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Apple Specialist Interview Questions & Reviews

Getting the Interview  285 Interviews

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Interview Experience  272 Ratings

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285 interview experiences Back to all interview questions
Updated May 20, 2013
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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Reviewed May 20, 2013 New

Interview Details – I actually heard back about a month after applying for the Specialist job. I was then invited to the hiring event which included about 30 other candidates as well as about 10 current employees interviewing you. You watch a couple videos in a group setting, then are split into groups of about 3 or 4 to get interviewed by 1 employee. The questions they ask are a lot about "tell me a time when...." After this hiring event, I heard back the day after via phone for a 2nd interview which is a panel interview. This one was with 3 or 4 of different store leaders and market leaders. This one is definitely more serious and formal than the first one. Here, they ask you 'what separates you from other candidates?" etc. After this interview, I received a phone call about a week later for my final interview with the store leader. This final interview was more of the leader telling me about the position and just an informal getting to know me type of interview.

Interview Question – Tell me about a time when you had to build rapport with someone.   Answer Question

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Specialist at Apple

No Offer – Interviewed in Charleston, SC May 2013 – Reviewed May 13, 2013 New

Interview Details – It is a group interview... so you will see your competition, so to speak. There will also be about 5 apple employee's interviewing you as well... the process was exciting and very casual....

Interview Question – They asked whose autograph would you get tattooed on your body?   Answer Question

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Specialist at Apple

No Offer – Interviewed in San Antonio, TX – Reviewed May 6, 2013

Interview Details – Received an offer to be interviewed. Did not realize it was such a major event, with an entire group of about 40 people in a hotel conference room. This was immediately disconcerting for me, as I am quite socially awkward in some situations, like surprise group interviews. I really did not enjoy any of the experience, personally. I felt it was hard to stand out when I was expected to "be a team player," yet everyone on the team is trying to play 'leader' and not 'follower.' None of my group members listened to a single idea during our group meeting where we are supposed to create a new, original product. I felt very left out, and was literally, physically pushed out of focus while we were presenting. I am socially awkward, I will admit, but this was a whole 'nother experience. All this could have been seen as a sign of shyness or cowardice, when really I was given no chance by my "team" members. When I finally did get a chance to speak, I tried to bring a little on-the-spot creativity into our 'product' and asked a question to someone in the audience who was from another team. They quite literally just sat there as if I wasn't there and just shook there head no. At this point, I basically just gave up. I knew all my chances had been blown. The group interview questions went equally awkwardly, but for all of us. Many stupid answers were given, by myself and the others.

I really just hated the entire process. I felt I would have had a much better chance at showing what I really know and my passion for technology in a one-on-one setting. Instead, I got stuck with bossy teammates who shunned me, and made me feel very uncomfortable for the duration of the "interview."

Interview Question – Basically, all the questions in the group interview section were awful. There were not hard or trick questions, but instead the opposite; extremely open-ended and mysterious. Nobody gave real answers. My teammate said "sports" was the hardest challenge of his life. I said "fixing printers." Yea, I dunno what came over me. It was simply a terrible environment for any kind of critical thinking.   Answer Question

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in King of Prussia, PA – Reviewed May 2, 2013

Interview Details – Expect to be interviewed multiple times, stretching over weeks or even months. Your interview is the first indoctrination to Apple culture, and you are being made to think that every decision is very carefully considered before it is executed and you're hired. It's not. The "group interview" portion helps them compare your performance in a crowd, and perceive you as a customer might when walking into their store. Brazen cockiness can take you far, but if this is a strength be careful not to over-use it.

Interview Question – In the first 5 minutes of the first interview, the manager described the store and the company as a cult.   View Answer

Negotiation Details – There was no negotiating; when the hiring manager finally called me to invite me back for "one more interview," I asked point blank how many more interviews I would have before they would make a decision and he informed me that he could "offer" me the entry-level position.

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Whitehall, PA – Reviewed Apr 30, 2013

Interview Details – Most attend a hiring event with a group of 25-50 candidates vying for only a few spots. I did not go through this. I received an email from a store manager and went through a phone screen three months after submitting an online application. Next I had an in person individual interview where I told the manager I spoke with. After that I was invited back for another group interview with 4 other candidates only one of whom was not hired. I then had a final interview with the general manager of the store and market manager which I think was largely done so they could meet the new employees and do one last screen.

Interview Question – Describe a situation where you had to deal with an angry or difficult customer.   Answer Question

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Apr 2013 – Reviewed Apr 25, 2013

Interview Details – I Applied online two days later was contacted via email for an interview for the following pretty quick at responding. Interview was a group of 5 we had to arrange a vacation trip and stay within budget. During the group project remember to follow these few steps below.
#1 Be organized and pay attention to detail
#2 Stand out! Smile!
#3Participate positively rater than taking ownership of the project (my mistake was my management skills kicked in and I unnoticeably began to take control as my group was far to laid back, clueless, and unmotivated)
still unsure if this worked to my advantage.
At this point it ha been 1 day since my interview but I'm pretty excited and hopeful that i will proceed with being hired!!!

Interview Question – Following the group project you are given an application asking basic questions
Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co worker?
Tell me about a time when you had a returning customer ?
how would you explain a Hard drive and Ram to a customer ?
explain iOS?
explain the difference between LTE and Wifi ?
explain the benefits from icloud?
3 ways to perform a search on a iphone ?
how have apple products affected your life?
explain wireless micro computer to a customer?
  View Answer

Negotiation Details – In this job market negotiation is clearly reducing your chance of moving forward by 50%
If your not confident at gambling then don't negotiate with Apple because there are 10 people willing to work even harder at lower wage and chances are they will replace you.
#truth

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Sacramento, CA Jul 2010 – Reviewed Apr 20, 2013

Interview Details – group
pannel ( 4interviewers - 3 applicants )
done

Interview Question – Tell us about a time you tried but failed   View Answer

Negotiation Details – 15

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Jul 2011 – Reviewed Apr 15, 2013

Interview Details – I was referred by a friend. The typical hiring process involves about 4 interviews. Since I was recommended mine was only 3.

They are looking for people who are people persons. It's not as important if you have a great technical knowledge background, but rather more important that you are friendly and personable and good at talking to people. The other technical stuff you can learn later, but be prepared to learn because there is much to know.

Interview Question – What was a life changing experience you have had.   Answer Question

Negotiation Details – They called me up and said that I was hired and asked if I would accept. After I said yes they told me that my salary would be $13 per hour and then asked if that would be ok. I didn't want to risk asking for more so I accepted.

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Specialist at Apple

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Las Vegas, NV Nov 2012 – Reviewed Apr 7, 2013

Interview Details – I applied online and was contacted no more than a week later to attend a group interview. The group interview is tailored to find the most energetic and friendly people. The next interview was with a store manager and only lasted 30 minutes. I was called back for third interview with the market leader and other store managers in the district. My last interview was with a store manager. The process lasted 1 1/2 months total before I was offered the job. They ask pretty basic questions but the entire process is to ensure that you are able to represent the Apple brand of customer service.

Interview Question – There is nothing too difficult about any of the questions just be friendly and energetic. Be persistent; The hiring process may take a while but do not get discouraged. The only question that through me for loop was: "Explain a processor, ram and a hard drive to me like I was your grandma."   View Answer

Negotiation Details – There was no negotiation phase but the compensate very well starting and the benefits for working at apple are incredible!

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Specialist at Apple

Declined Offer – Interviewed in Annapolis, MD – Reviewed Mar 30, 2013

Interview Details – I started the interview process in january and it went on through march to april. It took them as long as 2 weeks between interviews to schedule another interview. I was interviewing for an entry level position and had to meet with everyone from the lowest manager to the district manager. Each interview I would be told that I did great, they loved me and that I should hear back within 2 days. That was never the case. All of the managers asked the same questions and never had my resume or wrote anything down for the next person. I found the whole process to be unorganized and inefficient.

Interview Question – They were all the basic interview questions you hear all the time   Answer Question

Reason for Declining – Based on the process I found the store to be ineffectively run. If someone says they'll call you in 2 days and it takes 2 weeks, well that's not someone I want to work for.

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