Apple Reviews in Austin, TX Area

Pros

To a large extent, Apple is amazing. I was within the tech support call center management, and both my employees and my coworkers were brilliant and amazing. The "bosses" tend to also be great people, with an occasional (albeit notable) exception. They do respect work/life balance, and there's a hefty program for development in terms of you career within the company. On the corporate side, there's also intangible benefits like "casual attire" (namely, don't come to work naked), monthly parties (with and without alcohol), an on-site gym, etc.

Cons

The biggest problem I found was that the dedication to secrecy that Apple is known for is disseminated down to the lowest positions. There were multiple times were we weren't given enough information to adequately prepare for our jobs, or prepare for product releases. I also found that if you wanted to give feedback to decision-makers, your feedback was generally treated like you were a cute child, with a head-pat as they sent you along your way. Sometimes it felt like Apple was torn between wanting to reinvent the wheel every time a new decision came up, and going with a super-corporate, super-strict method that works in other companies, but not with the type of person that Apple has historically hired.

Advice to Senior Management

My biggest piece of advice to management would be to not only solicit feedback from employees, but actually listen to it. Even if it costs a bit more money to implement the feedback, the benefit of happy employees will vastly increase their productivity, and decrease the turnover. In short, don't just pay lip service to employee feedback. Also, when making decisions that fundamentally alter peoples' lives, whether it be their day-to-day lives (such as their work schedule), or their lives as a whole (changing benefits, etc.), give people plenty of advanced warning. At least two months is needed for even fairly minor day-to-day life changes.

Pros

Great innovative products and just security with low stress.

Cons

Very busy and am underpaid compared to competitors

Advice to Senior Management

Need to make the sales process more efficient.

Pros

Financially strong company with great and innovative companies. Apple also finds ways to promote its top performers. Also enjoy the great work-life balance that also includes a great benefits package and lots of OT.

Cons

Part of your advancement will be dependent on your manager. A pro-active manager will help coach, train, and promote your strengths. The opposite is also true, so when you interview in a position, get to know your management.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep making all the right decisions! However, let's give some of the Mac Experts more opportunity/responsibility in achieving more. A lot of us are ready for more responsibilities!

Pros

Most days I am proud to say that I work for Apple. The products speak for themselves and it is great to be able to use them. The work environment can be very invigorating as well as mentally challenging.

Cons

Salaried employees are expected to work 50-60 hours a week. Advancement opportunities minimal for upper level positions. External applicants are being hired with less experience & fewer qualifications over well-qualified employees. Internal candidates for those same positions are then asked to provide training for the new Apple employee.

Advice to Senior Management

Look to promote from within Apple. There are many extremely talented, hard-working current employees that Apple could benefit from promoting. Current employees are leaving which is a loss to Apple.

Pros

Pay and benefits are extraordinary
The products are simply amazing

Cons

Act like a mom & pop organization that refuses to grow up
If you haven't grown up 'professionally' within Apple, you will always be viewed and treated as an outsider
Most in management have been promoted from within, which isn't a bad thing; however, there is no training in managing or leadership, and it is painfully obvious
Home-grown tools that are inconsistent and woefully inadequate
Inconsistent employee treatment relative to performance concerns

Advice to Senior Management

Train your leaders and insist on professionalism.

Pros

Be a part of a company that's leading the technology sector! People take you seriously as an intern, and they pay you like it!

Cons

This is a corporate job, which means that you will be working in a cubicle by yourself for 8 hours per day.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you're doing! Great programs for the interns, I really like that you don't have to be an MBA student to get taken seriously

Pros

Great place to work for those who are in college or college-aged. Great for people who love technology and looking cool.

Cons

Immature managers and some of the staff is immature, but I guess that's what you get when you work at such a "hip" place.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should be more considerate of employees and respectful. I wish they acknowledged the employee's hard work more because sometimes they are more concerned with metrics than employees who work hard.

Pros

You will never have a dull moment, you get to play with some of the best technology, generous benefits and schedule flexibility.

Cons

Stores are constantly busy and can be stressful if you do not handle crowds easily. It can get repetitive, and while not a requirement, metrics are stressed.

Advice to Senior Management

You have a great connection with your people, but salaries need to be made more competitive. Otherwise, I am satisfied.

Pros

Great place to work. Nice people, excellent benefits, and good salary.

Cons

Having to stick to strick metrics.

Pros

Great team of fun, creative, hard working people

Cons

Low pay, demanding schedule demands, politics, high turnover

Advice to Senior Management

Compensate employees to decrease turnaround and raise retention rates