and appreciate what you get.

- Good 401k and stock options.  Apple has some great 401k and stock options, again I haven't seen any other company I worked for offer such benefits.

- Great discounts on products.  A good example of this is I paid $1,000 for a $2,000 iMac.  Some co workers bought a MacBook Air that costed $999 and paid less than $300.  

- Caring company.  I couldn't believe this but it's true.  I had a lot of stuff happen to me the last 2 years with my marriage and life, where I had to take ALOT of days off and was a wreck when I was there.  They not only worked with me but were there for me.    Especially the employees who offered any and all support.  Won't forget that.

- Career advancement.  THIS IS HUGE!  If you come in as a employee, even as a entry Apple Store specialist you can go anywhere and everywhere.  You can be transferred to work at any Apple Store nationwide, or if you want go work at Corporate and even be part of software and hardware design teams.  One Genius in my store did a Career experience at Cupertino, did such a good job they asked him to come back and work on The iPad team.
Cons: - Wish the pay was a bit more.  It's above average for retail, but I wish I was paid closer to 40k a year rather than mid 30's.  I was with the company for almost 6 years.  If your closer to a major city market your pay does jump though.  Good example I made 16.11 hr in a VA market and 18 in a NJ market