Company: Apple
Date: 2013-08-31
Overall rating: 5/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Confirmed

Amazing people and a focus on real quality
Pros: Career opportunities, as the business has been growing in Europe there's a lot of new roles. Working your way through from Specialist can be really tough but it is possible and you need to constantly perform at a high level. There are incredible people all around you and the standards are so high that I think many young people give up after a year or two because they expect instant promotion or a career on a plate. 

Its a brand thats easy to be passionate about, the product quality is second to none and its not really like any other retail business. I think the biggest win for Apple Retail is the culture, it stands apart from Apple Inc because of a very specific people-focused credo and entrenched standards.
Cons: Do not be fooled into thinking this is a way into Apple Inc. A lot of people think that by joining as a Specialist they'll somehow be designing the latest products within 5 years.

Everything is controlled from the US, this can lead to a less flexible understanding of the EU and its laws/practices that can cause problems as the company doesn't acknowledge the differences.

Can take longer to progress but this is because its an environment full of talented people.