Company: Apple
Date: 2018-01-09
Overall rating: 1/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Just Don't
Pros: On-site gym, Canteen, on-site doctor,  there's not much else to add really
Cons: This is probably one of the most morally reprehensible companies I have ever worked for. It is clear that not only it is  a cult (think of Goebbels scale propaganda events), they appear to want to be relevant to every disaster there is - using events as an excuse to pat themselves on the back for answering a few goddamn phone calls. I quit in disgust at not only this but the behaviour that I witnessed. 

They promise you a permanent contract, however it is not worth the paper it is written on. Some advice; when working for an American company, always, ALWAYS have a backup plan. I had already worked for a few Yank companies so was feeding my resume out even after hire, I had something to go onto, many don't.  They will lure you in with a relocation package, then illegally send you documents that they want you to sign AFTER relocation and the commencement of the job. What is in these documents? Backdated forms stating that if you sign you will pay them back every penny of relocation if you quit within 12 months, essentially you're an indentured slave for that 12 month period. I didn't sign. Others did as they did not know what and why they were signing as they could not understand the papers. They were fired later and  walked away with nothing. 

Apple will hold your contract over your head and basically blackmail you. If you don't meet their "stats" (which, by the way are rigged), they'll threaten you, then blackmail you with ending your contract then threaten you some more. It's laughable that they seem to think this is appropriate management strategy or conduct.

They will also illegally deduct things from your wages -make sure if you work here you check your paystubs EVERY month. Also make sure that you're familiar with employment laws in the country you're working for. Apple seem to think they are above the law, they're not and I had to seek legal advice whilst working for them.

You're also not able to speak freely to anyone, they cultivate a very 1984 vibe. Always look over your shoulder, the smallest thing will be taken out of context and repeated to management. They encourage people to crawl over the dead bodies of their comrades in order to get ahead, think "corporate hunger-games", it's disgusting.

As for management, walking adverts for psychopathy if ever I have seen one.  All management care about is themselves, it's not what you know it's who you know, so most management are busy climbing up the back holes of the people above them. They'll promise you career growth but the reality is, there is none. It's more of a sideways shuffle. 

There's no room for thought or creativity, they're just looking for automatons, drones if you will.  It's quite disturbing observing the vapid gazes, backstabbing and culture of fear that permeates the place. Think legitimized scientology if you want an idea on how it is to work there. ..and for some weird reason they think it's appropriate to bribe workers with candy. Candy. I work for money not flipping candy. There's a tendency to infantilise the worker.

And sexism. lots of misogyny and sexism. They just pay lip-service to their anti-discrimination policy (and if you declare a pre-existing condition to your manager, be prepared to have this work against you in direct contravention of anti-discrimination laws, not their policy, but actual laws).

It's terrible. Absolutely terrible (think eight minutes allocated in the day to pee terrible), so think long and hard about working there before you apply and think "am  just able to use them and get the experience I need and get out without having my soul crushed?" before you even sign the contract.  

They bank on their reputation to get young ones in, then chew them up and spit the out, the incidents of depression and depressive behaviour in the call centres are HUGE. If you value your individuality, mental health and humanity, look elsewhere for work. 

I do realise that they pay people to flood these sites with glowing reviews, so if you've made it this far then clearly you shouldn't be applying.