Company: Apple
Date: 2015-11-10
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former

It is what you make it- don't be afraid to ask for help
Pros: I worked at two different stores, one in New York City and one in California (Bay Area). 

I really enjoyed having a structure to each day and a sense of direction and goals within my role. 

They provided excellent training and were supportive of my desire to transfer, even matching my pay. When I hit a rough patch in my life, they provided a lot of good resources for me and were really understanding, which is pretty rare and pretty great.

I also just had fun working there. There were many days where I laughed so hard that my face hurt. I made a lot of wonderful friends and it changed my life.

It is what you make of it and no, it's not for everyone. But it's a great way to get into the tech industry and can take you far. It also really IS the best retail job, if you're looking to go that route. It's really rewarding and you're always learning new things. The perks/benefits/discounts are great.
Cons: Work-life balance was a constant and often painful struggle for me, and ultimately one of the biggest reasons I decided to leave. I had never worked a full-time retail schedule, so for me- as someone with a delicate immune system and a need for routine- it was a huge shock and really compromised my abilities to do my job. If you've already worked retail, you'll probably do better than me. That said, if you ask, they will be flexible for you in turn. So don't be afraid to ask. 

Sometimes it would feel as if we weren't being told everything we needed to know for our jobs. But it all changes so fast that I guess it's not realistic to expect that...? Who knows. It's also very different from one store to the next.

You will end up giving a lot of yourself to your customers and I think sometimes this is encouraged to a point that is unhealthy. If you're a people-pleaser, you might have a tough time. 

I also wish they had a coffee machine in the break room...