Company: Apple
Date: 2014-03-20
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Junior

Retail redefined, still retail.
Pros: Apple's corporate retail culture is unparalleled. There is no better retail store to work for; Apple Stores are diverse, dynamic learning laboratories for creative technology users and consumers. 

The caliber of employee is beyond that found in any other retail environment I've worked in. Everyone there, for the most part, is there to genuinely help and ensure quality customer experiences. Most Apple retail employees are interesting and intelligent young people who participate in various activities outside of work -- outdoor sports, music, art, university, digital media, etc.

There is room for growth within Apple retail, but it will likely take a long while before one reaches corporate from there, if ever. Apple does provide opportunities for retail employees to participate in "on-campus" learning experiences at the Cupertino headquarters. They also have a leadership program (ASLP) for store employees to gain knowledge of every level of the retail experience the company provides.

You will learn a lot working for Apple, retail or corporate. The discounts (EPP+) and benefits (401K, stock options, health care, transit incentives) are a huge plus, too.
Cons: Having visited numerous Apple Stores, two of which I worked for, it is clear that some stores are more enjoyable and productive than others. The feel of each store is very much dependent upon the employees that work within it, and sometimes managers fail to hire the brightest of the bunch, which often leads to frustration, inconsistency and unrest.

The sales environment can be extremely hectic, and some Apple Stores are more prone to chaos. Many stores have steel walls, wooden tables, stone floors and minimal sound mitigation, which can add stress to the day-to-day. There is also a certain mundane repetition that seems to develop after more than two years; a lot of explaining the same things, repeating analogies, and talking about the same products and services day in and day out.

Many employees, especially those under the age of 28, see working at the Apple Store as a stepping stone towards their dream jobs, which seldom exist within Apple, Inc.