Interview with an Apple

[arguskos]

So, I have an interview for work with Apple (the computing company) on Monday. I was wondering, does anyone have experience with them in a working sense, and does anyone have any Apple-specific advice for the interview?

Also, yes, I'm deeply excited! :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

[Crimmy]

First off, don't bring fertilizer. I think the Apples might get oofended by that.

Second, make sure you're not wearing or ate anything apple-related (perfume, apple pie, anything at all.)

Now, going to the seiours business, I've never had the experience, so all I can offer for you is congratulations, and hope all goes ok!

[Starscream]

Use small words, and mention that you are much more impressed with the shiny knickknacks on the interviewer's desk than its contents. Ooh! And be sure to say that you never want to be promoted. You'd rather be replaced with a newer model.

[arguskos]

Use small words, and mention that you are much more impressed with the shiny knickknacks on the interviewer's desk than its contents. Ooh! And be sure to say that you never want to be promoted. You'd rather be replaced with a newer model.
Yes, because a cheap shot at their marketing strategy is really in place here. Way to go, Starscream. :smalltongue:

Any actual advice, and not silly attacks on a company you personally disagree with?

[skywalker]

Yes, because a cheap shot at their marketing strategy is really in place here. Way to go, Starscream. :smalltongue:

Any actual advice, and not silly attacks on a company you personally disagree with?

I mean, I personally would make a point of my interest in the company's philosophy and corporate culture. Big time companies like people who like them.

Of course, I'm in love with Apple's business model and they've not given me an interview yet.

[arguskos]

I mean, I personally would make a point of my interest in the company's philosophy and corporate culture. Big time companies like people who like them.

Of course, I'm in love with Apple's business model and they've not given me an interview yet.
I've been actively pursuing work with them, so it's going alright.

I've mentioned a few times through this process (and it's a process, believe me) that I've been a life-long user of the products, and I'll be making mention of that again. Good tip, thanks.

[Flickerdart]

Dress like the PC guy dresses. See if they notice.

[Starscream]

Any actual advice, and not silly attacks on a company you personally disagree with?

Oh, c'mon, if I interviewed for Microsoft I'd totally apologize for being late getting there because I just couldn't stop crashing. And I'd keep fiddling with my iPod.

I work in the software industry myself and I can tell you this: any boss who doesn't have a sense of humor about how bloody frustrating computers are is not worth working for.

[Myatar_Panwar]

Oh, c'mon, if I interviewed for Microsoft I'd totally apologize for being late getting there because I just couldn't stop crashing. And I'd keep fiddling with my iPod.

This kind of stuff is a terrible idea.

I mean, telling a Microsoft/Apple joke to a normal guy can be funny, but telling to someone who probably hears that **** all the freaking time is less than appealing.

"Oh ha... haven't heard that before... No really. I haven't. heh..." :smallsigh:

[Ichneumon]

Seriously, I wouldn't start with any Apple/Microsoft jokes. Like Myatar_Panwar said, they likely hear those every time and they aren't really that funny, at least not hilarious, and not very respectful. Even if you hate Microsoft or Apple and the quality or price of their products, they still make much and much more money than a lot of other people in their field. So respect them, they KNOW what they are doing.

I would ask them about their "business philosophy", how that's different from other hardware/software companies. I'd ask them about the Ipod and how/if that changed the way Apple thinks about their "products", they were mostly only computers before then, if I remember correctly. If you can think of something interesting to ask, ask something about the Ipad as well.

[Quincunx]

Yes, the Apple employees really do wear that much black.

I'll poke the household (two current and one former Apple wonks, of various roles customer-facing and non) and see if they have anything particular to add which didn't relate to being multilingual. What do the Austin employees do anyway, other than tend to forget the timezones on the days of keynote speeches and not have their boop together by the end of the speech, so that the Europeans have to remain until stupid o'clock just to get started on whatever-it-was?

[Asta Kask]

Don't ask him if he has any relatives called Granny Smith... :smallbiggrin:

Seriously, are they any different from any other major company? Say you are flexible, a team-player, creative, etc.

[arguskos]

Yes, the Apple employees really do wear that much black.

I'll poke the household (two current and one former Apple wonks, of various roles customer-facing and non) and see if they have anything particular to add which didn't relate to being multilingual. What do the Austin employees do anyway, other than tend to forget the timezones on the days of keynote speeches and not have their boop together by the end of the speech, so that the Europeans have to remain until stupid o'clock just to get started on whatever-it-was?
I'm curious, what did these folks say? The interview is tomorrow... and I'm kinda nervous still.

[PJ the Epic]

Just to be curious, what type of job are you going for here? Kie a programmer, sales clerk, random employee? The type of things they might look for in an interview change from job to job within the company. My parents used to work for them and they said the biggest mistake is not showing up early and not looking nice. They said that, in their department, if you ever showed up late, you got fired. So just show up on time and be yourself. Because if you don't, you'll be living a lie for a long time.

Good luck :smallsmile:

[KuReshtin]

So just show up on time and be yourself.

Good luck :smallsmile:

Very true.
Be there on time. Hell, if you're there 10 minutes before the interview, you're 5-10 minutes too late. Leave yourself time to settle down once you've arrived at the interview site. You do not want to still be thinking about the guy cutting you off on the way in to the interview, or that the roadworks cost you 10 minutes of prep time.

Get there early. Settle down. Start getting into interview mode as soon as you step inside the door. Don't wait until you meet the interviewer.

[CTLC]

Dress like the PC guy dresses. See if they notice.

i would absolutely love to see this.
Do not mention the ipad for fear of laughing?

[arguskos]

Start getting into interview mode as soon as you step inside the door. Don't wait until you meet the interviewer.
Been doing that for three days. :smallwink: I've been rehearsing information on my resume, going over what I'm going to wear and how I'm gonna shave, etc. Better to be too prepared than not prepared enough.

Also, PJ the Epic, the position is for what they call a "Specialist", basically, the floor salesman, the dude you instantly meet when you walk in the door.

[KuReshtin]

Been doing that for three days. :smallwink: I've been rehearsing information on my resume, going over what I'm going to wear and how I'm gonna shave, etc. Better to be too prepared than not prepared enough.

Also, PJ the Epic, the position is for what they call a "Specialist", basically, the floor salesman, the dude you instantly meet when you walk in the door.

What I mean with getting into interview mode as soon as you step inside the door is that before you actually step inside the door of the interview building, there are thousands of other things that will be on your mind and requiring your attention. Like the examples I mentioned about someone cutting you off on your way to the interview, or a roadworks delaying you. Once you get inside the doors of the place ytou're interviewing at, you'll have no other distractions and that's when you can start going over things uninterrupted.
Also, if you get there early, there's usually some sort of internal newsletter or something like that around that you can pick up and read through to get a bit more insight into the company as a whole, or the branch where you'll work.

[arguskos]

What I mean with getting into interview mode as soon as you step inside the door is that before you actually step inside the door of the interview building, there are thousands of other things that will be on your mind and requiring your attention. Like the examples I mentioned about someone cutting you off on your way to the interview, or a roadworks delaying you. Once you get inside the doors of the place ytou're interviewing at, you'll have no other distractions and that's when you can start going over things uninterrupted.
Also, if you get there early, there's usually some sort of internal newsletter or something like that around that you can pick up and read through to get a bit more insight into the company as a whole, or the branch where you'll work.
Yeah, I sorta surmised that. I just added the extra bit there for completeness. :smallwink:

Also, no, Apple doesn't have those in the store here. Which blows, cause it would have been useful to have.

[KuReshtin]

Also, no, Apple doesn't have those in the store here. Which blows, cause it would have been useful to have.

That's a bit poor that they don't have anything like that.
However, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Good luck.


And again: DONT! BE! LATE!

[arguskos]

That's a bit poor that they don't have anything like that.
However, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Good luck.


And again: DONT! BE! LATE!
I am so habitually early that God himself would have to come and be like "Dude, yo gonna be late" for me to NOT be on time. :smalltongue:

Also, handing out brochures about Apple wouldn't really make much sense for their store layouts nor for their sales plan, though it would be convenient for me.

[Syka]

I am so habitually early that God himself would have to come and be like "Dude, yo gonna be late" for me to NOT be on time. :smalltongue:

Also, handing out brochures about Apple wouldn't really make much sense for their store layouts nor for their sales plan, though it would be convenient for me.

I don't know about Apple, but Walgreens keeps their company newsletter (magazine, really) in the breakroom. It's no where NEAR the floor, nor where interviews occur, but it is in-store. Chances are there is something similar....just not where you'll be able to reach it pre-hiring, since it's a retail position (technically).

[bluewind95]

Know their goals as a company and make them know how you can help them get there.

[arguskos]

Well, it went pretty decently. I went in calm, collected, ready to knock some socks off, and did just that. I answered every question the manager threw my way with little hesitation, lots of detail, and really sold myself. I fit in great with the company's profile, and I'm really hoping to hear back from them in a week or two.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. :smallredface:

[Fifty-Eyed Fred]

Did you ask the apple how crunchy he was, and whether they employed boh red and green apples? Please tell me you didn't make jokes about his 'stalk'...

In all seriousness, I'd ask him whether he ever needed coffee, since apples are the ultimate wake-up food.

[KuReshtin]

Well, it went pretty decently. I went in calm, collected, ready to knock some socks off, and did just that. I answered every question the manager threw my way with little hesitation, lots of detail, and really sold myself. I fit in great with the company's profile, and I'm really hoping to hear back from them in a week or two.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. :smallredface:

Good show. Hope you get it.

[arguskos]

Good show. Hope you get it.
You and me both, you and me both.

[arguskos]

Apologies for the double post, but I figured I'd update you fine, helpful folks. I didn't get the job. :smallsigh:

Well, on to (hopefully) bigger and better things.

[Kallisti]

That is most lamesauce. [/sympathy]

[arguskos]

That is most lamesauce. [/sympathy]
Eh, it happens, but yeah, I'm somewhat disappointed. *shrugs*

[Temotei]

Apologies for the double post, but I figured I'd update you fine, helpful folks. I didn't get the job. :smallsigh:

Well, on to (hopefully) bigger and better things.

Unfortunate. :smallsigh:

[Moff Chumley]

NOW is the time for Mac/PC jokes at their expense. Keep 'em coming in fast & low. :smallcool: