Company: Apple
Date: 2015-01-12
Overall rating: 5/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

The people you work with are vibrant and interesting
Pros: I loved my experience with Apple. I started out at their corporate headquarters in Austin, and worked for three retail stores afterwards. The coworkers have completely made the experience for me. I have met so many passionate people and made many lasting friendships.

They pay well above minimum wage, most likely the highest of any retail store. There are goals, but no commission, so the pressure is not on you to force the customers into something they do not want. Managers treat employees very fairly, and have shown great compassion when real life gets in the way of work life.

They have the best benefits package of any company I have ever worked for. Great discounts on products, and employee stock purchase discounts too.

You have the opportunity to make lateral moves within the company to find our what role makes you happiest.

Apple was a job, not a career for me. It didn't pay me more than I made in other, more corporate settings. But if happiness had a price, this company was better to me than any other.
Cons: If you wanted to start at the entry level and move to management, it would take many, many years, if at all. If you want to be a retail store manager, you would have to be a manager somewhere else first, and be at the top of your game.

There is no set schedule for 90% of the employees. It can be difficult to take vacations around the holidays. 

If you cannot handle tons of crowds and talking to people all day long, this would not be the job for you. It can be mentally and socially exhausting at the end of the day. Entitled customers break their own gadgets and get mad at you for it. That is one of the worst parts.