Company: Apple
Date: 2014-10-10
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Best Team I've Ever Worked With, but...
Pros: -Best, most high-energy, passionate group of people you will ever work with. We have fun with each other, and with the customers, and it's a good atmosphere. People come to Apple Stores because they love Apple.  People work at Apple Stores because they love Apple. It makes for a good environment.
-Great Health Benefits. Premiums are less than $100 per month for full dental, health, and vision
-401(k) plan with matching (Apple matches 50% of 6% that you put in, from day one, and it goes up as service time goes up)
-15% off of Apple Stock twice a year
-25% off one Mac per year, 25% off one iPad per year, etc...15% off 10 Macs per year, 15% off 10 iPads per year...etc...and unlimited 10% off of anything in store.  Also, pretty strong discounts on third party products from time to time. (like 40% off Bose, etc.) Also, additional $500 off after the 25% off Mac once every three years. So you can basically get an $1800 Mac for $850 once every three years. 
-Tuition Reimbursement (which may be getting enhanced to cover PT employees as well as FT)
-Good hourly wage (plus overtime) in a retail environment.  New PT Specialists start at around $14 per hour, and you can be making $17-19 after 3-4 years if you get promoted to an Expert (sales leader) , or get promoted to Genius (technician) or Creative (Trainer).  Usually get about a 4% raise every year. But that depends on how you do. And if you can cut through the red tape to get there.
-The only metrics they look at are AppleCare attach rate, One to One  attach rate, and accessories sold...and they really don't ever have a conversation with you if you're doing poorly (or well, for that matter)
-It's a pretty "cushy" job. Products sell themselves.  Just come to work, do your job, and you'll be fine.
Cons: It's busy.  Really busy sometimes.  Expect to stand on your feet all day, all shift.  And the floors are mostly hard concrete/rock.  You are required to work two days out of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and one additional day.  As a FT employee, I had both of my days off during the week, and worked pretty much every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Each store may be a little different, though, so ask if you are concerned.  Promotions are difficult.  Hard to get to where you want to go, and definitely no clear path to management.  Lots of politics and grudges held.  When I left, I was still being reminded of mistakes I had made 3 years ago.  Also, Leadership can tend to micromanage.  I suspect that this is different in each store.  Some customers are tough customers who have overly high expectations.  The hours are lousy, especially during the holidays.  Sometimes you might work 3pm-12am, even though the mall closes at 10pm. Expect 5x 9 hr. shifts during your week, with one hour unpaid lunch each shift and two paid 15 minute breaks each shift.  But don't expect to go to lunch on time, or to take your 15 minute breaks on time, because you probably won't.  Apple is in some hot water for this out in California.  You aren't paid commission, bonus, or anything, just hourly, so no matter how well you outperform everyone else, you get the same pay.  I never heard of anyone, save for maybe three people out of 170, not get the standard 4% raise.