Company: Apple
Date: 2009-02-24
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former

Pretty decent experience with some opportunity for advancement (for retail)
Pros: The best reason to work at Apple is there were some open box sales for employees in addition to the employee discount.  The employee discount was limited to like one or two big purchases a year.  It was at least 25% off if remember correctly.

Opportunity to advance was made known and could be initiated.  I was under the impression you could end up at corporate if you kept your focus.

The retail environment was very positive and productive
Cons: I would have to say that the benefits are poor for part time employees.  They really only hire part time employees and the couple of full time positions are for aspiring management.  Nothing wrong with that per se, it is smart considering they are publicly traded.  There was a lot of pressure for achieving numbers at the store and from corporate and this is pushed on down.  It wasn't done in a negative way but there is a lot of rah rah rah and negative people really won't do well there (I was fairly negative at the time and didn't really last to be honest) but if you love Apple it is a fun retail environment and you will love your colleagues.  SO many Apple geeks!!!

In addition I would say that there seemed to be ample opportunities for trainings and moving on up, however you had to take the initiative because no one was going to hold your hand through it.  You have to raise your hand and take the first step, which was encouraged of course.