piehouserat Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Hi all, I'm thinking about applying for a job at an apple store for the summer but here's the thing... I don't own a mac or have much experience using one. I'm just wondering if this is an issue, do they provide training at all, i'd be looking to fill one of their technical positions as I think it would be a really interesting and educational experience. I used to work at a local computer shop fixing Windows machines, both hardware and software and am a quick learner so I would be quite comfortable in the position, I'm just wondering if mac skills are a pre-requisite? thanks, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subject Delta Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Don't tell them you use Windows :laugh: Seriously though, I'd recommend you learn the basics of macs, but remember most people in shops are salespeople, not technicians. Being an absolute iBoff is not a prequisite, I am sure a basic understanding of Apple and their products will just suffice. Hell just walk in and use a sentance containing "Apple Experience" or "Just Works" and they'll see you as a member of the club :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynnoj Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Having looked at Apple retail vacancies myself in the past, previous Mac experience is not a necessity however it is desired. As long as you're approachable, friendly and helpful then I'm sure you'll be fine. By the sounds of things your tech knowledge is more than adequate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Veteran Posted May 10, 2009 Veteran Share Posted May 10, 2009 To be honest... if I were running a store, and 2 guys come in, each looking for an interview, I'd probably choose the one who knows my product best over the guy who can learn quickly but doesn't know them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabron Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I applied before and I went to their meeting interview with a lot of applicants. From my experience with Apple, you need to be a very knowledgeable person with the Apple ecosystem plus be very customer service oriented. They really love someone who can demonstrate people's skill. They never called me back, I did pretty bad in the orientation. I was not qualify to their standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyX Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I read some of their job explanations and I don't know if they use the same words in english, but in french it's crazy, they ask you to be really charismatic and hot (you know, the opposite of being a cold person). In each sentence, they plugged one of these 2 words :p While I'm still interested in trying, I'd have to know how much they pay, and I don't have that information yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhapimp Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I applied before and I went to their meeting interview with a lot of applicants. From my experience with Apple, you need to be a very knowledgeable person with the Apple ecosystem plus be very customer service oriented. They really love someone who can demonstrate people's skill. They never called me back, I did pretty bad in the orientation. I was not qualify to their standard. *cough* you need to be a genius *cough* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathachew Veteran Posted May 10, 2009 Veteran Share Posted May 10, 2009 I have very limited experience with Macs and they offered me a part time job there last year. I turned it down since they wouldn't work with my necessary schedule during Thanksgiving and Christmas. So you don't need to know a lot, in some cases they have hired people who never had any experience with Macs before. Not all positions at an Apple store requires you to know the ins and outs of the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Symons Veteran Posted May 10, 2009 Veteran Share Posted May 10, 2009 As long as you don't turn up with an "I'm a PC" sticker, you'll be fine (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damian Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Hi all,I'm thinking about applying for a job at an apple store for the summer but here's the thing... I don't own a mac or have much experience using one. I'm just wondering if this is an issue, do they provide training at all, i'd be looking to fill one of their technical positions as I think it would be a really interesting and educational experience. I used to work at a local computer shop fixing Windows machines, both hardware and software and am a quick learner so I would be quite comfortable in the position, I'm just wondering if mac skills are a pre-requisite? thanks, Martin http://training.apple.com/training/ Get started ;) But seriously, If you want to be a technician at any Apple store (Retail or Premium Reseller) i recommend you to take the Apple-certified technician training. http://www.apple.com/support/products/techtrain.html This will help if you want to become an Apple Genius or have no experience with Apple related products. The training requires a Mac. More info: http://training.apple.com/certification/acmt Training centers in UK: http://training.apple.com/locations?q=&...&country=GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillz Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 You can't work at an Apple Store unless you hate Microsoft with a passion and enjoying spreading FUD about Windows to any potential customers. Seriously, judging from the employees in my local Apple store, they know absolutely nothing about Windows, and basically just regurgitate Apple's "it just works" marketing lines on customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazzyyfool Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Just got invited to the seminar for the new Apple Store in Cardiff, UK. It says in the email that they are looking for people for the following roles. ? Concierge ? Specialist ? Operations Specialists Anyone know what an Operations Specialist does? I can't find info on the job role at Apple's job website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_c_b Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 You can't work at an Apple Store unless you hate Microsoft with a passion and enjoying spreading FUD about Windows to any potential customers.Seriously, judging from the employees in my local Apple store, they know absolutely nothing about Windows, and basically just regurgitate Apple's "it just works" marketing lines on customers. Hmm, I've been to several Apple stores and never heard a word like that across mulitple purchases, I think they generally avoid the topic of Windows unless you bring it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Helix Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 You are required to have 250 Twitter followers erm...... Wait, you said Apple store? lol My bad, thought you said BestBuy, yup you need to learn mac and you will be ok Want a Job at BestBuy? You better have 250 Twitter followers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillz Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hmm, I've been to several Apple stores and never heard a word like that across mulitple purchases, I think they generally avoid the topic of Windows unless you bring it up. I'll give you a personal example. I once asked an employee there if [software] was available for the Mac, and not just Windows. He then told me "blah blah blah Windows sucks because blah blah blah." And then later, the same guy was telling some customer about how the Mac OS X Dock was like the Windows taskbar, "except it's actually useful, since it's not an ugly fat blue bar at the bottom of your screen all the time." Sure, one employee, but it gave me the impression that Apple only seems interesting in hiring employees that could be a replacement Justin Long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Sure, one employee, but it gave me the impression that Apple only seems interesting in hiring employees that could be a replacement Justin Long. Good thing you're not generalising. If I meet one person from a race or country that turns out to be an idiot, certainly everyone from that said race or country are equally stupid. I cannot find any fault in such amazing reasoning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazzyyfool Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 The seminar is tomorrow at 10am in Cardiff. Anyone else ever been to one? What's it like? Do I need to take anything? Should I be bricking it? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithchris Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I think if you wanna work in an apple shop you have to know as much as possible about the product. There are already some good hints listed. It's not very difficult. Give it a try. Worst possible thing that can happen is that you don't get the job. On the other hand I had plenty of Jobs without a qualification - not even close! I got the job and I learned by doing! I think you should definitely give it a try! Keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 On the other hand I had plenty of Jobs without a qualification - not even close! You had plenty of Steve Jobs? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerade01 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Microsoft are opening up stores as well.... Thats a alternative :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenbhm Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Would love to be the head engineer at the MICROSOFT store. I would never work at an Apple store. I'm totally against their company's practices. LOL, maybe I would if I knew I would have the opportunity to tell a customer that asks that he can run Windows 7 on a Mac for a lot less than the prices in our store (Apple store). He just needs to go to Dell.com to order. It comes preloaded with Win7 and is about 33% cheaper than the MacBook he's looking at... If he visits http://www.osx86project.org/ he can find the instructions to install OSX. Anyway, I don't want to be associated with a company that is so arrogant. For for the majority of the world that uses PCs, those anti-PC commercials are insulting. And now they're threatening to sue MS because of Microsoft's commercial? WTF is wrong with this picture. They're acting like a big crybaby. I have an iPod Touch that I love, but their whole company seems like it needs to grow up a bit. The way I see it, if you're young, hip, and have plenty of money, go ahead and buy a Mac so the world knows it. If you're a regular person that needs a computer to check email, surf the web, listen to music, watch YouTube, and do everything else the average consumer does, buy a PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Would love to be the head engineer at the MICROSOFT store. I would never work at an Apple store. I'm totally against their company's practices. He asked for information how to apply to one - stop derailing the topic. If you want to express your dislike of Apple, open a new thread somewhere, like say the General Discussion or better yet, Soapbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTempestSonata Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 To be honest... if I were running a store, and 2 guys come in, each looking for an interview, I'd probably choose the one who knows my product best over the guy who can learn quickly but doesn't know them as well. This is why you don't manage retail. :) </sarcasm> Seriously though, my boss told me she hires people who don't know as much so they can be trained the "Staples way". People with too much retail experience tend to fall into habits from other companies that don't fit Staples' policy, and people who know too much about computers tend to not make good Easy Techs because they know methods of fixing computers that go against policy, or they might be "too efficient" and will then require promotion or termination. It's quite silly, but stupid corporate rules are... well... stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead_Monkey Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 The key is showing up to your interview in a black turtleneck holding two lattes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazzyyfool Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I've been called back for an interview next Friday for the new Cardiff Store. I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say, so I won't say anything more. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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